Amos 4:13
New International Version
He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the LORD God Almighty is his name.

New Living Translation
For the LORD is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals his thoughts to mankind. He turns the light of dawn into darkness and treads on the heights of the earth. The LORD God of Heaven’s Armies is his name!

English Standard Version
For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name!

Berean Standard Bible
For behold, He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind and reveals His thoughts to man, who turns the dawn to darkness and strides on the heights of the earth—the LORD, the God of Hosts, is His name.”

King James Bible
For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.

New King James Version
For behold, He who forms mountains, And creates the wind, Who declares to man what his thought is, And makes the morning darkness, Who treads the high places of the earth— The LORD God of hosts is His name.

New American Standard Bible
For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind, And declares to a person what are His thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness And treads on the high places of the earth, The LORD God of armies is His name.

NASB 1995
For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind And declares to man what are His thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness And treads on the high places of the earth, The LORD God of hosts is His name.

NASB 1977
For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind And declares to man what are His thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness And treads on the high places of the earth, The LORD God of hosts is His name.

Legacy Standard Bible
For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind And declares to man what are His thoughts, He who makes dawn into gloom And treads on the high places of the earth, Yahweh God of hosts is His name.

Amplified Bible
For behold, He who forms the mountains and creates the wind And declares to man what are His thoughts, He who makes the dawn into darkness And treads on the heights of the earth— The LORD God of hosts is His name.

Christian Standard Bible
He is here: the one who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals his thoughts to man, the one who makes the dawn out of darkness and strides on the heights of the earth. The LORD, the God of Armies, is his name.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He is here: the One who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals His thoughts to man, the One who makes the dawn out of darkness and strides on the heights of the earth. Yahweh, the God of Hosts, is His name.

American Standard Version
For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought; that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth? Jehovah, the God of hosts, is his name.

Contemporary English Version
I created the mountains and the wind. I let humans know what I am thinking. I bring darkness at dawn and step over hills. I am the LORD God All-Powerful!

English Revised Version
For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth; the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
God forms the mountains and creates the wind. He reveals his thoughts to humans. He makes dawn and dusk [appear]. He walks on the high places of the earth. His name is the LORD God of Armies.

Good News Translation
God is the one who made the mountains and created the winds. He makes his thoughts known to people; he changes day into night. He walks on the heights of the earth. This is his name: the LORD God Almighty!

International Standard Version
Look! The one who crafts mountains, who creates the wind, who reveals what he is thinking to mankind, who darkens the morning light, who tramples down the high places of the land— the LORD, the God of the Heavenly Armies is his name.

Majority Standard Bible
For behold, He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind and reveals His thoughts to man, who turns the dawn to darkness and strides on the heights of the earth?the LORD, the God of Hosts, is His name.?

NET Bible
For here he is! He formed the mountains and created the wind. He reveals his plans to men. He turns the dawn into darkness and marches on the heights of the earth. The LORD, the God who commands armies, is his name!"

New Heart English Bible
For, look, he who forms the mountains, and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought; who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the high places of the earth: The LORD, the God of hosts, is his name."

Webster's Bible Translation
For lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth to man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.

World English Bible
For, behold, he who forms the mountains, creates the wind, declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the high places of the earth: Yahweh, the God of Armies, is his name.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For behold, the Former of mountains, and Creator of wind, "" And the Declarer to man what [is] His thought, "" He is making dawn obscurity, "" And is treading on high places of earth, "" YHWH, God of Hosts, [is] His Name!

Young's Literal Translation
For, lo, the former of mountains, and creator of wind, And the declarer to man what is His thought, He is making dawn obscurity, And is treading on high places of earth, Jehovah, God of Hosts, is His name!

Smith's Literal Translation
For behold, he forming the mountains and creating the wind, and announcing to man his meditation, making the morning darkness and treading upon the heights of the earth, Jehovah, God of armies his name.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For behold he that formeth the mountains and createth the wind, and declareth his word to man, he that maketh the morning mist, and walketh upon the high places of the earth: the Lord the God of hosts is his name.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind and announces his speech to man, who makes the morning mist and steps over the heights of the earth: the Lord God of hosts is his name.

New American Bible
The one who forms mountains and creates winds, and declares to mortals their thoughts; Who makes dawn into darkness and strides upon the heights of the earth, the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name!

