Amos 7:17
New International Version
“Therefore this is what the LORD says: “’Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be measured and divided up, and you yourself will die in a pagan country. And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.’”

New Living Translation
But this is what the LORD says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in this city, and your sons and daughters will be killed. Your land will be divided up, and you yourself will die in a foreign land. And the people of Israel will certainly become captives in exile, far from their homeland.’”

English Standard Version
Therefore thus says the LORD: “‘Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided up with a measuring line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.’”

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be divided by a measuring line, and you yourself will die on pagan soil. And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their homeland.’ ”

King James Bible
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.

New King James Version
“Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘Your wife shall be a harlot in the city; Your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword; Your land shall be divided by survey line; You shall die in a defiled land; And Israel shall surely be led away captive From his own land.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
Therefore, this is what the LORD says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, your land will be parceled up by a measuring line, and you yourself will die upon unclean soil. Furthermore Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’”

NASB 1995
“Therefore, thus says the LORD, ‘Your wife will become a harlot in the city, your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, your land will be parceled up by a measuring line and you yourself will die upon unclean soil. Moreover, Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’”

NASB 1977
“Therefore, thus says the LORD, ‘Your wife will become a harlot in the city, your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, your land will be parceled up by a measuring line, and you yourself will die upon unclean soil. Moreover, Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, thus says Yahweh, ‘Your wife will play the harlot in the city, your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, your land will be divided up by a measuring line, and you yourself will die upon unclean land. Moreover, Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’”

Amplified Bible
Therefore, thus says the LORD, ‘Your wife shall become a prostitute in the city [when the Assyrians capture Samaria] and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided by a measuring line; you yourself shall die in an unclean and defiled [pagan] land, and Israel shall certainly go from its land into exile.’”

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, this is what the LORD says: Your wife will be a prostitute in the city, your sons and daughters will fall by the sword, and your land will be divided up with a measuring line. You yourself will die on pagan soil, and Israel will certainly go into exile from its homeland.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, this is what the LORD says: Your wife will be a prostitute in the city, your sons and daughters will fall by the sword, and your land will be divided up with a measuring line. You yourself will die on pagan soil, and Israel will certainly go into exile from its homeland.

American Standard Version
therefore thus saith Jehovah: Thy wife shall be a harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou thyself shalt die in a land that is unclean, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.

Contemporary English Version
Now, listen to what the LORD says about you: Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, your sons and daughters will be killed in war, and your land will be divided among others. You will die in a country of foreigners, and the people of Israel will be dragged from their homeland.

English Revised Version
therefore thus saith the LORD: Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou thyself shalt die in a land that is unclean, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"However, this is what the LORD says: Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will be killed with swords. Your land will be surveyed and divided up, and you will die in an unclean land. Israel cannot avoid being taken from its land into exile."

Good News Translation
And so, Amaziah, the LORD says to you, 'Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your children will be killed in war. Your land will be divided up and given to others, and you yourself will die in a heathen country. And the people of Israel will certainly be taken away from their own land into exile.'"

International Standard Version
Therefore this is what the LORD says: "Your wife will become a whore in the city, and your sons and daughters will die by the sword. Your land will be divided and apportioned, and you will die in a foreign land. Israel will surely go into exile, far from its homeland."'"

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be divided by a measuring line, and you yourself will die on pagan soil. And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their homeland.’”

NET Bible
"Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'Your wife will become a prostitute in the streets and your sons and daughters will die violently. Your land will be given to others and you will die in a foreign land. Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.'"

New Heart English Bible
Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided by line; and you yourself shall die in a land that is unclean, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be a harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go from his land into captivity.

World English Bible
Therefore Yahweh says: ‘Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided by line; and you yourself shall die in a land that is unclean, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
therefore, thus said YHWH: Your wife goes whoring in the city, "" And your sons and your daughters fall by sword, "" And your land is apportioned by line, "" And you die on an unclean land, "" And Israel certainly removes from off its land.”

Young's Literal Translation
therefore thus said Jehovah: Thy wife in the city doth go a-whoring, And thy sons and thy daughters by sword do fall, And thy land by line is apportioned, And thou on an unclean land diest, And Israel certainly removeth from off its land.'

Smith's Literal Translation
For this, thus said Jehovah: Thy wife shall commit fornication in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line, and thou shalt die upon a polluted land: and Israel being taken captive shall be carried into captivity from his land.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore thus saith the Lord: Thy wife shall play the harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be measured by a line: and thou shalt die in a polluted land, and Israel shall go into captivity out of their land.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Because of that, the Lord says this: “Your wife will fornicate in the city, and your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, and your soil will be measured with a string. And you will die on polluted land, and Israel will be taken into captivity out of their land.”

