Amos 5:6 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 5:4-15

This is a message from God to the house of Israel, in which, I. They are told of their faults, that they might see what occasion there was for them to repent and reform, and that, when they were called to return, they might not need to ask, Wherein shall we return? 1. God tells them, in general (Amos 5:12), ?I know your manifold transgressions, and your mighty sins; and you shall be made to know them too.? In our penitent reflections upon our sins we must consider, as God does in his judicial... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 5:6

Seek the Lord, and ye shall live ,.... This is, repeated to stir up unto it, because of their backwardness and slothfulness, and to show the importance and necessity of it. By the "Lord" may be meant the Messiah, Israel's God that was to come, and they were to prepare to meet, Amos 4:12 ; and the rather, since life spiritual and eternal is only to be had from him, and he is to be sought unto for it, and all the blessings of it, peace, pardon, righteousness, rest, and salvation as well as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 5:6

Seek the Lord, and ye shall live - Repeated from Amos 5:4 . In the house of Joseph - The Israelites of the ten tribes, of whom Ephraim and Manasseh, sons of Joseph, were the chief. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 5:6

Verse 6 He then adds, Seek Jehovah, and ye shall live This repetition is not superfluous: the Prophet confirms what I have already stated, that such was the opposition between the true and legitimate worship of God, and idolatry and superstition, that the people of Israel, as long as they retained their corruptions, proved that they had nothing to do with God, whatever they may have pretended with their mouths and by their ceremonies. Seek God, he says, and ye shall live; and this repetition... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 5:4-6

The seeking that is life. This passage contains at once a vindication of the coming destruction on Israel, and a last offer of escape. All past evil had been justly incurred by departure from God. All coming evil might yet be avoided by return to him. "Seek ye me" was the direction on their treatment of which the whole issue turned. I. EVEN THE FOREDOOMED ARE NOT ABANDONED OF GOD . The antediluvians were preached to for a century after their destruction was denounced.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 5:6

Break out like fire. God is called "a consuming fire" ( Deuteronomy 4:24 ; Hebrews 12:29 ; comp. Jeremiah 4:4 ). And devour it; Septuagint, ὅπως μὴ ἀναλάμψη ὡς πῦρ ὁ οἶκος ἰωσὴφ καὶ καταφάγῃ αὐτόν , "Lest the house of Joseph blaze as fire, and he devour him;" Vulgate, Ne forte comburatur ut ignis domus Joseph, et devorabit. But it is best to take the last member of the sentence thus: "and it (the fire) devour." The house of Joseph. Ephraim, i.e. the kingdom... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 5:6

Seek ye the Lord and ye shall live - Literally, “seek the Lord and live;” being united to Him, the Fountain of life. He reimpresses on them the one simple need of the creature, “seek God,” the one true God as He revealed Himself, not as worldly people, or the politicians of Jeroboam’s court, or the calf-priests, fabled of Him. “Seek Him.” For in Him is all; without Him, nothing.Lest He break out like fire in Bethel - Formerly the Spirit of God came vehemently down upon Sansom Judges 14:6,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Amos 5:6

Amos 5:6. Seek the Lord, and ye shall live He repeats his exhortation, and also the promise of a good issue on their complying with it. Lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph That is, the kingdom of the ten tribes, the chief whereof was Ephraim the son of Joseph. And there be none to quench it in Beth-el As if he had said, If once this fire break out, all your idols in Beth-el shall not be able to quench it. A proper caution this to the Israelites, not to trust in their... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Amos 5:1-15

God requires repentance (5:1-15)The prophet again recalls past warnings that the people had consistently ignored. He sees vividly that the result of the people’s stubbornness will be the destruction of Israel. Samaria will be conquered and most of Israel’s army wiped out (5:1-3).What God wants is not an increase in religious ceremonies but a turning in heart and life to him. He does not want processions to religious holy places (which, in any case, will be destroyed) but the administration of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Amos 5:6

Joseph. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for the whole Northern Kingdom. read more