Amos 8:12 Meaning and Explanation
“And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →People will wander from sea to sea seeking the word of the LORD and not find it.
What Does Amos 8:12 Mean?
The famine of the word drives people to desperate searching: "they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD." They cross the whole compass of the land, restless and frantic, hunting for the voice they once ignored. The searching is exhausting and endless.
Yet the verse ends in heartbreak: "and shall not find it." All their wandering yields nothing. There is a season for hearing, and it can pass. The word that was once near, spoken plainly by a herdsman from Tekoa, becomes impossible to find when the time of grace has run out. This is the sober warning beneath the whole passage: God's word is to be received while it is given, for the day may come when the heart that finally seeks it discovers that the season for hearing has closed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amos 8:12
What does Amos 8:12 mean?
People will wander from sea to sea seeking the word of the LORD and not find it.