Amos 4:2 Meaning and Explanation
“The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Swearing by His own holiness, God declares a day is coming when the people will be dragged away like fish caught on hooks.
What Does Amos 4:2 Mean?
God swears by His holiness, the surest of oaths, that judgment will come. The image is grim and graphic: a conquered people led off into exile like fish hauled from the water on hooks, their descendants taken with them.
That the Lord swears by His own holiness shows how certain and how serious this word is; He stakes His very character on it. The luxurious ease of verse one gives way to the harsh reality of captivity. Comfort without righteousness ends in loss. Yet even this terrible warning is an act of mercy, spoken in advance so that the hearers might still turn. The reader is reminded that God's patience has limits, and that holiness is not indifferent to how we live.
Amos 4:2 in the Original Language
qodesh (קֹדֶשׁ), 'holiness' -- God's set-apart purity, the very ground of His oath.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amos 4:2
What does Amos 4:2 mean?
Swearing by His own holiness, God declares a day is coming when the people will be dragged away like fish caught on hooks.