Amos 9:5 Meaning and Explanation
“And the Lord GOD of hosts is he that toucheth the land, and it shall melt, and all that dwell therein shall mourn: and it shall rise up wholly like a flood; and shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Lord of hosts touches the earth and it melts, rising and falling like the flooding Nile.
What Does Amos 9:5 Mean?
A hymn of God's power interrupts the judgment. "The Lord GOD of hosts is he that toucheth the land, and it shall melt." A single touch from Him is enough to make the solid earth dissolve. The One pronouncing these sentences is no local deity but the Lord of all armies, whose mere contact undoes the foundations of the world.
The land "shall rise up wholly like a flood; and shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt," the same image used earlier of the swelling Nile. The point of the hymn is to ground the threats that came before in the unanswerable might of God. He who can melt the earth with a touch is surely able to do all that He has declared. The doxology reminds the reader that this is the God being reckoned with -- and that such power, turned to mercy, can rebuild as surely as it can overturn.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amos 9:5
What does Amos 9:5 mean?
The Lord of hosts touches the earth and it melts, rising and falling like the flooding Nile.