And I raised up some of your sons for prophets, and some of your young men for Nazirites. Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?” declares the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God points to prophets and Nazarites not just as gifts, but as active choices He made from their own sons and young men, highlighting His intentional investment in their spiritual life and the personal sacrifice involved in these callings. This wasn't just about divine provision, but about God drawing out specific individuals from their own families for a life of separation and divine service.
And I raised up some of your sons for prophets, and some of your young men for Nazirites. Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?” declares the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God recounts His blessings to Israel, reminding them that He provided them with prophets from their sons to guide them and Nazarites from their young men to serve as examples of holy living and self-restraint. He then directly challenges them, asking if these gifts of spiritual guidance and devotion are not undeniable proofs of His favor.
God didn't just give Israel land and freedom; He gave them spiritual guides and examples of devotion. What does it mean that God 'raised up' these special people?
Amos highlights two profound gifts God gave Israel: prophets and Nazarites.
Prophets: Voices of Divine Truth
God intentionally raised up prophets from among the Israelites. These weren't just random people; they were chosen and empowered by God to speak His word. Think of figures like Samuel, Elijah, or Jonah. Their role was to teach, warn, and guide the people, pointing them back to God's ways. This was a direct act of God's grace, ensuring His people had access to divine instruction and correction.
Nazarites: Examples of Holy Separation
God also raised up Nazarites from the 'young men' – those at the prime of life. The Nazarite vow (detailed in Numbers 6) involved separation from worldly pleasures, like wine, and a life dedicated wholly to God. Figures like Samson and Samuel were Nazarites. Their existence was a living example, a constant reminder to the nation of the possibility and importance of a life set apart for God, a protest against the surrounding indulgence and compromise.
Both prophets and Nazarites were special provisions from God, demonstrating His commitment to His people's spiritual well-being and calling them to holiness.
God gave Israel prophets to speak truth and Nazarites to model holiness. How did Israel treat these precious gifts?
The verse doesn't just state God did; it sets the stage for Israel responded.
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The Question of Ingratitude
Amos poses a rhetorical question: 'Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?' The implication is clear: Israel should recognize these blessings. God is holding them accountable for acknowledging His goodness.
Mocking God's Gifts
The following verse (Amos 2:12) reveals their tragic response: they pressured the Nazarites to drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy. Instead of honoring God's provision of spiritual leaders and holy examples, Israel actively undermined them. They encouraged the Nazarites in practices that violated their vows and silenced the prophets who dared to speak God's truth.
This highlights a critical point: spiritual blessings aren't just for our enjoyment; they are gifts that call for a response of obedience and reverence. Israel's reaction shows a deep-seated ingratitude and a willful turning away from God's gracious efforts to keep them on His path.
Understand the original words
nabiy' · Hebrew Noun
One called or chosen by God to serve as His mouthpiece, receiving direct revelation to communicate His word, warnings, and calls to repentance to His people.
naziyr · Hebrew Noun
A person set apart to the Lord through a special vow, characterized by abstaining from grape products, not cutting their hair, and avoiding contact with the dead, signifying total devotion and holiness.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of the one true God of Israel, indicating His self-existence, eternal nature, and His faithfulness to the covenant promises made to His people.
Amos's message highlights that God's faithfulness in raising up prophets and Nazarites among Israel was met with profound ingratitude and defiance, underscoring the people's responsibility for their spiritual gifts.
c. 1400 BC
The Law of the Nazarite Vow
God institutes the Nazarite vow, a special consecration involving abstinence from wine and other strict disciplines, as a way for individuals to dedicate themselves to God.
c. 13th Century BC
Samson's Ministry as a Nazarite
Samson, a prominent judge of Israel, lives as a lifelong Nazarite, demonstrating both the potential and the challenges of this special dedication, especially in times of national crisis.
c. 11th Century BC
Samuel's Role as Prophet and Possible Nazarite
Samuel, a pivotal prophet and judge, embodies a life of deep devotion, often considered to have lived under Nazarite principles, serving as a spiritual leader and spiritual guide.
c. 9th Century BC
Elijah and Elisha's Ministries
The powerful ministries of prophets Elijah and Elisha occur during a period of significant spiritual decline in the Northern Kingdom, serving as direct divine interventions.
c. 8th Century BC
Hosea and Jonah's Prophetic Service
Prophets like Hosea and Jonah are active in the Northern Kingdom, delivering God's messages amidst growing corruption and impending judgment.
Mid-8th Century BC— this verse
Amos Prophesies to the Northern Kingdom
Amos, a prophet from the Southern Kingdom, is sent to prophesy against the Northern Kingdom of Israel, denouncing their social injustices and religious hypocrisy.
This passage lays out the specific laws and requirements for the Nazarite vow, directly relating to the 'young men' mentioned in Amos and explaining the sacred dedication and separation involved in their lives.
1 Samuel 1:11This verse shows a specific instance of a prophet, Samuel, also being consecrated as a Nazirite from birth, illustrating the overlap and divine appointment of individuals in these distinct spiritual roles that Amos highlights.
Jeremiah 35:1-19The story of the Rechabites demonstrates a community dedicated to a specific, disciplined lifestyle akin to the Nazarites, showing a historical precedent for groups set apart by God for a distinct purpose, which parallels God's raising up of prophets and Nazarites among Israel.
Deuteronomy 18:15-22This passage outlines God's promise to raise up prophets like Moses, establishing the foundation for the prophetic office that God claims to have given Israel, directly supporting Amos's claim that God 'raised up' prophets from their sons.
Lamentations 4:7This verse describes the purity and distinctiveness of the Nazarites, stating 'Her Nazirites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk,' which reinforces the special, consecrated status of these individuals that Amos points to as a gift from God.
barnesAmos 2:11: "And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD."
And I raised up of your sons for prophets - Amos turns from outward mercies to inward, front past to present, from miracles of power to miracles of grace. God's past mercies live on in those of today; the mercies of today are the assurance to us that we have a share in the past; His miracles of grace are a token that the miracles of His power…
calvinAmos 2:9-12: "Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath."
And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the Lord
Et suscitavi ex filiis vestris prophetas, et ex juvenibus vestris Nazaraeos: annon etiam hoc, filii Israel? dicit Jehovah.
But ye gave the Naza…
God points to prophets and Nazarites not just as gifts, but as active choices He made from their own sons and young men, highlighting His intentional investment in their spiritual life and the personal sacrifice involved in these callings. This wasn't just about divine provision, but about God drawing out specific individuals from their own families for a life of separation and divine service.
God recounts His blessings to Israel, reminding them that He provided them with prophets from their sons to guide them and Nazarites from their young men to serve as examples of holy living and self-restraint. He then directly challenges them, asking if these gifts of spiritual guidance and devotion are not undeniable proofs of His favor.
God recounts His blessings to Israel, reminding them that He provided them with prophets from their sons to guide them and Nazarites from their young men to serve as examples of holy living and self-restraint. He then directly challenges them, asking if these gifts of spiritual guidance and devotion are not undeniable proofs of His favor.
"And I raised up some of your sons for prophets, and some of your young men for Nazirites. Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?” declares the LORD." — God points to prophets and Nazarites not just as gifts, but as active choices He made from their own sons and young men, highlighting His intentional investment in their spiritual life and the pers…
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Last reviewed October 2026