Amos 9:6 He builds His upper rooms in the heavens and founds His vault upon the earth. He summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth. The LORD is His name.

◄ Amos 9:6 ►

New International Version
he builds his lofty palace in the heavens and sets its foundation on the earth; he 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
The LORD’s home reaches up to the heavens, while its foundation is on the earth. He draws up water from the oceans and pours it down as rain on the land. The LORD is his name!

English Standard Version
who builds his upper chambers in the heavens and founds his vault upon the earth; who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out upon the surface of the earth— the LORD is his name.

Berean Standard Bible
He builds His upper rooms in the heavens and founds His vault upon the earth. He summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth. The LORD is His name.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
He who builds His layers in the sky, And has founded His strata in the earth; Who 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
The One who builds His upper chambers in the heavens And has founded His vaulted dome over the earth, He who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth, The LORD is His name.

NASB 1995
The One who builds His upper chambers in the heavens And has founded His vaulted dome over the earth, He who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth, The LORD is His name.

NASB 1977
The One who builds His upper chambers in the heavens, And has founded His vaulted dome over the earth, He who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth, The LORD is His name.

Legacy Standard Bible
The One who builds His upper chambers in the heavens And has founded His vaulted dome over the earth; The One who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth; Yahweh is His name.

Amplified Bible
It is He who builds His upper chambers in the heavens And has established His vaulted dome (the firmament of heaven) over the earth, He who calls to the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth— The LORD is His name.

Christian Standard Bible
He builds his upper chambers in the heavens and lays the foundation of his vault on the earth. He 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
He builds His upper chambers in the heavens and lays the foundation of His vault on the earth. He summons the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth. Yahweh is His name.

American Standard Version
it is he that buildeth his chambers in the heavens, and hath founded his vault upon the earth; he 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
He built his palace in the heavens and let its foundations rest on the earth. He scoops up the ocean and empties it on the earth. His name is the LORD.

English Revised Version
it is he that buildeth his chambers in the heaven, and hath founded his vault upon 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The one who builds stairs up to heaven and sets their foundation on the earth, the one who calls for the water in the sea and pours it over the face of the earth- His name is the LORD.

Good News Translation
The LORD builds his home in the heavens, and over the earth he puts the dome of the sky. He calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the earth. His name is the LORD!

International Standard Version
who is building his stairway to heaven and setting its foundation on earth; who is calling for the waters of the sea and pouring them out over the surface of the land— the LORD is his name!

Majority Standard Bible
He builds His upper rooms in the heavens and founds His vault upon the earth. He summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth. The LORD is His name.

NET Bible
He builds the upper rooms of his palace in heaven and sets its foundation supports on the earth. He summons the water of the sea and pours it out on the earth's surface. The LORD is his name.

New Heart English Bible
It is he who builds his upper chamber in the heavens, and has founded his vault on the earth; he 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
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.

World English Bible
It is he who builds his rooms in the heavens, and has founded his vault on the earth; he 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
Who is building His upper chambers in the heavens; As for His troop, "" On earth He has founded it, "" Who is calling for the waters of the sea, "" And pours them out on the face of the land, "" YHWH [is] His Name.

Young's Literal Translation
Who is building in the heavens His upper chambers; As to His troop, Upon earth He hath founded it, Who is calling for the waters of the sea, And poureth them out on the face of the land, Jehovah is His name.

Smith's Literal Translation
He building his ascents in the heavens, and founding his arches upon the earth; he calling to the waters of the sea, and he will pour them forth upon the face of the earth: Jehovah his name.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
He that buildeth his ascension in heaven, and hath founded his bundle upon the earth: who 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
He establishes his ascension into heaven, and he has founded his bundle on the earth. He calls the waters of the ocean, and pours them over the face of the earth. The Lord is his name.

New American Bible
Who has built his upper chamber in heaven, and established his vault over the earth; Who summons the waters of the sea and pours them upon the surface of the earth— the LORD is his name.

New Revised Standard Version
who builds his upper chambers in the heavens, and founds his vault upon the earth; who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the surface of the earth— the LORD is his name.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
It is he who has built his stories in heaven, and has made his possessions in the earth; who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the face of the earth; the LORD of hosts is his name.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He who built his stairs in Heaven and sets in order his property in the earth, who calls the waters of the sea and he pours them out on the face of the Earth; LORD JEHOVAH of Hosts, his name!

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
It is He that buildeth His upper chambers in the heaven, And hath founded His vault upon 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
It is he that builds his ascent up to the sky, and establishes his promise on the earth; who calls the water of the sea, and pours it out on the face of the earth; the Lord Almighty is his name.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Destruction of Israel
…5The Lord GOD of Hosts, He who touches the earth and it melts, and all its dwellers mourn—all the land rises like the Nile, then sinks like the river of Egypt— 6He builds His upper rooms in the heavens and founds His vault upon the earth. He summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth. The LORD is His name. 7“Are you not like the Cushites to Me, O children of Israel?” declares the LORD. “Did I not bring Israel up from the land of Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Arameans from Kir?…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Jeremiah 10:12-13
The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. / When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

Psalm 104:3
laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind.

