The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text emphasizes that Amos "saw" these words, not in the ordinary sense, but through divine vision. This highlights that his message wasn't his own opinion but a direct revelation from God, underscoring his role as a conduit for divine truth.
The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa in Judah, receives a divine vision concerning the northern kingdom of Israel during a time of outward prosperity under Kings Uzziah of Judah and Jeroboam II of Israel. This prophetic word is delivered just two years before a significant earthquake, serving as a stark warning of impending divine judgment against Israel's corruption and injustice.
Why would God choose a simple shepherd to deliver a message of judgment to kings and nations? Discover the power in God's seemingly ordinary choices.
Amos begins by introducing himself not as a priest or a prince, but as a shepherd from Tekoa. This wasn't a prestigious position; Tekoa was a humble, somewhat desolate town known for its rugged landscape.
A Humble Origin
God's Grace in the Ordinary
Amos didn't just hear words; he 'saw' them. What does this divine 'seeing' mean for the message of prophecy?
The Hebrew word used for 'saw' in this verse is not the common word for ordinary sight. It signifies a profound, revelatory vision given by God.
Ask a follow-up
Divine Revelation
The Weight of the Message
The prophecy is dated by a specific, memorable event – an earthquake. What does this 'warning sign' tell us about God's timing and Israel's state?
The mention of 'two years before the earthquake' anchors Amos's prophecy in a specific historical moment. This wasn't just a random pronouncement; it was tied to a significant, terrifying event.
A Memorable Catastrophe
God's Patient Judgment
Amos delivered his message during a time of outward prosperity but deep spiritual and moral decay in both Israel and Judah, with the kingdom of Israel being the primary target of his prophecies.
c. 793 BC
Reign of Jeroboam II begins
Jeroboam II, an able ruler, begins his long reign over the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Under him, Israel experiences a period of significant prosperity and territorial expansion.
c. 788 BC— this verse
Amos prophesies
Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa in Judah, begins his prophetic ministry to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He is called by God during the prosperous reigns of Uzziah in Judah and Jeroboam II in Israel.
c. 787 BC
Great Earthquake occurs
A significant earthquake strikes the region, which serves as a divine sign and a marker of the impending judgment that Amos foretold. It is remembered for years to come.
c. 760 BC
Assyrian threat looms
While not directly mentioned in Amos 1:1, the growing power of the Neo-Assyrian Empire begins to cast a shadow over the region, a geopolitical reality influencing the context of prophetic warnings.
c. 753 BC
Reign of Uzziah ends
King Uzziah of Judah, a contemporary of Jeroboam II, concludes his long and prosperous reign. His later years were marked by leprosy after he usurped priestly duties.
c. 740 BC
Fall of Samaria to Assyria
Although occurring later, the eventual fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel to the Assyrians is the ultimate historical consequence of the corruption and judgment that Amos proclaimed.
This passage directly references the same earthquake mentioned in Amos, describing it as a terrifying event that caused people to flee, thus underscoring the magnitude of the historical and divine significance of Amos's prophecy.
Amos 7:14-15Amos himself recounts his background as a shepherd and fruit dresser, directly contrasting his humble origins with the prophetic office God called him to, echoing the introduction in chapter 1 and emphasizing God's choice of the unlikely.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29This New Testament passage highlights God's pattern of choosing the weak and lowly things of the world to confound the strong and wise, mirroring Amos's background as a humble shepherd being used by God to speak to kings and nations.
Isaiah 6:1-5Similar to Amos's prophetic calling described as a 'seeing' or vision, Isaiah also has a profound vision of God's majesty in the Temple, which leads to his commissioning as a prophet, showing a common theme of divine revelation initiating prophetic ministry.
Jeremiah 1:5Like Amos, Jeremiah is told by God that he was known and consecrated before his birth for his prophetic role, emphasizing that God's calling and the origin of their prophecies were divinely ordained, not self-initiated.
barnesAmos 1:1: "The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake."
The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen - "Amos begins by setting forth his own nothingness, and withal the great grace of his Teacher and Instructor, the Holy Spirit, referring all to His glory." He, like David, Peter, Paul, Matthew, was one of "the weak things of…
calvinAmos 1:1: "The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake."
The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
Verba Amos, qui fuit inter pastores (vel, pecu…
The text emphasizes that Amos "saw" these words, not in the ordinary sense, but through divine vision. This highlights that his message wasn't his own opinion but a direct revelation from God, underscoring his role as a conduit for divine truth.
Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa in Judah, receives a divine vision concerning the northern kingdom of Israel during a time of outward prosperity under Kings Uzziah of Judah and Jeroboam II of Israel. This prophetic word is delivered just two years before a significant earthquake, serving as a stark warning of impending divine judgment against Israel's corruption and injustice.
Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa in Judah, receives a divine vision concerning the northern kingdom of Israel during a time of outward prosperity under Kings Uzziah of Judah and Jeroboam II of Israel. This prophetic word is delivered just two years before a significant earthquake, serving as a stark warning of impending divine judgment against Israel's corruption and injustice.
"The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake." — The text emphasizes that Amos "saw" these words, not in the ordinary sense, but through divine vision. This highlights that his message wasn't his own opinion but a direct revelation from God, unders…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026