Amos 4:8

Amos 4:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.
• New International Version (NIV)People staggered from town to town for water but did not get enough to drink, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.
• English Standard Version (ESV)so two or three cities would wander to another city to drink water, and would not be satisfied; yet you did not return to me," declares the Lord.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So two or three cities wandered to another city to drink water, But they were not satisfied; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the Lord.

Context of Amos 4:8

6And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned to me, saith the LORD. 7And also I have withheld the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece on which it rained not withered. So two or three cities wandered to one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned to me, saith the LORD. 9I have smitten you with blighting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them : yet have ye not returned to me, saith the LORD. 10I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up to your nostrils: yet have ye not returned to me, saith the LORD.

Amos 4:8 word by word

וְנָע֡וּ שְׁתַּיִם֩ שָׁלֹ֨שׁ עָרִ֜ים אֶל־עִ֥יר אַחַ֛ת לִשְׁתּ֥וֹת מַ֖יִם וְלֹ֣א יִשְׂבָּ֑עוּ וְלֹֽא־שַׁבְתֶּ֥ם עָדַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
• citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• wanderedנוּעַnûa‛ · to shakeH5128
• oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• drinkשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
• waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
• satisfiedשָׂבֵעַώâba‛ ώâbêa‛ · to satisfyH7646
• returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• saithנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
• LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068

Cross-references for Amos 4:8

• 1 Kings 18:5And Ahab said to Obadiah, Go into the land, to all fountains of water, and to all brooks: perhaps we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
• Isaiah 41:17When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
• Jeremiah 14:3And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads.
• Ezekiel 4:16Moreover he said to me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and in horror:
• Micah 6:14Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.
• Haggai 1:6Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe yourselves, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
• Amos 4:6And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned to me, saith the LORD.
• Jeremiah 23:14I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them to me as Sodom, and its inhabitants as Gomorrah.
• Hosea 7:10And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.

Commentaries on Amos 4:8

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Two or three cities wandered into one city - Those then who were punished, were more than those who were reprieved. The word “wandered” literally, “trembled,” expresses the unsteady reeling gate of those exhausted, in quest of food. They staggered through weakness, and uncertain, amid the general drought, whither to betake themselves. This was done, not in punishment but to heal. God paused, in order to give them opportunity to repent; in deed, His…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-13Verses 6-13 See the folly of carnal hearts; they wander from one creature to another, seeking for something to satisfy, and labour for that which satisfies not; yet, after all, they will not incline their ear to Him in whom they might find all they can want. Preaching the gospel is as rain, and every thing withers where this rain is wanting. It were well if people were as wise for their souls as they are for their bodies; and, when they have not this rain…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-11God sent natural disasters to encourage his people to repent, but they did not respond sincerely. Amos ends each disaster account with the phrase: “yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-116-11. Jehovah details His several chastisements inflicted with a view to reclaiming them: but adds to each the same sad result, "yet have ye not returned unto Me" (Is 9:13; Jr 5:3; Ho 7:10); the monotonous repetition of the same burden marking their pitiable obstinacy. cleanness of teeth--explained by the parallel, "want of bread." The famine alluded to is that mentioned in 2Ki 8:1 [Grotius]. Where there is no food to masticate, the teeth are free from…Read the comment

Topics related to Amos 4:8

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Famine

In the dictionaries

• Prepare
• Amos (1)
• Joel (2)

Commentaries on Amos 4

• 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