Amos 5:8
New International Version
He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns midnight into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land— the LORD is his name.

New Living Translation
It is the LORD who created the stars, the Pleiades and Orion. He turns darkness into morning and day into night. He draws up water from the oceans and pours it down as rain on the land. The LORD is his name!

English Standard Version
He who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the LORD is his name;

Berean Standard Bible
He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn and darkens day into night, who summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth—the LORD is His name—

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
He made the Pleiades and Orion; He turns the shadow of death into morning And makes the day dark as night; He calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth; The LORD is His name.

New American Standard Bible
He who made the Pleiades and Orion, And changes deep darkness into morning, Who also darkens day into night, Who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The LORD is His name.

NASB 1995
He who made the Pleiades and Orion And changes deep darkness into morning, Who also darkens day into night, Who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The LORD is His name.

NASB 1977
He who made the Pleiades and Orion And changes deep darkness into morning, Who also darkens day into night, Who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The LORD is His name.

Legacy Standard Bible
He who made the Pleiades and Orion And overturns the shadow of death into morning, Who also darkens day into night, Who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, Yahweh is His name.

Amplified Bible
He who made the [cluster of stars called] Pleiades and [the constellation] Orion, Who turns deep darkness into the morning And darkens the day into night, Who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The LORD is His name.

Christian Standard Bible
The one who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn and darkens day into night, who summons the water of the sea and pours it out over the surface of the earth — the LORD is his name.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The One who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn and darkens day into night, who summons the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the earth— Yahweh is His name.

American Standard Version
seek him that maketh the Pleiades 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 (Jehovah is his name);

Contemporary English Version
But the LORD created the stars and put them in place. He turns darkness to dawn and daylight to darkness; he scoops up the ocean and empties it on the earth.

English Revised Version
seek him that maketh the Pleiades 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;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
God made the [constellations] Pleiades and Orion. He turns deep darkness into dawn. He turns day into night. He calls for water from the sea to pour it over the face of the earth. His name is the LORD.

Good News Translation
The LORD made the stars, the Pleiades and Orion. He turns darkness into daylight and day into night. He calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the earth. His name is the LORD.

International Standard Version
Seek the one who fashions the Pleiades and Orion, who turns the deep darkness into morning, who darkens day into night, who calls out to the waters of the sea, pouring them out onto the surface of the earth— the LORD is his name.

Majority Standard Bible
He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn and darkens day into night, who summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth—the LORD is His name—

NET Bible
(But there is one who made the constellations Pleiades and Orion; he can turn the darkness into morning and daylight into night. He summons the water of the seas and pours it out on the earth's surface. The LORD is his name!

New Heart English Bible
seek him who made Kimah and Kesil, and turns the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark with night; who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the LORD is his name,

Webster's Bible Translation
Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shades 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: JEHOVAH is his name:

World English Bible
Seek him who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark with night; who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth, Yahweh is his name,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The Maker of the Pleiades and Orion, "" And He who is turning death-shade to the morning—And He has made day [as] dark [as] night—Who is calling to the waters of the sea, "" And pours them on the face of the earth, "" YHWH [is] His Name;

Young's Literal Translation
The maker of Kimah and Kesil, And the turner to morning of death-shade, And day as night He hath made dark, Who is calling to the waters of the sea, And poureth them on the face of the earth, Jehovah is His name;

Smith's Literal Translation
He made the seven stars and Orion, and he turned the shadow of death to the morning, and he darkened the day to night: calling to the water of the sea, and he will pour them out upon the face of the earth: Jehovah his name:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Seek him that maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and that turneth darkness into morning, and that changeth day into night: that calleth the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The Maker of Arcturus and Orion, who turns darkness into daybreak and who changes day into night; who calls forth the waters of the sea and who pours them out over the face of the earth: The Lord is his name.

New American Bible
Who makes destruction fall suddenly upon the stronghold and brings ruin upon the fortress, the LORD is his name.

New Revised Standard Version
The one who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the LORD is his name,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
They have forsaken him who made Pleiades and Orion, and who turns the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark into night; who calls the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the face of the earth; the LORD is his name;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
They have left him who made Pleiades and the star Aldebaran and turned the shadows of death to morning, and darkens the day to night, who calls the water of the sea and he pours them out on the face of the Earth; LORD JEHOVAH is his name!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Him that maketh the Pleiades and Orion, And bringeth on the shadow of death in the morning, And darkeneth the day into night; That calleth for the waters of the sea, And poureth them out upon the face of the earth; The LORD is His name;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
who makes all things, and changes them, and turns darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night: who calls for the water of the sea, and pours it out on the face of the earth: the Lord is his name:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Call to Repentance
7There are those who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground. 8He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn and darkens day into night, who summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth— the LORD is His name— 9He flashes destruction on the strong, so that fury comes upon the stronghold.…

Cross References
Genesis 1:14-18
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years. / And let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth.” And it was so. / God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well. ...

