Amos 7:7-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 7:7-9

The plumb line of judgment. The pictorial style of Amos here sets before us in an impressive and memorable way a great truth. Whether in a dream or in a prophetic ecstasy, the prophet beheld one with a plumb line standing by a wall. He recognized in the wall the palaces, the temples, the city ramparts of Samaria; in the figure, a representation of the eternal Ruler of the nations; in the plumb line, the emblem of just and orderly procedure. And a voice explained the vision as predictive of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 7:7-9

Man's moral character. "Thus he showed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand," etc. "Behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumb line," viz. perpendicular. "Amos." "The Lord knoweth them that are his" ( 2 Timothy 2:19 ), as he saith to Moses, "I know thee by name" ( Exodus 33:12 , Exodus 33:17 ). "He calleth his own sheep by name" ( John 10:3 ). "Behold, I will set a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel." No... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 7:8

Amos, what seest thou? A question asked to give occasion for the explanation of the symbol, as in Jeremiah 1:11 , Jeremiah 1:13 ; Jeremiah 24:3 . I will set a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel. As it was built by rule and measure, so it should be destroyed. The line was used not only for building, but also for pulling down (see 2 Kings 21:13 ; Isaiah 34:11 ; Lamentations 2:8 ). And this should be done "in the midst" of the people, that all might be tried individually,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 7:7

Stood upon - (Rather “over” “a wall” made by “a plumbline;” lit. “a wall of a plumbline,” that is, (as our’s has it) “made” straight, perpendicular, “by” it. The wall had been “made by a lead” or “plumbline;” by it, that is, according to it, it should e destroyed. God had made it upright, He had given to it an undeviating rule of right, He had watched over it, to keep it, as He made it. Now “He stood over it,” fixed in His purpose, to destroy it. He marked its inequalities. Yet this too in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 7:8

Amos, what seest thou? - o: “He calls the prophet by name, as a familiar friend, known and approved by Him, as He said to Moses, “I know thee by name” Exodus 33:12, Exodus 33:17. For “the Lord knoweth them that are His. What seest thou?” 2 Timothy 2:19. God had twice heard the prophet. Two judgments upon His people He had mitigated, not upon their repentance, but on the single intercession of the prophet. After that, He willed to be no more entreated. And so He exhibits to Amos a symbol, whose... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Amos 7:7-9

Amos 7:7-9. The Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumb-line A wall strongly and beautifully built. God’s judgments are sometimes represented in Scripture by a line and a plummet, to denote that they are measured out by the exactest rules of justice. Behold, I will set a plumb-line in the midst of my people Israel I will exactly measure my people Israel; I will take a particular view of the whole kingdom of the ten tribes, and notice how far it is right, or how far it is out of order, and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Amos 7:1-9

7:1-9:10 VISIONS OF JUDGMENTGod’s patience before judgment (7:1-9)Farmers paid their taxes by giving the king the first reaping of their harvest. After this a second crop grew up, which provided the main harvest for the people. It was this second crop that Amos, in his vision, saw threatened with destruction from a plague of locusts. If God judged Israel in this way, it might never recover. When Amos pleaded on Israel’s behalf for God’s mercy, God answered his prayer (7:1-3). God later answered... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Amos 7:7

the LORD. One of the 134 passages in which the Sopherim say they altered Jehovah of the primitive text to Adonai ( App-32 ). made, &c.: i. e [made perpendicular] by a plummet. plumbline = plummet. Occurs only here. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Amos 7:8

Amos. Note this personal touch. set, &c. i.e. measure [the doings of Israel] with the plummet of righteousness and judgment. Compare 2 Kings 21:12 .Isaiah 28:17 ; Isaiah 34:11 .Lamentations 2:8 , &c. pass by them = forgive them. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Amos 7:7

"Thus he showed me: and, behold, the Lord stood beside a wall made by a plumb-line, with a plumb-line in his hand."The proper understanding of this vision must include the recognition that the plumb-line was a symbol both of building and of destruction, the plumb-line symbolizing the testing required for the construction of a sound building, and for revealing those defects that required the destruction of a building. The figure elaborated in this vision, "represents the Lord himself as coming... read more

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