Amos 5:14

Amos 5:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.
• New International Version (NIV)Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Seek good and not evil, That you may live; So the Lord God of hosts will be with you, As you have spoken.

Context of Amos 5:14

12For I know your crimes are many and your sins innumerable. They oppress the righteous, take a bribe, and deprive the poor of justice at the city gates. 13Therefore, those who have insight will keep silent at such a time, for the days are evil. Pursue good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord, the God of Armies, will be with you as you have claimed. 15Hate evil and love good; establish justice at the city gate. Perhaps the Lord, the God of Armies, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. 16Therefore the Lord, the God of Armies, the Lord, says: There will be wailing in all the public squares; they will cry out in anguish in all the streets. The farmer will be called on to mourn, and professional mourners to wail.

Amos 5:14 word by word

דִּרְשׁוּ־ט֥וֹב וְאַל־רָ֖ע לְמַ֣עַן תִּֽחְי֑וּ וִיהִי־כֵ֞ן יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־צְבָא֛וֹת אִתְּכֶ֖ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲמַרְתֶּֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Seekדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
• goodטוֹבţôb · goodH2896
• and not evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
• that ye may liveחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
• and so the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• the Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635
• shall be with you, as ye have spokenאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559

Cross-references for Amos 5:14

• Psalms 34:12Who is someone who desires life, loving a long life to enjoy what is good?
• Proverbs 11:27The one who searches for what is good seeks favor, but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.
• Isaiah 1:16“Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil.
• Isaiah 55:2Why do you spend silver on what is not food, and your wages on what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and you will enjoy the choicest of foods.
• Micah 6:8Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.
• Matthew 6:33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
• Romans 2:7eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality;
• Amos 3:3Can two walk together without agreeing to meet?
• Genesis 39:2The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.
• Exodus 3:12He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.”
• Joshua 1:9Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
• 1 Chronicles 28:20Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He won’t leave you or abandon you until all the work for the service of the Lord’s house is finished.
• 2 Chronicles 15:2So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Asa and all Judah and Benjamin, hear me. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will abandon you.
• Psalms 46:11The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.Selah
• Isaiah 8:10Devise a plan; it will fail. Make a prediction; it will not happen. For God is with us.
• Matthew 1:23See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”

Commentaries on Amos 5:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Seek good, and not evil - Is there a greater mystery in the world, than that a mall, instead of seeking good, will seek evil, knowing that it is evil? And so the Lord - As God is the Fountain of good, so they who seek the supreme good seek him: and they who seek shall find him; For the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with him.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Seek good and not evil - that is, and “seek not evil.” Amos again takes up his warning, “seek not Bethel; seek the Lord.” Now they not only “did evil,” but they “sought” it diligently; they were diligent in doing it, and so, in bringing it on themselves; they sought it out and the occasions of it. People “cannot seek good without first putting away evil, as it is written, cease to do evil, learn to do well‘ Isaiah 1:16-17.” “Ye cannot serve God and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-17Verses 7-17 The same almighty power can, for repenting sinners, easily turn affliction and sorrow into prosperity and joy, and as easily turn the prosperity of daring sinners into utter darkness. Evil times will not bear plain dealing; that is, evil men will not. And these men were evil men indeed, when wise and good men thought it in vain even to speak to them. Those who will seek and love that which is good, may help to save the land from ruin. It…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14Amos clarifies his earlier hints (Amos 5:4, 6). Israel must do what is good and right in order to survive.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. and so--on condition of your "seeking good." shall be with you, as ye have spoken--as ye have boasted; namely, that God is with you, and that you are His people (Mi 3:11).Read the comment

Topics related to Amos 5:14

• Seekers

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Manifold
• Seek
• Calf, Golden

Commentaries on Amos 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings