Amos 5:14-15
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. Hate 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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse highlights a critical misunderstanding: the Israelites claimed God was with them, but Amos reveals His presence isn't guaranteed by heritage or ritual. True divine presence is on the condition of actively seeking good, not just believing they deserve it.
Amos has been delivering harsh prophecies of judgment, and now he offers a conditional ray of hope. He's calling the people of Israel to a genuine change of heart, to actively pursue what is good instead of their current pattern of seeking out and delighting in evil. This call to repentance is directly tied to the promise that if they truly seek God, the Lord of hosts will be with them, a presence they wrongly assumed they already had due to their covenant status.
Amos urges the people to be as zealous in pursuing good as they have been in pursuing evil. What does it really mean to 'seek' something with our whole hearts?
The prophet Amos doesn't just tell the people to stop doing bad things; he calls them to actively pursue good. This isn't a passive suggestion but a call to diligence. They were 'seeking evil' – meaning they actively pursued opportunities for sin, perhaps through corrupt practices or idolatry. Amos flips this: use that same energy, that same intentionality, to seek what is good.
What is 'Good'?
The people boasted that God was with them. But Amos reveals a crucial truth: God's presence isn't automatic; it's conditioned on our pursuit of Him.
Israel had a deep-seated belief that because they were God's chosen people, He was automatically with them, guaranteeing their safety and prosperity. They 'spoke' as if God's presence was a given, a right based on their heritage or rituals. Amos confronts this dangerous assumption.
God's Presence is a Gift, Not a Right
Understand the original words
YHWH Sabaoth · Hebrew Proper Noun phrase
The Hebrew title 'Yahweh Sabaoth', emphasizing God's sovereignty over all spiritual and physical powers. It conveys His supreme authority as the Commander of the heavenly armies and the ultimate ruler over the created order.
tob · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
The moral and ethical standard derived from God's character. In Scripture, it refers to acting in accordance with what is right, truthful, and pleasing to God, rather than merely avoiding wrongdoing.
chanan · Hebrew Verb
Refers to the divine attribute of showing favor, mercy, or compassion, especially toward those who do not deserve it. It implies an active, loving kindness that provides relief or restoration.
she'erith · Hebrew Noun
Amos's message is delivered during a time of outward prosperity that masks deep spiritual and social decay. The people wrongly believe their material success and covenant status guarantee God's presence and protection, a dangerous illusion Amos shatters by emphasizing that true fellowship with God requires genuine righteousness and justice.
c. 760 BC— this verse
Reign of Jeroboam II
The Northern Kingdom of Israel experienced a period of significant prosperity and territorial expansion under Jeroboam II. This era, however, was marked by social injustice, corruption, and religious syncretism, which the prophet Amos vehemently condemned.
c. 760 BC
Amos's Prophetic Ministry Begins
Amos, a shepherd from Judah, is called by God to prophesy to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He delivers a series of powerful oracles, denouncing their sins and warning of impending judgment.
c. 750 BC
Assyrian Threat Looms
While not yet at its peak, the growing power of the Neo-Assyrian Empire cast a shadow over the region. This external threat would later contribute to the fall of Israel.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
Following years of internal decay and external pressure, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrian Empire, its people exiled, and its identity largely lost.
This passage directly parallels Amos's call, urging the people to 'cease to do evil, learn to do well,' highlighting that true seeking of good involves actively turning away from wrongdoing.
Micah 3:11This verse speaks to the false sense of security the Israelites had, believing God was with them simply due to their heritage, mirroring Amos's critique of their superficial claims while they pursued evil.
Zephaniah 2:3This verse echoes Amos's hopeful, yet urgent, plea for repentance, suggesting that seeking righteousness might spare them from judgment, emphasizing that amendment of life is their only hope.
John 8:39Jesus uses a similar argument, pointing out that true descendants of Abraham would 'do the works of Abraham,' directly countering the idea that lineage alone guarantees God's favor, much like Amos addresses Israel's misplaced pride.
Matthew 7:7-8This passage from Jesus's teaching offers a universal promise: 'Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.' It powerfully affirms that diligent seeking, when aligned with God's will for good, yields a positive divine response.
barnesAmos 5:14: "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."
Seek 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 wri…
clarkeAmos 5:14: "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."
Seek 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.
The verse highlights a critical misunderstanding: the Israelites claimed God was with them, but Amos reveals His presence isn't guaranteed by heritage or ritual. True divine presence is on the condition of actively seeking good, not just believing they deserve it.
Amos has been delivering harsh prophecies of judgment, and now he offers a conditional ray of hope. He's calling the people of Israel to a genuine change of heart, to actively pursue what is good instead of their current pattern of seeking out and delighting in evil. This call to repentance is directly tied to the promise that if they truly seek God, the Lord of hosts will be with them, a presence they wrongly assumed they already had due to their covenant status.
Amos has been delivering harsh prophecies of judgment, and now he offers a conditional ray of hope. He's calling the people of Israel to a genuine change of heart, to actively pursue what is good instead of their current pattern of seeking out and delighting in evil. This call to repentance is directly tied to the promise that if they truly seek God, the Lord of hosts will be with them, a presence they wrongly assumed they already had due to their covenant status.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Amos 5:14-15 is available in the Sola app.
A small group of people who remain faithful to God after a period of divine judgment or apostasy. The concept emphasizes God's faithfulness in preserving a faithful seed through whom His promises continue.
"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. Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the Go…" — The verse highlights a critical misunderstanding: the Israelites claimed God was with them, but Amos reveals His presence isn't guaranteed by heritage or ritual. True divine presence is on the *con…
