The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up.

AMOS 5:2KJV
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Amos 5:2 (KJV)

What does Amos 5:2 mean?

Amos 5:2 portrays Israel as a young woman who has suffered a devastating fall. The words announce the downfall of the nation with the stark finality of a funeral song: she lies on her own land, with no one to lift her.

Amos speaks these words as part of the song introduced in verse 1. Calling Israel a “virgin” gives the nation a human face, while her abandonment on the ground makes her defeat visible and personal.

The Hebrew behind Amos 5:2

  • “virgin” — בְּתוּלָה (betulah): This word commonly refers to a young woman who has not had sexual relations. Here Amos uses the image of a young woman to speak about Israel as a nation.
  • “forsaken” — נָטַשׁ (natash): This word can mean left or abandoned. In Amos 5:2, it adds to the picture of Israel lying helpless where she has fallen.

Why Amos 5:2 matters

  • The song speaks of a future disaster as though it has already happened. “Is fallen” gives the warning the force of an event treated as certain.
  • The fall describes a national catastrophe, not merely the troubles of one person. Amos 5:3 speaks of cities losing most of the men they send out.
  • The words “she shall no more rise” give the song its severe finality. Later in the passage, Amos also calls the people to “seek” God and “live” (Amos 5:4), placing that invitation alongside the song of loss.

Where else these words appear

“forsaken” Hebrew H5203 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 31:28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.
  • 1 Samuel 30:16 And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.
  • Isaiah 16:8 For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.

“virgin” Hebrew H1330 · used in 50 verses

  • Genesis 24:16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
  • Esther 2:2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
  • Jeremiah 31:4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.