Hebrew Vocabulary עָמוֹס
The Book of Amos is built on a foundation of powerful Hebrew vocabulary. Understanding these key terms unlocks the prophet's message about justice, righteousness, judgment, and hope. This guide organizes essential vocabulary by thematic categories, providing transliterations, definitions, and theological significance.
Particular attention is given to the famous pairing of mishpat (justice) and tsedaqah (righteousness)—terms that lie at the heart of Amos's prophetic vision.
📖 Definition
Concrete actions taken to correct injustice and establish right order. From the root שׁפט (shaphat, "to judge"). Mishpat refers to the practical, actionable side of justice—the verdicts, decisions, and interventions that create equity.
🎯 In Amos
Amos calls for mishpat to "roll down like waters" (5:24). Israel has turned mishpat "into wormwood" (5:7; 6:12)—perverting justice into something bitter and poisonous. The courts are corrupt; the powerful exploit the weak.
🔗 Paired With Tsedaqah
Mishpat (justice) and tsedaqah (righteousness) form a word pair throughout the prophets. Together they represent the full vision of covenant faithfulness—right relationships (tsedaqah) and right actions to maintain them (mishpat).
📍 Key Passages
5:7 — Justice turned to wormwood
5:15 — Establish justice in the gate
5:24 — Let justice roll down like waters
6:12 — Justice turned to poison
📖 Definition
A standard of right, equitable relationships between people regardless of social differences. From the root צדק (tsadaq, "to be right"). Tsedaqah describes the character and relational quality that should permeate covenant community.
🎯 In Amos
Amos envisions righteousness flowing "like an ever-flowing stream" (5:24)—a נַחַל אֵיתָן, a wadi that never runs dry even in drought. This isn't occasional charity but constant, pervasive right-relationship.
💡 Theological Significance
For Amos and all the prophets, true worship of Yahweh necessarily produces tsedaqah in community. You cannot claim to know God while exploiting your neighbor. Righteousness is the visible evidence of covenant faithfulness.
📍 Key Passages
5:7 — Righteousness cast to the ground
5:24 — Righteousness like an unfailing stream
6:12 — The fruit of righteousness turned to poison
The Genesis 1 Vision Behind Justice
Amos's demand for mishpat and tsedaqah isn't arbitrary—it's rooted in the creation ideal. Genesis 1 depicts humans ruling creation as God's image-bearers, which means ruling the way God rules: generously, bringing flourishing to all creatures.
Divine Rule (Genesis 1 Ideal)
- Non-zero-sum: all creatures flourish together
- Generous provision: fruit trees for humans, green plants for animals
- Peaceful coexistence: ruling means caring, not exploiting
- Sabbath rest: creation isn't about grinding survival
Beastly Rule (What Amos Condemns)
- Zero-sum: "my flourishing requires your loss"
- Exploitation: selling the poor for silver
- Predatory violence: trampling heads into the dust
- No rest: even manipulating Sabbath for profit (8:5)
Prophetic Vocabulary
Terms describing prophetic calling and activity
Meaning
One who speaks on behalf of another; a mouthpiece for God. Likely from a root meaning "to call" or "to announce."
In Amos
Amos famously denies being a professional prophet: "I was no prophet, nor a prophet's son" (7:14). Yet God "raised up prophets" for Israel (2:11), and when God speaks, "who can but prophesy?" (3:8).
2:11-12 3:7-8 7:14-15
Meaning
One who sees visions; a visionary prophet. From חָזָה (ḥazah, "to see, perceive"). Emphasizes the visual aspect of prophetic revelation.
In Amos
Amaziah sarcastically calls Amos "seer" (7:12)—perhaps mocking his visionary claims, perhaps acknowledging his prophetic experiences. The term connects to the vision reports in chapters 7-9.
7:12
Meaning
The divine message delivered through prophetic speech. דָּבָר (davar) means both "word" and "thing/matter"—God's word is not mere speech but active, creative reality.
In Amos
The superscription identifies this book as "the words of Amos" (1:1), which are simultaneously the words God gave him. Israel cannot bear "all his words" (7:10)—the prophetic word is unbearable when it exposes sin.
