Amos 9:3 Though they hide themselves atop Carmel, there I will track them and seize them; and though they hide from Me at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them.

◄ Amos 9:3 ►

New International Version
Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, there I will hunt them down and seize them. Though they hide from my eyes at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them.

New Living Translation
Even if they hide at the very top of Mount Carmel, I will search them out and capture them. Even if they hide at the bottom of the ocean, I will send the sea serpent after them to bite them.

English Standard Version
If they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, from there I will search them out and take them; and if they hide from my sight at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them.

Berean Standard Bible
Though they hide themselves atop Carmel, there I will track them and seize them; and though they hide from Me at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them.

King James Bible
And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:

New King James Version
And though they hide themselves on top of Carmel, From there I will search and take them; Though they hide from My sight at the bottom of the sea, From there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them;

New American Standard Bible
“And though they hide on the summit of Carmel, I will track them down and take them from there; And though they hide themselves from My sight on the bottom of the sea, I will command the serpent from there, and it will bite them.

NASB 1995
“Though they hide on the summit of Carmel, I will search them out and take them from there; And though they conceal themselves from My sight on the floor of the sea, From there I will command the serpent and it will bite them.

NASB 1977
“And though they hide on the summit of Carmel, I will search them out and take them from there; And though they conceal themselves from My sight on the floor of the sea, From there I will command the serpent and it will bite them.

Legacy Standard Bible
And though they hide on the top of Carmel, From there I will search them out and take them; And though they conceal themselves from My eyes on the floor of the sea, From there I will command the serpent, and it will bite them.

Amplified Bible
“Though they hide on the summit of [Mount] Carmel, I will track them down and take them from there; And though they hide from My sight on the floor of the sea, From there I shall command the serpent and it will bite them.

Christian Standard Bible
If they hide on the top of Carmel, from there I will track them down and seize them; if they conceal themselves from my sight on the sea floor, from there I will command the sea serpent to bite them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, from there I will track them down and seize them; if they conceal themselves from My sight on the sea floor, from there I will command the sea serpent to bite them.

American Standard Version
And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and it shall bite them.

Contemporary English Version
If they escape to the peaks of Mount Carmel, I'll search and find them. And if they hide from me at the bottom of the ocean, I'll command a sea monster to bite them.

English Revised Version
And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Even if they hide on top of Mount Carmel, I will look for them and take them from there. Even if they hide from me at the bottom of the sea, I will command a sea snake to bite them.

Good News Translation
If they hide on the top of Mount Carmel, I will search for them and catch them. If they hide from me at the bottom of the sea, I will command the sea monster to bite them.

International Standard Version
Even if they hide at the top of Mount Carmel, from there I will search and seize them. Even if they hide from my sight in the depths of the sea, from there I will order the serpent to strike them.

Majority Standard Bible
Though they hide themselves atop Carmel, there I will track them and seize them; and though they hide from Me at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them.

NET Bible
Even if they were to hide on the top of Mount Carmel, I would hunt them down and take them from there. Even if they tried to hide from me at the bottom of the sea, from there I would command the Sea Serpent to bite them.

New Heart English Bible
Though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out there; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent, and it will bite them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they are hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:

World English Bible
Though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out from there; and though they be hidden from my sight in the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent, and it will bite them.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And if they are hid in the top of Carmel, "" From there I search out, and have taken them, "" And if they are hid from My eyes in the bottom of the sea, "" From there I command the serpent, "" And it has bitten them.

Young's Literal Translation
And if they be hid in the top of Carmel, From thence I search out, and have taken them, And if they be hid from Mine eyes in the bottom of the sea, From thence I command the serpent, And it hath bitten them.

Smith's Literal Translation
And if they shall hide in the head of Carmel, from thence will I search and take them; and if they shall be concealed from before mine eyes in the bottom of the sea, from thence I will command the serpent, and he bit them.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And though they be hid in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them away from thence : and though they hide themselves from my eyes in the depth of the sea, there will I command the serpent and he shall bite them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And if they were hiding at the top of Carmel, when searching there, I would steal them away, and if they conceal themselves from my eyes in the depths of the sea, I will command the serpent there and he will bite them.

New American Bible
Though they hide on the summit of Carmel, there too I will hunt them down and take them; Though they hide from my gaze at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them.

New Revised Standard Version
Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, from there I will search out and take them; and though they hide from my sight at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the sea-serpent, and it shall bite them.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out from there; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent and it shall bite them;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if they will hide at the top of Karmela, from there I shall search and I shall take them, and if they will hide from before my eyes in the depths of the sea, there I shall command the Serpent and it shall bite them

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; And though they be hid from My sight in the bottom of the sea, Thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
If they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, thence will I search them out and take them; and if they should go down from my presence into the depths of the sea, there will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Destruction of Israel
…2Though they dig down to Sheol, from there My hand will take them; and though they climb up to heaven, from there I will pull them down. 3Though they hide themselves atop Carmel, there I will track them and seize them; and though they hide from Me at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them. 4Though they are driven by their enemies into captivity, there I will command the sword to slay them. I will fix My eyes upon them for harm and not for good.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? / If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. / If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea, ...

Jeremiah 23:24
“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.

Job 34:22
There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.

Jonah 1:3-4
Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. / Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart.

Isaiah 29:15
Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know?”

Obadiah 1:4
Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 49:16
The terror you cause and the pride of your heart have deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks, O occupiers of the mountain summit. Though you elevate your nest like the eagle, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.

Psalm 139:11-12
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”— / even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You.

Ezekiel 28:3-4
Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you! / By your wisdom and understanding you have gained your wealth and amassed gold and silver for your treasuries.

Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.