New Revised Standard Version
For lo, the one who forms the mountains, creates the wind, reveals his thoughts to mortals, makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For lo, he who creates the wind and creates the mountains and declares to man what is his glory, who makes the morning darkness and walks upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, the God of hosts, is his name.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because he who created the wind and created the mountains and shows to the children of man what his glory is, he makes dawn a blackness and treads on the height of the Earth; LORD JEHOVAH God Almighty is his name
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For, lo, He that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, And declareth unto man what is his thought, That maketh the morning darkness, And treadeth upon the high places of the earth; The LORD, the God of hosts, is His name.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For, behold, I am he that strengthens the thunder, and creates the wind, and proclaims to men his Christ, forming the morning and the darkness, and mounting on the high places of the earth, The Lord God Almighty is his name.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Punishment Brings No Repentance
12“Therefore, that is what I will do to you, O Israel, and since I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel! 13For behold, He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind and reveals His thoughts to man, who turns the dawn to darkness and strides on the heights of the earth— the LORD, the God of Hosts, is His name.”

Cross References
Job 9:8-10
He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. / He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. / He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number.

Isaiah 40:28
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.

Jeremiah 10:12-13
The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. / When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

Psalm 104:24
How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.

Psalm 33:6-9
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth. / He piles up the waters of the sea; He puts the depths into storehouses. / Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him. ...

Isaiah 45:7
I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.

Psalm 139:2-4
You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar. / You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways. / Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD.

Isaiah 42:5
This is what God the LORD says—He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it:

Psalm 146:6
the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He remains faithful forever.

Jeremiah 51:15-16
The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. / When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Colossians 1:16-17
For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. / He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.

Romans 11:33-36
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! / “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?” / “Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?” ...

Revelation 4:11
“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”


Treasury of Scripture

For, see, he that forms the mountains, and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, that makes the morning darkness, and treads on the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.

he that.

Job 38:4-11
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding…

Psalm 65:6
Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:

Isaiah 40:12
Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

and createth.

Psalm 135:7
He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

Psalm 147:18
He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

Jeremiah 10:13
When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

wind.

John 3:8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

and declareth.

Psalm 139:2
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Daniel 2:28
But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

Matthew 9:4
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

that maketh.

Amos 5:8
Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:

Amos 8:9
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:

Exodus 10:22
And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:

and treadeth.

Deuteronomy 32:13
He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;

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Amos 4
1. He reproves Israel for oppression,
4. for idolatry,
6. and for their incorrigibleness.














He who forms the mountains
The Hebrew word for "forms" is "יֹצֵר" (yotser), which conveys the idea of a potter shaping clay. This imagery emphasizes God's sovereignty and creative power. Mountains, often seen as symbols of strength and permanence, are crafted by God, highlighting His authority over creation. In a historical context, mountains were places of divine encounter, such as Mount Sinai, where God gave the Law to Moses. This phrase reminds us of God's intimate involvement in the world He created, shaping it with purpose and precision.

who creates the wind
The Hebrew word for "creates" is "בּוֹרֵא" (bore), which is used in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The "wind" (רוּחַ, ruach) can also mean "spirit" or "breath," indicating the life-giving force of God. This dual meaning reflects the dynamic and sustaining power of God in both the physical and spiritual realms. Historically, wind was seen as a mysterious and uncontrollable force, yet God is its creator, demonstrating His control over all elements of nature.

and reveals His thoughts to man
The Hebrew word for "reveals" is "מַגִּיד" (magid), meaning to declare or make known. This phrase underscores the graciousness of God in communicating with humanity. Unlike the distant deities of other ancient cultures, the God of Israel is personal and relational, sharing His divine will and purpose with His people. This revelation is primarily through His prophets and ultimately through His Word, guiding believers in truth and righteousness.

who turns dawn to darkness
The imagery of turning "dawn to darkness" speaks to God's control over time and the natural order. The Hebrew words "שַׁחַר" (shachar) for "dawn" and "חֹשֶׁךְ" (choshech) for "darkness" are often used to describe transitions between light and dark, symbolizing God's power over life and death, blessing and judgment. This phrase serves as a warning of God's ability to bring about judgment, as darkness often symbolizes divine retribution in the prophetic literature.

and treads the high places of the earth
The "high places" (בָּמָה, bamah) were often sites of idol worship in ancient Israel. By stating that God "treads" these places, the text asserts His supremacy over all false gods and religious practices. Historically, high places were associated with pagan rituals, but God, the true Creator, is above all these. This phrase reassures believers of God's ultimate authority and victory over idolatry and sin.

the LORD, the God of Hosts, is His name
The name "LORD" (יהוה, Yahweh) is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. "God of Hosts" (אֱלֹהֵי צְבָאוֹת, Elohei Tsevaot) refers to God's command over the heavenly armies, signifying His might and power. This title reassures believers of God's protection and His ability to execute His will. In a scriptural context, this name is a reminder of God's faithfulness to His people and His ultimate authority over all creation.

