I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

AMOS 4:9KJV
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Amos 4:9 (KJV)

What does Amos 4:9 mean?

Amos 4:9 describes how God sent disasters like scorching winds, mildew, and locusts to damage Israel’s crops, yet the people still did not turn back to Him. The verse shows that even after repeated warnings through natural calamities, the people refused to change their ways or seek God.

In this verse, the prophet Amos is speaking God’s message to the people of Israel during a time when they were prosperous but spiritually unfaithful. God lists specific troubles—crop diseases and pests—that He allowed as wake-up calls. Despite these hardships affecting their gardens, vineyards, fig trees, and olive trees, the people did not "return" (turn back) to God, highlighting their stubbornness.

The Hebrew behind Amos 4:9

  • "Smitten" (נָכָה, nakah) means to strike or afflict. Here, it emphasizes that the disasters were not random but sent intentionally as warnings.
  • "Blasting" (שִׁדָּפוֹן, shiddafon) refers to a scorching wind or blight that withers plants. This word points to a specific kind of crop failure common in the region.
  • "Mildew" (יֵרָקוֹן, yerakon) means a kind of plant disease, often understood as a yellowing or mold that ruins crops. This shows the variety of troubles sent.
  • "Palmerworm" (גָּזָם, gazam) is a type of locust or caterpillar that eats vegetation. The mention of this pest highlights the total loss of crops, even after initial growth.

Why Amos 4:9 matters

  • Amos 4:9 clarifies that the disasters were purposeful, not accidental, meant to get Israel’s attention and lead them to repentance.
  • The verse emphasizes how God used a range of natural events, not just one, showing patience and repeated chances for the people to respond.
  • This verse connects to the wider theme in Amos of God’s warnings being ignored, setting up the seriousness of Israel’s refusal to return to Him despite clear signs.

Where else these words appear

“palmerworm” Hebrew H1501 · used in 3 verses

  • Joel 1:4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.
  • Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

“blasting” Hebrew H7711 · used in 6 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:22 The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
  • 1 Kings 8:37 If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;
  • 2 Chronicles 6:28 If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:

“mildew” Hebrew H3420 · used in 6 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:22 The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
  • 1 Kings 8:37 If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;
  • Jeremiah 30:6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

“gardens” Hebrew H1593 · used in 12 verses

  • Numbers 24:6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
  • Isaiah 1:29 For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.
  • Isaiah 66:17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.