Amos 3:4-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:4

Will a lion roar, etc.? The lion roars when he has his pray in sight, and is about to spring upon it. So God makes the prophet utter his voice because he is ready to execute vengeance. The second clause expresses the same fact in different terms. The young lion ( kephir ) is not a whelp, but one able to provide for itself. He growls over the prey which he has in his lair. So Israel lies helpless as the words of God's threatenings strike upon him. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:4-6

Retribution. "Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey?" etc. These verses suggest certain remarks on retribution. I. RETRIBUTION SPRINGS OUT OF THE NATURE OF THINGS . The lion roars in the forest for prey; the young lion cries in his den from an instinct of nature. They are hungry, and they roar; they crave for food, and they cry; this is natural. The lion is quiet till he sees his prey, but roars at the sight of it, and thereby inspires it with such terror... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:5

The thought here is that the punishment is deserved as well as certain. A bird is not caught unless a trap is set for it. The trap which the sinner sets for himself is sin. Can a bird fall in a snare ( pach ) upon the earth, where no gin ( moqesh ) is for him? i.e. is set for him? The "gin" is a net with a stick for a spring, which flew up when touched, carrying part of the net with it, and thus the bird was enclosed and caught (see Kitto, 'Cyclop.,' s.v. "Fowling," 2.36).... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 3:4

Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? - Then, further, each question by itself suggests its own thought. Amos had already, in repeating Joel’s words, spoken of God’s Voice, under the image of a lion roaring (Amos 1:2; Hosea 11:10 (add Hosea 5:14; Hosea 6:1; Hosea 13:7); Jeremiah 25:30). Hosea had likened Israel to “a silly dove without heat Hosea 7:11; on the other hand, he had likened God’s loud call to repentance to the roaring of the lion, the conversion of Israel to the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 3:5

Can a bird fall in a snare - Again, the bird taken in the snare is the image of those drawn down from heaven, where ‘our conversation is Philippians 3:20 and the soul may rise free toward its God , “drawn up by the Spirit to high and heavenly things.” Such souls being allured by the things of earth, are entangled and taken by Satan; as, on the other hand, “the soul, escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowler Psalms 124:7, is a soul, set free by Christ and restored to heaven.In the last... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Amos 3:4-6

Amos 3:4-6. Will a lion roar, &c., when he hath no prey? “Naturalists assert that when the lion sees his prey, he roars before he rushes on it; and that at this roaring many animals show great fear. He likewise roars over his prey. The sense seems to be, As the lion roareth on account of his prey, so by my prophets I cry aloud against you, because ye are the objects of my vengeance.” Newcome. Can a bird fall in a snare where no gin is for him As a bird does not fall into a snare,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Amos 3:1-8

3:1-6:14 REASONS FOR ISRAEL’S PUNISHMENTThe prophet’s responsibility (3:1-8)Many Israelites thought that because they were God’s people, they could do as they liked without fear of punishment. On the contrary, says Amos, God’s choice of them to be his people is all the more reason why he will punish them if they are disobedient (3:1-2).To prevent the people from thinking that he is making idle threats, Amos points out that he has good reason for speaking with such boldness. He gives a list of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Amos 3:4

Will . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis . App-6 . forest = thicket. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Amos 3:5

snare = net. Hebrew. phah . gin = a snare, or trap. Gin is short for the Old French engin, which is from Latin. ingeninm; hence, something ingenious. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Amos 3:3-8

Amos 3:3-8. Can two walk, &c.— The similies in these verses have the same meaning, and they all tend to shew that calamities happen according to the appointing, permissive, or suffering will of God; and that prophets prophesy not, without the Lord's speaking to them. Instead of, Shall one take up a snare, &c. Amos 3:5. Houbigant reads, Is a snare taken from the ground, unless something be caught in it? Upon the seventh verse we may observe, that there was no great revolution in the... read more

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