Amos 5:16 (KJV)

What does Amos 5:16 mean?

Amos 5:16 says that God is declaring there will be widespread mourning and wailing throughout the city streets and highways, with even farmers and professional mourners being called to join in the public grief. This verse describes a scene of intense sorrow and loss affecting the whole community.

The prophet Amos is speaking God’s message to the people of Israel, warning them about the coming judgment because of their injustice and unfaithfulness. The verse paints a vivid picture: not just families, but entire towns will be filled with cries of grief, showing how deeply the coming disaster will touch every part of society.

The Hebrew behind Amos 5:16

• "LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh), "God" (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim), and "Lord" (אֲדֹנָי, Adonai) are all used together, emphasizing God’s supreme authority and the seriousness of His message.
• "Wailing" (מִסְפֵּד, misped) and "mourning" (אֵבֶל, evel) both point to public, ritualized expressions of grief, not just private sadness. This shows the scale and depth of the coming calamity.
• "Husbandman" (אִכָּר, ikkar) refers to farmers, highlighting that even those usually working in the fields will be drawn into the city’s mourning, showing no one is untouched.
• "Skilful" (יָדַע, yada) and "lamentation" (נֵהִי, nehi) refer to people trained in leading public mourning, a common practice in ancient Israel. Their involvement means the grief is so great that ordinary expressions of sorrow are not enough.

Why Amos 5:16 matters

• This verse clears up that God’s warning is not limited to a select group; the entire society, from city dwellers to rural farmers, will experience the consequences.
• The use of professional mourners and the mention of wailing in every street underline how total and unavoidable the coming judgment will be.
• Amos 5:16 connects to the larger theme in Amos of God’s justice and the seriousness of ignoring His calls for righteousness, setting the stage for the verses that follow.