Isaiah 40:22
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

Job 26:7-10
He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth upon nothing. / He wraps up the waters in His clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their own weight. / He covers the face of the full moon, spreading over it His cloud. ...

Psalm 135:6-7
The LORD does all that pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and in all their depths. / He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

Jeremiah 51:15-16
The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. / When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

Isaiah 45:12
It is I who made the earth and created man upon it. It was My hands that stretched out the heavens, and I ordained all their host.

Job 9:8
He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.

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. ...

Isaiah 42:5
This is what God the LORD says—He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it:

Colossians 1:16-17
For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. / He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Hebrews 1:2-3
But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. / The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Revelation 4:11
“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”

Acts 17:24-25
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. / Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.

Treasury of Scripture

It is he that builds his stories in the heaven, and has founded his troop in the earth; he that calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.

buildeth.

Psalm 104:3,13
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: …

stories.

troop.

Genesis 2:1
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

calleth.

Amos 5:8
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:

Genesis 7:11-19
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…

Jeremiah 5:22
Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

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.

Exodus 3:14,15
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you…

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Amos 9

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

Berean Study Bible

He builds His upper chambers in the heavens
The phrase "upper chambers" refers to the divine dwelling place of God, emphasizing His sovereignty and transcendence. In Hebrew, the word for "upper chambers" is "ma'alot," which can also mean steps or ascents, suggesting a place of elevation and authority. This imagery reflects the ancient Near Eastern concept of gods residing in the heavens, but here it underscores the unique monotheistic belief in Yahweh's supreme power over all creation. The heavens symbolize not just physical space but the realm of divine authority and majesty.

and founds His vault upon the earth
The "vault" or "dome" (Hebrew: "aguddah") signifies the firmament or the sky, which God has established over the earth. This imagery is reminiscent of the creation narrative in Genesis, where God separates the waters and establishes the sky. It highlights God's creative power and His ability to order the cosmos. The earth serves as the foundation for His creation, indicating stability and purpose in His design. This phrase reassures believers of God's control over the natural world and His intentionality in creation.

He summons the waters of the sea
The act of summoning the waters demonstrates God's command over the chaotic forces of nature. In ancient cultures, the sea often represented chaos and danger, yet here, God exercises authority over it. The Hebrew verb "qara" (to summon or call) implies not just a request but a command that must be obeyed. This reflects God's omnipotence and His ability to bring order out of chaos, a theme consistent throughout Scripture, from the parting of the Red Sea to Jesus calming the storm.

and pours them over the face of the earth
This phrase illustrates God's control over the distribution of waters, essential for life and sustenance. The imagery of pouring suggests abundance and provision, as well as judgment, as seen in the flood narrative. The Hebrew word "shaphak" (to pour) conveys both blessing and judgment, depending on the context. This duality serves as a reminder of God's justice and mercy, His ability to provide for His creation, and His right to judge it.

the LORD is His name
The declaration of "the LORD" (Yahweh) as His name is a powerful affirmation of God's identity and covenant relationship with His people. In Hebrew, "Yahweh" is the personal name of God, revealed to Moses at the burning bush, signifying His eternal existence and faithfulness. This name is a reminder of God's unchanging nature and His promises to Israel. It calls believers to recognize His authority, worship Him alone, and trust in His sovereign plans.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - Stories; ἀνάβασιν (Septuagint); ascensionem (Vulgate); upper chambers, or the stages by which is the ascent to the highest heavens (comp. Deuteronomy 10:14; 1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 104:3). His troop (aguddah); vault. The word is used for "the bonds" of the yoke in Isaiah 58:6; for "the bunch" of hyssop in Exodus 12:22. So the Vulgate here renders fasciculum suum, with the notion that the stories or chambers just mentioned are bound together to connect heaven and earth. But the clause means, God hath founded the vault or firmament of heaven upon (not in) the earth, where his throne is placed, and whence he sends the rain. The Septuagint renders, τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν αὐτοῦ, "his promise." So the Syriac. The waters of the sea. The reference is to the Deluge (Amos 5:8; Genesis 7:4, 11).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

He builds
הַבּוֹנֶ֤ה (hab·bō·w·neh)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1129: To build

His upper rooms
מַעֲלוֹתָ֔יו (ma·‘ă·lō·w·ṯāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4609: Elevation, the act, the condition, a climactic progression

in the heavens
בַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ (ḇaš·šā·ma·yim)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

and founds
יְסָדָ֑הּ (yə·sā·ḏāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3245: To set, to found, to sit down together, settle, consult

His vault
וַאֲגֻדָּת֖וֹ (wa·’ă·ḡud·dā·ṯōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 92: A band, bundle, knot, arch

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

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

He summons
הַקֹּרֵ֣א (haq·qō·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 9:6 It is he who builds his chambers (Amo. Am)