Job 9:9
He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

Job 38:31-33
Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loosen the belt of Orion? / Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear and her cubs? / Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?

Psalm 104:19
He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows when to set.

Isaiah 40:26
Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

Jeremiah 31:35
Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name:

Psalm 136:7-9
He made the great lights—His loving devotion endures forever. / the sun to rule the day, His loving devotion endures forever. / the moon and stars to govern the night. His loving devotion endures forever.

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 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. ...

Psalm 74:16-17
The day is Yours, and also the night; You established the moon and the sun. / You set all the boundaries of the earth; You made the summer and winter.

Psalm 89:11-12
The heavens are Yours, and also the earth. The earth and its fullness You founded. / North and south You created; Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name.

Psalm 148:3-6
Praise Him, O sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars. / Praise Him, O highest heavens, and you waters above the skies. / Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He gave the command and they were created. ...

Isaiah 13:10
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.

Isaiah 44:24
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth,

John 1:3
Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.


Treasury of Scripture

Seek him that makes the seven stars and Orion, and turns the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark with night: that calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:

maketh.

Job 9:9
Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

Job 38:31,32
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? …

and turneth.

Job 12:22
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

Job 38:12,13
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; …

Psalm 107:10-14
Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; …

maketh.

Amos 4:13
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.

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 10:21-23
And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt…

that calleth.

Amos 9:6
It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.

Genesis 7:11-20
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened…

1 Kings 18:44,45
And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not…

The Lord.

Amos 4:13
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.

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Calls Changes Dark Darkness Death Deep Earth Face Makes Maketh Morning Night Orion Pleiades Plei'ades Poureth Pours Sea Seek Seven Shadow Stars Surface Turneth Turns Waters
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Amos 5
1. A lamentation for Israel.
4. An exhortation to repentance.
21. God rejects their hypocritical service.














He who made
This phrase emphasizes the creative power of God, the ultimate Creator. The Hebrew word used here is "עָשָׂה" (asah), which means to make or to do. It signifies God's active role in creation, not as a distant architect but as an intimate craftsman. This creative act is not just a past event but a continuous process, reflecting God's ongoing involvement in the world.

the Pleiades and Orion
These are constellations, and their mention highlights God's sovereignty over the cosmos. The Pleiades, known as "כִּימָה" (kimah) in Hebrew, and Orion, "כְּסִיל" (kesil), were well-known star clusters in the ancient world. Their inclusion in this verse underscores the vastness of God's creation and His control over the universe. Historically, these constellations were associated with seasons and agricultural cycles, reminding the Israelites of God's provision and order.

who turns darkness into dawn
This phrase illustrates God's power over time and the natural order. The Hebrew word "הָפַךְ" (haphak) means to turn or transform, indicating God's ability to change circumstances. The transition from darkness to dawn symbolizes hope, renewal, and the promise of a new beginning. It reflects the biblical theme of light overcoming darkness, a motif that runs throughout Scripture, pointing ultimately to Christ as the Light of the World.

and darkens day into night
Here, the cycle of day and night is attributed to God's sovereign will. The Hebrew verb "חָשַׁךְ" (chashak) means to make dark, emphasizing God's control over the natural rhythms of life. This cycle is a reminder of God's faithfulness and the order He established in creation. It also serves as a metaphor for the spiritual realities of judgment and redemption, where God can bring both darkness and light into human experience.

who calls for the waters of the sea
This phrase highlights God's command over the elements. The Hebrew word "קָרָא" (qara) means to call or summon, indicating God's authority over the natural world. The sea, often a symbol of chaos and danger in ancient Near Eastern thought, is subject to God's voice. This reflects the biblical theme of God bringing order out of chaos, as seen in the creation narrative and the parting of the Red Sea.

and pours them over the face of the earth
This imagery of pouring water suggests abundance and provision. The Hebrew verb "שָׁפַךְ" (shaphak) means to pour out, indicating a generous and deliberate act. Water is essential for life, and its distribution over the earth signifies God's sustaining power and care for His creation. This act also serves as a reminder of God's judgment, as in the days of Noah, and His mercy, as in the provision of rain for crops.

the LORD is His name
This declaration affirms the identity and character of God. The name "LORD" is translated from "יְהוָה" (YHWH), the covenant name of God revealed to Moses. It signifies God's eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His promises. By concluding with this statement, the verse calls the reader to recognize and revere God's majesty and authority, encouraging trust and obedience in response to His revealed character.