New American Bible
Therefore thus says the LORD: Your wife shall become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword. Your land shall be parcelled out by measuring line, and you yourself shall die in an unclean land; and Israel shall be exiled from its land.”

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘Your wife shall become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be parceled out by line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore thus says the LORD: Your wife shall play the harlot in your own city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided by line; and you yourself shall die in a polluted land; and Israel shall surely be carried away captive from his land.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because of this, thus says LORD JEHOVAH: ’your wife shall commit prostitution in your city and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land will be divided with a measuring line, and you shall die in the unclean land, and Israel will be stolen into captivity from his land!’
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Therefore thus saith the LORD: Thy wife shall be a harlot in the city, And thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, And thy land shall be divided by line; And thou thyself shalt die in an unclean land, And Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Therefore thus saith the Lord; Thy wife shall be a harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be measured with the line; and thou shalt die in an unclean land; and Israel shall be led captive out of his land. Thus has the Lord God shewed me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Amaziah Accuses Amos
16Now, therefore, hear the word of the LORD. You say: ‘Do not prophesy against Israel; do not preach against the house of Isaac.’ 17Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be divided by a measuring line, and you yourself will die on pagan soil. And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their homeland.’”

Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:30
You will be pledged in marriage to a woman, but another man will violate her. You will build a house but will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard but will not enjoy its fruit.

2 Kings 17:6
In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried away the Israelites to Assyria, where he settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes.

Hosea 9:3
They will not remain in the land of the LORD; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria.

Jeremiah 6:12
Their houses will be turned over to others, their fields and wives as well, for I will stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land,” declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 4:13
Then the LORD said, “This is how the Israelites will eat their defiled bread among the nations to which I will banish them.”

Isaiah 7:20
On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to remove your beard as well.

Micah 1:16
Shave yourselves bald and cut off your hair in mourning for your precious children; make yourselves as bald as an eagle, for they will go from you into exile.

Lamentations 5:2
Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.

Hosea 4:13
They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.

Isaiah 39:7
And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

Matthew 24:2
“Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Luke 21:24
They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Acts 7:43
You have taken along the tabernacle of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’

Romans 11:25
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

Revelation 11:2
But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore thus said the LORD; Your wife shall be an harlot in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided by line; and you shall die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.

Thy wife.

Isaiah 13:16
Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.

Jeremiah 20:6
And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.

Jeremiah 28:12,16
Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, …

thy land.

Psalm 78:55
He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

die.

2 Kings 17:6
In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

Ezekiel 4:13
And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them.

Hosea 9:3
They shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.

and Israel.

Amos 7:11
For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.

Leviticus 26:33-39
And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste…

Jeremiah 36:27-32
Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, …

Jump to Previous
Captive Captivity City Daughters Die Divided Fall Harlot Israel Line Polluted Prostitute Surely Sword Unclean Wife
Jump to Next
Captive Captivity City Daughters Die Divided Fall Harlot Israel Line Polluted Prostitute Surely Sword Unclean Wife
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.














“Therefore, this is what the LORD says”
This phrase introduces a divine pronouncement, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "YHWH," the sacred and personal name of God, which underscores His covenant relationship with Israel. This introduction sets the stage for a serious and irrevocable declaration from God, highlighting His role as the ultimate judge and ruler.

“Your wife will become a prostitute in the city,”
This part of the prophecy is both shocking and tragic. The Hebrew word for "prostitute" is "zanah," which implies not only sexual immorality but also a departure from faithfulness. This imagery is often used in the Bible to describe Israel's unfaithfulness to God. The mention of "the city" suggests public shame and humiliation, indicating the complete reversal of social status and respect.

“your sons and daughters will fall by the sword,”
The phrase "fall by the sword" is a common biblical expression for violent death in battle or conflict. This prophecy foretells the devastating loss of family, which would have been particularly grievous in ancient Israelite society, where family lineage and inheritance were of utmost importance. The use of "sons and daughters" highlights the totality of the loss, affecting both male and female offspring.

“your land will be divided with a measuring line,”
The "measuring line" is a tool used for dividing land, symbolizing the loss of property and inheritance. In ancient Israel, land was a divine gift and a sign of God's promise to His people. The division of land signifies the end of God's blessing and protection, leading to the dispersion and exile of the people.