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.

Revelation 6:15-17
Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. / And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. / For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”

Matthew 10:26
So do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.

Luke 8:17
For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light.

Romans 11:33
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!

Treasury of Scripture

And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out there; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, there will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:

hide.

Job 34:22
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

Jeremiah 23:23,24
Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? …

hid.

Psalm 139:9-11
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; …

Jeremiah 16:16
Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.

the serpent.

Isaiah 27:1
In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.

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Amos 9

1. The certainty of the desolation.
11. The restoring of the tabernacle of David.

Berean Study Bible

And though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel
The phrase "hide themselves" comes from the Hebrew root "סתר" (satar), which means to conceal or hide. This suggests an attempt to escape or avoid detection, indicating a sense of fear or guilt. Mount Carmel, a significant geographical location in Israel, was known for its lush vegetation and strategic height, making it a natural place for refuge. Historically, Carmel was a site of religious significance, as seen in the confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). The imagery here underscores the futility of trying to escape God's omnipresence, as even the most remote and secure places cannot hide one from His reach.

from there I will search them out and take them
The phrase "search them out" is derived from the Hebrew "חפש" (chaphas), which conveys a diligent and thorough search. This reflects God's relentless pursuit of justice and His ability to uncover all things hidden. The word "take" comes from "לקח" (laqach), meaning to seize or capture. This indicates God's sovereign power to bring judgment, emphasizing that no one can escape His divine authority. Theologically, this serves as a reminder of God's omnipotence and the certainty of His judgment, reinforcing the idea that human efforts to evade divine justice are ultimately futile.

Though they hide from My eyes at the bottom of the sea
The imagery of hiding "at the bottom of the sea" evokes the Hebrew concept of the depths, often associated with chaos and the unknown. The sea, in ancient Near Eastern thought, was a symbol of mystery and danger. The phrase "from My eyes" highlights God's omniscience, as nothing is hidden from His sight. This serves as a powerful reminder of God's all-seeing nature, echoing the sentiment found in Psalm 139:7-12, where the psalmist acknowledges that there is no place to flee from God's presence.

there I will command the serpent to bite them
The "serpent" in this context may refer to a sea creature, possibly a metaphor for danger or divine retribution. The Hebrew word "נחש" (nachash) can mean serpent or snake, often symbolizing evil or judgment in biblical literature. The act of commanding the serpent signifies God's control over creation and His ability to use it as an instrument of judgment. This imagery reinforces the theme of inescapable divine justice, as even the depths of the sea cannot protect one from God's decrees. Theologically, it serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the certainty of divine retribution.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) Serpent.--On this expression, i.e., the "waterserpent," comp. Isaiah 27:1.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - The top of Carmel. Among the woods and thickets. There are no eaves on the summit of Carmel. "Amos tolls us that in his day the top of it was a place to hide in; nor has it changed its character in this respect ... I would not have been prompted to place 'the top of Carmel' third in such a series of hiding places, yet I can fully appreciate the comparison from my own experience. Ascending from the south, we followed a wild, narrow wady overhung by trees, bushes, and tangled creepers, through which my guide thought we could get up to the top; but it became absolutely impracticable, and we were obliged to find our way back again. And even after we reached the summit, it was so rough and broken in some places, and the thorn bushes so thickset and sharp, that our clothes were torn and our hands and faces severely lacerated; nor could I see my guide at times ten steps ahead of me. From such biblical intimations, we may believe that Carmel was not very thickly inhabited" (Thomson, 'The Land and the Book,' Central Palestine, p. 237, etc.). Other writers speak of the occurrence of caves and deep valleys in the Carmel range. In the bottom of the sea. Both this and heaven (ver. 2) are impracticable hiding places, and are used poetically to show the absolute impossibility of escape. Serpent (nachash, elsewhere called leviathan and tannin, Isaiah 27:1), some kind of seamonster supposed to be venomous. Dr. Pusey mentions that certain poisonous hydrophidae are found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. and may probably infest the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Though
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

they hide themselves
יֵחָֽבְאוּ֙ (yê·ḥā·ḇə·’ū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2244: To withdraw, hide

atop
בְּרֹ֣אשׁ (bə·rōš)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7218: The head

Carmel,
הַכַּרְמֶ֔ל (hak·kar·mel)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3760: Carmel -- a mountain promontory on the Mediterranean, also a city near Hebron

there
מִשָּׁ֥ם (miš·šām)
Preposition-m | Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

I will track them
אֲחַפֵּ֖שׂ (’ă·ḥap·pêś)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2664: To seek, to conceal oneself, mask

and seize them;
וּלְקַחְתִּ֑ים (ū·lə·qaḥ·tîm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3947: To take

and though
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

they hide
יִסָּ֨תְר֜וּ (yis·sā·ṯə·rū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5641: To hide, conceal

from
מִנֶּ֤גֶד (min·ne·ḡeḏ)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5048: A front, part opposite, a counterpart, mate, over against, before

Me
עֵינַי֙ (‘ê·nay)
Noun - cdc | first person common singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

at the bottom of
בְּקַרְקַ֣ע (bə·qar·qa‘)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7172: Floor, of a, building, the sea

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

there
מִשָּׁ֛ם (miš·šām)
Preposition-m | Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

I will command
אֲצַוֶּ֥ה (’ă·ṣaw·weh)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

the serpent
הַנָּחָ֖שׁ (han·nā·ḥāš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5175: A serpent

to bite them.
וּנְשָׁכָֽם׃ (ū·nə·šā·ḵām)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5391: To strike with a, sting, to oppress with usury

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OT Prophets: Amos 9:3 Though they hide themselves in the top (Amo. Am)