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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed.

Context of Amos 5:14

12For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate. 13Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time. 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. 15Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. 16Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord: "In all the squares there shall be wailing, and in all the streets they shall say, 'Alas! Alas!' They shall call the farmers to mourning and to wailing those who are skilled in lamentation,

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 34:12What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?
• Proverbs 11:27Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.
• Isaiah 1:16Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,
• Isaiah 55:2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
• Micah 6:8He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, 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 added to you.
• Romans 2:7to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
• Amos 3:3"Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?
• Genesis 39:2The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.
• Exodus 3:12He said, "But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."
• Joshua 1:9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
• 1 Chronicles 28:20Then David said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.
• 2 Chronicles 15:2and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
• Psalms 46:11The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
• Isaiah 8:10Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.
• Matthew 1:23"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God 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