“and you yourself will die in a pagan land.”
The phrase "pagan land" refers to a foreign territory, often associated with idolatry and godlessness. Dying in such a land implies a loss of identity and separation from the covenant community. This is a severe judgment, as it means dying away from the land God promised to His people, without the hope of a proper burial or remembrance.

“And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their homeland.”
The certainty of exile is emphasized by the word "surely," indicating the inevitability of this judgment. Exile was one of the most severe punishments for Israel, as it meant being uprooted from the land God had given them, losing their national identity, and living under foreign rule. This phrase underscores the consequences of Israel's persistent disobedience and rejection of God's covenant.

(17) Harlot.--This doom on Amaziah's wife is to be regarded as the hideous consequence of war. She shall be ravished. By the polluted land we are to understand Assyria, or the land of exile; for food eaten in any other land than Canaan, the land of Jehovah, was regarded as unclean (see W. R. Smith, O.T. in Jewish Church, pp. 235-8). We hear no more of Amaziah, nor do we know how or where he met his doom.

Verse 17. - With this denunciation compare that of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:3, etc.) against Pashur. As husband, as father, as citizen, Amamah shall suffer grievously. Shall be an harlot in the city. Not play the harlot willingly, but suffer open violence when the city is taken (comp. Isaiah 13:16; Lamentations 5:11). And thy daughters. This would be abnormal cruelty, as the Assyrians usually spared the women of conquered towns. Shall be divided by line. Amaziah's own land was to be portioned out to strangers by the measuring line (Zechariah 2:2). A polluted land; an unclean land; i.e. a Gentile country. Amaziah himself was to share his countrymen's captivity. The sins and idolatry of the people are often said to defile the land; e.g. Leviticus 18:25; Numbers 35:33; Jeremiah 2:7. Shall surely go into captivity; or, be led away captive. Amos repeats the very words which formed part of his accusation (ver. 11), in order to show that God's purpose is unchanged, and that he, the prophet, must utter the same denunciation (see the accomplishment, 2 Kings 17:6).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Therefore,
לָכֵ֞ן (lā·ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

this is what
כֹּה־ (kōh-)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

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

says:
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Your wife
אִשְׁתְּךָ֞ (’iš·tə·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

will become a prostitute
תִּזְנֶה֙ (tiz·neh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2181: To commit adultery, to commit idolatry

in the city,
בָּעִ֤יר (bā·‘îr)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

and your sons
וּבָנֶ֤יךָ (ū·ḇā·ne·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

and daughters
וּבְנֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ (ū·ḇə·nō·ṯe·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter

will fall
יִפֹּ֔לוּ (yip·pō·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

by the sword.
בַּחֶ֣רֶב (ba·ḥe·reḇ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

Your land
וְאַדְמָתְךָ֖ (wə·’aḏ·mā·ṯə·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land

will be divided
תְּחֻלָּ֑ק (tə·ḥul·lāq)
Verb - Pual - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2505: To be smooth, to apportion, separate

by a measuring line,
בַּחֶ֣בֶל (ba·ḥe·ḇel)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2256: A rope, a measuring line, a district, inheritance, a noose, a company, a throe, ruin

and you yourself
וְאַתָּ֗ה (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

will die
תָּמ֔וּת (tā·mūṯ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

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

pagan
טְמֵאָה֙ (ṭə·mê·’āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 2931: Unclean

soil.
אֲדָמָ֤ה (’ă·ḏā·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land

And Israel
וְיִ֨שְׂרָאֵ֔ל (wə·yiś·rā·’êl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

will surely
גָּלֹ֥ה (gā·lōh)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 1540: To denude, to exile, to reveal

go into exile,
יִגְלֶ֖ה (yiḡ·leh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1540: To denude, to exile, to reveal

away from
מֵעַ֥ל (mê·‘al)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

her homeland.’”
אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃ (’aḏ·mā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land


Links
Amos 7:17 NIV
Amos 7:17 NLT
Amos 7:17 ESV
Amos 7:17 NASB
Amos 7:17 KJV

Amos 7:17 BibleApps.com
Amos 7:17 Biblia Paralela
Amos 7:17 Chinese Bible
Amos 7:17 French Bible
Amos 7:17 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Amos 7:17 Therefore thus says Yahweh: 'Your wife shall (Amo. Am)
Amos 7:16
Top of Page
Top of Page