Amos 5:20
New International Version
Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light— pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?

New Living Translation
Yes, the day of the LORD will be dark and hopeless, without a ray of joy or hope.

English Standard Version
Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?

Berean Standard Bible
Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it?

King James Bible
Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

New King James Version
Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?

New American Standard Bible
Will the day of the LORD not be darkness instead of light, Even gloom with no brightness in it?

NASB 1995
Will not the day of the LORD be darkness instead of light, Even gloom with no brightness in it?

NASB 1977
Will not the day of the LORD be darkness instead of light, Even gloom with no brightness in it?

Legacy Standard Bible
Will not the day of Yahweh be darkness instead of light, Even thick darkness with no brightness in it?

Amplified Bible
Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, instead of light, Even very dark with no brightness in it?

Christian Standard Bible
Won’t the day of the LORD be darkness rather than light, even gloom without any brightness in it?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Won’t the Day of the LORD be darkness rather than light, even gloom without any brightness in it?

American Standard Version
Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

Contemporary English Version
The day when the LORD judges will be dark, very dark, without a ray of light.

English Revised Version
Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The day of the LORD brings darkness and not light. It is pitch black, with no light.

Good News Translation
The day of the LORD will bring darkness and not light; it will be a day of gloom, without any brightness.

International Standard Version
Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness, and not light— pitch black at that, without a ray of sunshine?"

Majority Standard Bible
Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it?

NET Bible
Don't you realize the LORD's day of judgment will bring darkness, not light--gloomy blackness, not bright light?

New Heart English Bible
Won't the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?

Webster's Bible Translation
Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

World English Bible
Won’t the day of Yahweh be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Is not the Day of YHWH darkness and not light, "" Even thick darkness that has no brightness?

Young's Literal Translation
Is not the day of Jehovah darkness and not light, Even thick darkness that hath no brightness?

Smith's Literal Translation
Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness and not light? and dark and no shining to it?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light: and obscurity, and no brightness in it?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Will not the day of the Lord be darkness and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?

New American Bible
Truly, the day of the LORD will be darkness, not light, gloom without any brightness!

New Revised Standard Version
Is not the day of the LORD darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Such is the day of the LORD; it is darkness and not light; yea, it is a day of thick darkness and no brightness is in it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
In this way the day of LORD JEHOVAH is dark and not light; it is clouded over and there is no brightness in it
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light? and is not this day gloom without brightness?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Day of the LORD
19It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake. 20Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it? 21“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.…

Cross References
Isaiah 13:9-10
Behold, the Day of the LORD is coming—cruel, with fury and burning anger—to make the earth a desolation and to destroy the sinners within it. / For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.

Joel 2:1-2
Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near— / a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come.

Zephaniah 1:14-15
The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter. / That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,

Matthew 24:29-30
Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ / At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Isaiah 5:30
In that day they will roar over it, like the roaring of the sea. If one looks over the land, he will see darkness and distress; even the light will be obscured by clouds.

Jeremiah 13:16
Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You wait for light, but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness.

Ezekiel 32:7-8
When I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. / All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you, and I will bring darkness upon your land,’ declares the Lord GOD.

Joel 2:10-11
Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness. / The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful. Who can endure it?

Zechariah 14:6-7
On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. / It will be a unique day known only to the LORD, without day or night; but when evening comes, there will be light.

Revelation 6:12-13
And I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red, / and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind.

Isaiah 8:22
Then they will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into utter darkness.

Isaiah 60:2
For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you.

Matthew 25:30
And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Luke 21:25-26
There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. / Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Isaiah 34:4
All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The skies will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like foliage from the fig tree.


Treasury of Scripture

Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

darkness.

Job 3:4-6
Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it…

Job 10:21,22
Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; …

Isaiah 13:10
For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

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Brightness Dark Darkness Gloom Instead Light Ray Shining Thick Won't
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Brightness Dark Darkness Gloom Instead Light Ray Shining Thick Won't
Amos 5
1. A lamentation for Israel.
4. An exhortation to repentance.
21. God rejects their hypocritical service.














Will not
This phrase introduces a rhetorical question, a common device in prophetic literature, emphasizing certainty and inevitability. The Hebrew root here is "lo," often used to negate or question. It suggests an unavoidable reality, urging the audience to reflect on the seriousness of the coming judgment. The prophet Amos uses this to challenge complacency, urging the Israelites to consider the consequences of their actions.

the Day of the LORD
This term, "Yom Yahweh" in Hebrew, is a significant eschatological concept throughout the Bible. It refers to a time of divine intervention, often associated with judgment and salvation. Historically, it was anticipated as a day of deliverance for Israel, but Amos turns this expectation on its head, warning that it will be a day of judgment for them due to their unfaithfulness. This phrase underscores the dual nature of God's justice—both a promise and a warning.

be darkness
The Hebrew word "choshek" conveys more than just the absence of light; it implies chaos, judgment, and distress. In the ancient Near Eastern context, darkness was often associated with evil and divine displeasure. Amos uses this imagery to convey the severity of God's judgment, contrasting the expected light of deliverance with the reality of impending doom.

instead of light
"Or" in Hebrew, meaning light, often symbolizes God's presence, guidance, and blessing. The contrast here is stark and intentional. While the Israelites expected the Day of the LORD to bring light and victory, Amos warns that their current path will lead to the opposite. This serves as a call to repentance, highlighting the need for genuine faithfulness to experience God's true light.

even gloom
The word "aphelah" in Hebrew suggests deep darkness or obscurity. It intensifies the previous imagery, indicating a profound absence of hope or clarity. This term would resonate with the Israelites, who understood gloom as a sign of divine judgment. Amos uses this to emphasize the seriousness of their spiritual condition and the urgent need for change.

with no brightness in it
The phrase underscores the totality of the darkness, leaving no room for misunderstanding. "Nogah" in Hebrew, meaning brightness or radiance, is completely absent. This final statement drives home the point that without repentance, the anticipated day of deliverance will be one of complete and utter judgment. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's covenant.

(20) Darkness.--In the form of an interrogative, the condemnation contained in Amos 5:18 is emphatically reasserted. The term rendered "very dark" is that used to denote the gross Egyptian darkness that might be felt (Exodus 10:22), the awful gloom, such as fell on Jerusalem at the Crucifixion, which is always accompanied by the sense of confusion, terror, and intolerable suspense. (Comp. the graphic metaphorical language of Isaiah 5:30.)

Verse 20. - The character of the day of the Lord is enforced with reiterated earnestness (ver. 18) by an appeal to the conscience of e hearers. Do you not feel in your inmost hearts that in the case of such guilt as yours the Lord can visit but to punish?

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Will not
הֲלֹא־ (hă·lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

the Day
י֥וֹם (yō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

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

be darkness
חֹ֛שֶׁךְ (ḥō·šeḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2822: The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness

and not
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

light,
א֑וֹר (’ō·wr)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 216: Illumination, luminary

even gloom
וְאָפֵ֖ל (wə·’ā·p̄êl)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 651: Gloomy

with no
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

brightness
נֹ֥גַֽהּ (nō·ḡah)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5051: Brilliancy

in it?
לֽוֹ׃ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Prophets: Amos 5:20 Won't the day of Yahweh be darkness (Amo. Am)
Amos 5:19
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