(13) God of hosts.--The Lord whom they have to meet is no mere national deity, but the supreme Creator.

Createth the wind.--Not "spirit" (as margin). But the two ideas "wind" and "spirit" were closely associated in Heb. (as in Greek), being designated by the same word ruach (in Greek ??????, comp. John 3:8). Hence the transition in thought to the next clause is natural. This is curiously rendered in LXX. "and declareth to man his Christ" through a misunderstanding of the original.

Verse 13. - The prophet enforces his threats by declaring God's power and omniscience. He that formeth the mountain; ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ στερεῶν βροντήν, "I am he that strengtheneth thunder" (Septuagint, reading differently). The mountains are mentioned as the most solid and everlasting of his works; the wind, as the subtlest and most immaterial of created things. Declareth unto man what is his thought; i.e. man's thought; reveals man to himself shows that he knows man's thought before man puts it into words. This he does sometimes by the stings of conscience, sometimes by inspiring his prophets to declare men's secret motives and the real state of their heart (see Jeremiah 17:9, l0; and comp. 1 John 3:20). Vulgate, Annuntians homini eloquium suum, where eloquium is equivalent to cognitatio. The LXX., with some change of letters, has, ἀπαγγέλλων εἰς ἀνθρώπους τὸν Ξριστὸν αὐτοῦ, "proclaiming unto men his Christ" - a reading which supports the misinterpretation of "his thought" as meaning God's thought, Christ being regarded as the Λόγος of God. Many of the Fathers have seen here a prophesy of the Messiah. See Tirinus and Corn. a Lapide on this verse. That maketh the morning darkness. Keil, after Calvin, takes these words as asyndeton for "the morning dawn and darkness." So the Septuagint, ποιῶν ὅρθρον καὶ ὁμίχλην, "making morning and gloom." This would be simply a further instance of God's creative power. The Vulgate gives, faciens matutinam nebulam; and it seems probable (comp. Amos 5:8; Amos 8:9) that the clause means that the Lord turns the dawn into darkness. This may refer to the action of clouds or an eclipse; or it may be said metaphorically of prosperity and adversity. Treadeth upon the high places of the earth. An anthropomorphic representation of the might and majesty of God, who governs all things, and has the loftiest in perfect subjection (comp. Deuteronomy 32:13; Deuteronomy 33:29; Job 9:8; Micah 1:3). The Lord, Jehovah, the eternal, self-existent, covenant God, is he who in these things manifests himself, and therefore his threats are not to be despised (Amos 5:8). In the prophet's view the laws and powers of nature have their scope in executing God's commands.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּ֡י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

behold,
הִנֵּה֩ (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

He who forms
יוֹצֵ֨ר (yō·w·ṣêr)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3335: To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine

the mountains,
הָרִ֜ים (hā·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

who creates
וּבֹרֵ֣א (ū·ḇō·rê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1254: To create, to cut down, select, feed

the wind,
ר֗וּחַ (rū·aḥ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

and reveals
וּמַגִּ֤יד (ū·mag·gîḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

His thoughts
שֵּׂח֔וֹ (śê·ḥōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7808: Communion, meditation

to man,
לְאָדָם֙ (lə·’ā·ḏām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

the One who turns
עֹשֵׂ֥ה (‘ō·śêh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

the dawn
שַׁ֙חַר֙ (ša·ḥar)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7837: Dawn

to darkness
עֵיפָ֔ה (‘ê·p̄āh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5890: Obscurity

and strides
וְדֹרֵ֖ךְ (wə·ḏō·rêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1869: To tread, to walk, to string a, bow

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the heights
בָּ֣מֳתֵי (bā·mo·ṯê)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 1116: An elevation

of the earth,
אָ֑רֶץ (’ā·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

the LORD,
יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

the God
אֱלֹהֵֽי־ (’ĕ·lō·hê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of Hosts,
צְבָא֖וֹת (ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign

is His name.”
שְׁמֽוֹ׃ (šə·mōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8034: A name


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OT Prophets: Amos 4:13 For behold he who forms the mountains (Amo. Am)
Amos 4:12
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