Amos 7:12
New International Version
Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.

New Living Translation
Then Amaziah sent orders to Amos: “Get out of here, you prophet! Go on back to the land of Judah, and earn your living by prophesying there!

English Standard Version
And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there,

Berean Standard Bible
And Amaziah said to Amos, “Go away, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah; earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.

King James Bible
Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:

New King James Version
Then Amaziah said to Amos: “Go, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah. There eat bread, And there prophesy.

New American Standard Bible
Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go, you seer, flee to the land of Judah; and eat bread there and do your prophesying there!

NASB 1995
Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go, you seer, flee away to the land of Judah and there eat bread and there do your prophesying!

NASB 1977
Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go, you seer, flee away to the land of Judah, and there eat bread and there do your prophesying!

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go, you seer, flee away to the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and there do your prophesying!

Amplified Bible
Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go, you seer, run for your life [from Israel] to the land of Judah [your own country] and eat bread and live as a prophet there!

Christian Standard Bible
Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go away, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah. Earn your living and give your prophecies there,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go away, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah. Earn your living and give your prophecies there,

American Standard Version
Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thou away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:

Contemporary English Version
Then Amaziah told me, "Amos, take your visions and get out! Go back to Judah and earn your living there as a prophet.

English Revised Version
Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Amaziah said to Amos, "You seer, run away to Judah! Eat there, and prophesy there!

Good News Translation
Amaziah then said to Amos, "That's enough, prophet! Go on back to Judah and do your preaching there. Let them pay you for it.

International Standard Version
So Amaziah kept saying to Amos, "Get out of here, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Live there and prophesy there.

Majority Standard Bible
And Amaziah said to Amos, “Go away, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah; earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.

NET Bible
Amaziah then said to Amos, "Leave, you visionary! Run away to the land of Judah! Earn your living and prophesy there!

New Heart English Bible
Amaziah also said to Amos, "You seer, go, flee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:

Webster's Bible Translation
Also Amaziah said to Amos, O thou seer, go flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:

World English Bible
Amaziah also said to Amos, “You seer, go, flee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Amaziah says to Amos, “Seer, go, flee to the land of Judah for yourself, and eat bread there, and there you prophesy;

Young's Literal Translation
And Amaziah saith unto Amos, 'Seer, go flee for thee unto the land of Judah, and eat there bread, and there thou dost prophesy;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Amaziah will say to Amos, Thou seer, go flee for thyself to the land of Judah, and eat there bread, and there shalt thou prophesy.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Amasias said to Amos: Thou seer, go, flee away into the land of Juda: and eat bread there, and prophesy there.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Amaziah said to Amos, “You, seer, go out and flee into the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there.

New American Bible
To Amos, Amaziah said: “Off with you, seer, flee to the land of Judah and there earn your bread by prophesying!

New Revised Standard Version
And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Also Amaziah said to Amos, O you seer, go, flee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Amutsia said to Amos: ”Seer, escape! Go yourself to the land of Yehuda, and eat bread there, and prophesy there!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Also Amaziah said unto Amos: 'O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Amasias said to Amos, Go, seer, remove thou into the land of Juda, and live there, and thou shalt prophesy there:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Amaziah Accuses Amos
11for this is what Amos has said: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their homeland.’ ” 12And Amaziah said to Amos, “Go away, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah; earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. 13But never prophesy at Bethel again, because it is the sanctuary of the king and the temple of the kingdom.”…

Cross References
1 Kings 13:1-10
Suddenly, as Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD. / And he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, “O altar, O altar, this is what the LORD says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David, and upon you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense upon you, and human bones will be burned upon you.’” / That day the man of God gave a sign, saying, “The LORD has spoken this sign: ‘Surely the altar will be split apart, and the ashes upon it will be poured out.’” ...

2 Chronicles 25:16
While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

Jeremiah 26:8-11
and as soon as he had finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests and prophets and all the people seized him, shouting, “You must surely die! / How dare you prophesy in the name of the LORD that this house will become like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted!” And all the people assembled against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD. / When the officials of Judah heard these things, they went up from the king’s palace to the house of the LORD and sat there at the entrance of the New Gate. ...

Jeremiah 20:1-2
When Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer and the chief official in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, / he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.

Matthew 21:23
When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”

John 7:52
“Aren’t you also from Galilee?” they replied. “Look into it, and you will see that no prophet comes out of Galilee.”

Acts 4:18-20
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. / But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. / For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Acts 5:27-29
They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them. / “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.” / But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

Acts 7:51-53
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. / Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers— / you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”

Acts 13:50
The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district.

Acts 16:20-21
They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil / by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”

Acts 17:6-7
But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here, / and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!”

Acts 21:28-31
crying out, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and against our law and against this place. Furthermore, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” / For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple. / The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. ...

Acts 24:5-6
We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, / and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.

1 Kings 22:27
and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’”


Treasury of Scripture

Also Amaziah said to Amos, O you seer, go, flee you away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:

O thou.

1 Samuel 9:9
(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

2 Chronicles 16:10
Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.

Isaiah 30:10
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

go.

Amos 2:12
But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.

Matthew 8:34
And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

Luke 8:37,38
Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again…

eat.

1 Samuel 2:36
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.

Isaiah 56:11
Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

Ezekiel 13:19
And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?

Jump to Previous
Amaziah Amazi'ah Amos Bread Earn Eat Flee Flight Judah Prophesy Prophesying Prophet Seer Working
Jump to Next
Amaziah Amazi'ah Amos Bread Earn Eat Flee Flight Judah Prophesy Prophesying Prophet Seer Working
Amos 7
1. The judgments of the grasshoppers,
4. and of the fire are diverted by the prayer of Amos.
7. By the wall of a plumb line is signified the rejection of Israel.
10. Amaziah complains of Amos.
14. Amos shows his calling
16. and Amaziah's judgment.














