Amos 5:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The prophet repeats the warning: the day of the Lord for the unrepentant is unrelieved darkness, with no light at all.
What Does Amos 5:20 Mean?
The prophet drives the point home with a question that expects the answer yes. The day of the Lord they so eagerly await will be darkness, not light, very dark, without a single ray of brightness in it. For a people in rebellion, no comfort can be found in that day.
The repetition underscores how completely Israel had deceived itself. There can be no false brightness, no wishful light, for those who meet God still clinging to their sins. Yet the starkness is purposeful, meant to break through their illusions while there is still time to turn toward the true Light. The verse presses upon the reader the urgency of being on the right side of that day, where the darkness for the rebellious is, for the faithful, the dawn of salvation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amos 5:20
What does Amos 5:20 mean?
The prophet repeats the warning: the day of the Lord for the unrepentant is unrelieved darkness, with no light at all.