For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.

AMOS 7:11KJV
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Amos 7:11 (KJV)

What does Amos 7:11 mean?

Amos 7:11 is part of a report sent to King Jeroboam about the prophet Amos. The report presents Amos’s message as a threat to both the king and his people: Jeroboam would die violently, and Israel would be forced to leave its land.

The speaker is Amaziah, a priest at Bethel, who is reporting Amos’s words to the king. His report follows his accusation that Amos has plotted against Jeroboam. The words reach the king through someone who regards Amos as a threat.

The Hebrew behind Amos 7:11

  • “surely be led away captive” — גָּלָה (galah): This word can mean to be carried away or go into exile. Its repeated form in Hebrew gives force to the statement, reflected in the KJV’s “surely.”
  • “land” — אֲדָמָה (adamah): This word often means ground or soil. Here it gives a concrete sense to the place from which Israel’s people would be removed.

Why Amos 7:11 matters

  • Amaziah’s report is not a direct quotation of Amos’s earlier words. In Amos 7:9, the sword is directed against “the house of Jeroboam,” while Amaziah reports that Jeroboam himself would die by the sword.
  • Amaziah treats Amos’s words as a political danger. In Amos 7:10, he says that Amos has conspired against the king and that the land cannot bear his words.
  • The threat reaches beyond the royal household. The words “Israel shall surely be led away captive” describe a disaster for the people and their place in their own land.

Where else these words appear

“Amos” Hebrew H5986 · used in 7 verses

  • Amos 1:1 The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
  • Amos 7:10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.
  • Amos 7:14 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:

“Jeroboam” Hebrew H3379 · used in 95 verses

  • 1 Kings 11:26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.
  • 1 Kings 14:30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.
  • 2 Kings 15:1 In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.