And Amaziah said to Amos
Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, represents the religious establishment of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. His confrontation with Amos, a prophet from the Southern Kingdom of Judah, highlights the tension between institutional religion and prophetic truth. Historically, this reflects the divided monarchy period, where political and religious tensions were prevalent. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) often introduces a significant declaration, indicating the weight of Amaziah's opposition to Amos.

Go away, you seer!
The term "seer" (חֹזֶה, chozeh) is an ancient designation for a prophet, emphasizing the visionary aspect of the prophetic role. Amaziah's command to "go away" underscores his rejection of Amos's message. This reflects a broader biblical theme where true prophets are often unwelcome in their own land, as they challenge the status quo and call for repentance. The historical context shows that prophets like Amos were often marginalized by those in power.

Flee to the land of Judah
Amaziah's directive for Amos to "flee" (בָּרַח, barach) to Judah is both a dismissal and an insult. It suggests that Amos's message is unwelcome and that he should return to his own territory. This reflects the political and religious division between Israel and Judah. The land of Judah, being Amos's homeland, is ironically the place where his message might be more accepted, yet it also highlights the rejection he faces in Israel.

Earn your bread there
This phrase implies that Amos is a professional prophet, suggesting that he should make his living by prophesying in Judah. The Hebrew concept of "bread" (לֶחֶם, lechem) often symbolizes sustenance and livelihood. Amaziah's words are dismissive, insinuating that Amos's prophecies are motivated by financial gain rather than divine calling. This accusation reflects a misunderstanding of the prophetic vocation, which is driven by obedience to God rather than material reward.

and do your prophesying there
Amaziah's instruction to "do your prophesying" in Judah further emphasizes his rejection of Amos's message. The Hebrew root for "prophesying" (נָבָא, naba) involves speaking forth a divine message. This highlights the core of Amos's mission—to deliver God's word regardless of opposition. Historically, prophets were often seen as troublemakers by those in power, yet their role was crucial in calling the people back to covenant faithfulness.

(12, 13) Jeroboam treated the charge made by Amaziah with indifference, or perhaps with awe: at least, with silence. And so the priest of Bethel takes upon himself to dismiss the prophet from the kingdom. The word for "seer" is here chozeh, one who has visions, a word not used in a contemptuous sense here or in the Old Testament generally. The expression "there eat bread and prophecy" is a hendiadys for "there live on your profession as a prophet," not here. To this Amos replies that that was not his profession (Amos 7:14). Bethel is spoken of as the "holy place," or sanctuary, and also as the "royal residence" (E.V., "king's court"). Men blinded by prejudice, and bewildered by the light of our Lord's holy presence, besought him to depart from them. The awful peril of imploring God's messenger to withdraw is frequently referred to in Scripture. (Comp. Luke 10:10-12.)

Verse 12. - Also Amaziah said. Jeroboam appears to have taken no steps in consequence of this accusation, either deeming that the words of a visionary were unworthy of serious consideration, or, like Herod (Matthew 14:5), fearing the people, who had been impressed by the prophet's words and bold bearing. Therefore Amaziah endeavours by his own authority to make Amos leave the country, or else does not wait for the command of the king, who was probably at Samaria. O thou seer! Amaaiah calls Amos chozeh ὁ ὁρῶν (1 Chronicles 21:9; 1 Chronicles 25:5), either with reference to the visions just given, or in derision of his claims - as we might say, "visionary." Flee thee away; fly for thine own good to escape punishment, patronizing and counselling him. Go to the land of Judah; where doubtless your announcement of the ruin of the rival kingdom will be acceptable. Eat bread. Amaziah speaks, as if Amos was paid for his prophecies, made a gain of godliness. Prophesy there. "Vaticinare in terra Jude, ubi libenter audiuntur insani" (St. Jerome). The idoloatrous priest has no conception of the inspiration under which the prophet speaks. He judges others by himself, attributing to Amos the sordid motives by which he himself was influenced.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And Amaziah
אֲמַצְיָה֙ (’ă·maṣ·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 558: Amaziah -- 'Yah is mighty', the name of several Israelites

said
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Amos,
עָמ֔וֹס (‘ā·mō·ws)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5986: Amos -- an Israelite prophet

“Go away,
לֵ֥ךְ (lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

you seer!
חֹזֶ֕ה (ḥō·zeh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2374: A beholder in vision, a compact

Flee
בְּרַח־ (bə·raḥ-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1272: To bolt, to flee suddenly

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the land
אֶ֣רֶץ (’e·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Judah;
יְהוּדָ֑ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

earn your bread
וֶאֱכָל־ (we·’ĕ·ḵāl-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

there
וְשָׁ֖ם (wə·šām)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

and do your prophesying
תִּנָּבֵֽא׃ (tin·nā·ḇê)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5012: To prophesy, speak, by inspiration

there,
שָׁ֣ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither


Links
Amos 7:12 NIV
Amos 7:12 NLT
Amos 7:12 ESV
Amos 7:12 NASB
Amos 7:12 KJV

Amos 7:12 BibleApps.com
Amos 7:12 Biblia Paralela
Amos 7:12 Chinese Bible
Amos 7:12 French Bible
Amos 7:12 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Amos 7:12 Amaziah also said to Amos You seer (Amo. Am)
Amos 7:11
Top of Page
Top of Page