(8) Connected by E.V. with Amos 5:6 through the verb "seek ye," so that it may thus be linked to Amos 5:7. To regard it as a solemn assertion "There is one who maketh, &c.," is not satisfactory. We prefer to render, As for him who made the Pleiades . . . Jehovah is his name, i.e., The God of the Hebrews is the supreme universal Lord (comp. Amos 4:13). This is profoundly impressive, since the prophets were surrounded by the pompous nature-worship of the East.

The Heb. word for the Pleiades (seven stars) means properly "heap" or "cluster," and that for Orion signifies "stout, strong one." The appearance of the Pleiades indicated the "sweet influences" of spring, that of Orion the winter solstice. Observe that Amos the herdsman, and Job the Arabian Emir, accustomed to the naked sky of the desert, make these special references to astronomical facts. The death-shadow suggests the darkest experiences of human life. Jehovah pours His light upon the deepest gloom of our lot. He, too, can make the day dark with night, covering the noonday sky with funereal pall, as at the Crucifixion. God is also made the perennial source of the rain, that "river of God which is full of water," and which is ever rising at His command from the great sea.

Verse 8. - Striking instances are given of God's creative power and omnipotence. Seek him that maketh the seven stars. "Seek him" is not in the Hebrew. "He that maketh," etc., is in direct antithesis to "ye who turn," etc. (ver. 7). The seven stars; Hebrew, kimah, "the heap," the constellation of the Pleiades (Job 9:9; Job 38:31). The Septuagint here has, ὁ ποιῶν πάντα, but in Job has πλειάς. The Vulgate gives, facientem Arcturum. Symmachus and Theodotion give πλειάδα in the present passage. The identification of this term is discussed in the 'Dictionary of the Bible,' 2:891. The observation of this most remarkable cluster among the heavenly bodies would be natural to the pastoral life of Amos. And Orion; Hebrew, kesil, "foolish," a rebel, the name being applied to Nimrod, whose representation was found by the Easterns in this constellation. Some render kesil, "gate;" others connect it with the Arabia sohail, equivalent to Sirius, or Canopus. The Septuagint here has, καὶ μετασκευάζων, "and changing," which looks as if the translator was not familiar with the Hebrew word, and substituted something in its place. It reads Ὠρίωνος in Job 38:31. Turneth the shadow of death into the morning. "The shadow of death," the depth of darkness. This and the following clause do not simply state that the regular interchange of day and night is in God's hands, but rather notify that God is a moral Governor of the world. He saves men from the utmost dangers, from the darkness of sin and from the night of ignorance; and, on the other hand, he sends calamity on those that offend his Law (comp. Amos 4:13). Maketh the day dark with night; literally, as the Septuagint ἡμέραν εἰς νύκτα συσκοτάζων, "darkeneth day into night." That calleth for the waters of the sea, etc. As judgments are the prophet's theme, this expression cannot be an intimation of the working of the natural law by which the moisture taken up from the sea as cloud returns upon the earth as rain (comp. Amos 9:6). Rather it is an allusion to the Flood and similar catastrophes, which are proofs of God's judicial government of the universe, when "he maketh the creature his weapon for the revenge of his enemies" (Wisd. 5:17). The Lord is his Name. Jehovah, the self-existent God, doeth all these marvellous things, and men presume to scout his Law and think to be unpunished (Amos 4:13).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He who made
עֹשֵׂ֨ה (‘ō·śêh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

the Pleiades
כִימָ֜ה (ḵî·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3598: A cluster of stars, the Pleiades

and Orion,
וּכְסִ֗יל (ū·ḵə·sîl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3685: Any notable constellation, Orion

who turns
וְהֹפֵ֤ךְ (wə·hō·p̄êḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2015: To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert

darkness
צַלְמָ֔וֶת (ṣal·mā·weṯ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6757: Death-like shadow, deep shadow

into dawn
לַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ (lab·bō·qer)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning

and darkens
הֶחְשִׁ֑יךְ (heḥ·šîḵ)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2821: To be dark, to darken

day
וְי֖וֹם (wə·yō·wm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

into night,
לַ֣יְלָה (lay·lāh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity

who summons
הַקּוֹרֵ֣א (haq·qō·w·rê)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

the waters
לְמֵֽי־ (lə·mê-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

of the sea
הַיָּ֗ם (hay·yām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

and pours them
וַֽיִּשְׁפְּכֵ֛ם (way·yiš·pə·ḵêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8210: To spill forth, to expend, to sprawl out

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

the face
פְּנֵ֥י (pə·nê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of the earth,
הָאָ֖רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | 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

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 5:8 Seek him who made the Pleiades (Amo. Am)
Amos 5:7
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