1:1 3:1 7:10-16 8:11-12
Meaning
Imperative plural of שָׁמַע (shama, "to hear"). In Hebrew, hearing implies obedient response—to truly hear is to act on what you've heard.
In Amos
Three major speech sections begin with "Hear this word" (3:1; 4:1; 5:1), creating structural markers. The command demands attention and response—Israel's failure to hear is their covenant failure.
3:1 3:13 4:1 5:1 8:4
Judgment Vocabulary
Terms describing sin, judgment, and the Day of the LORD
Meaning
Willful rebellion; covenant-breaking sin. Stronger than חֵטְא (ḥet, "missing the mark")—pesha implies deliberate defiance against known authority.
In Amos
The repeated formula "For three transgressions... for four" (1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13; 2:1, 4, 6) uses pesha to describe the nations' and Israel's sins. Their rebellion has reached full measure.
1:3-2:6 (formula) 3:14 5:12
Meaning
The decisive moment when God intervenes in history to judge and save. Israel expected it as victory; Amos reverses their expectation.
In Amos
"Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! It is darkness, not light" (5:18). Israel longed for God to defeat their enemies—Amos announces they are the enemies God will defeat.
5:18-20
Meaning
To uncover, reveal; to go into exile. The concept of being "uncovered" (stripped of home, land, identity) underlies the exile meaning.
In Amos
Amos repeatedly threatens exile: "Israel shall surely go into exile" (5:5; 7:11, 17). The prediction was fulfilled in 722 BCE when Assyria conquered Samaria.
5:5, 27 6:7 7:11, 17
Meaning
Fire as instrument of divine judgment. Fire consumes, purifies, and destroys—a common prophetic image for God's wrath.
In Amos
Each oracle against the nations concludes: "I will send fire upon [location]" (1:4, 7, 10, 12, 14; 2:2, 5). Fire is God's universal judgment tool. Vision 2 shows fire consuming even the cosmic deep (7:4).
1:4-2:5 (refrain) 7:4
🎯 Famous Wordplay: Summer Fruit Vision (8:1-2)
One of the most powerful wordplays in prophetic literature. God shows Amos a basket of summer fruit, then announces Israel's end. The near-identical sounds create a devastating pun:
"What do you see, Amos?" — "A basket of qayits (summer fruit)."
"The qets (end) has come upon my people Israel."
Social Justice Vocabulary
Terms describing oppression and care for the vulnerable
Meaning
עָנִי ('ani) = afflicted, humble, poor. אֶבְיוֹן ('evyon) = needy, destitute. Both terms describe those who lack resources and social power—the vulnerable in society.
In Amos
Israel's core sin is mistreating the poor: selling them for silver, trampling their heads, turning aside the afflicted (2:6-7; 4:1; 5:11-12; 8:4-6). Covenant faithfulness requires protecting these groups.
2:6-7 4:1 5:11-12 8:4-6
Meaning
To oppress, wrong, extort, defraud. Describes the powerful taking advantage of the weak through economic or legal manipulation.
In Amos
The "cows of Bashan" (wealthy women) "oppress the poor and crush the needy" (4:1). Oppression characterizes Israel's social order—the opposite of covenant community.
4:1
Meaning
City gate—the place where legal disputes were settled, business conducted, and community decisions made. The gate was the ancient courtroom and marketplace.
In Amos
"They hate the one who reproves in the gate... they turn aside the needy in the gate" (5:10, 12). The place meant for justice has become the place of injustice. "Establish justice in the gate" (5:15).
5:10, 12, 15
Meaning
A bitter, potentially poisonous plant. Metaphorically represents something that should be sweet or life-giving turned bitter and deadly.
In Amos
"You who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground" (5:7). Justice, meant to nourish society, has become poison. The reversal is complete and deadly.
5:7 6:12
Restoration Vocabulary
Terms of hope and future redemption
Meaning
סֻכָּה (sukkah) = booth, hut, temporary shelter. The humble term for David's dynasty suggests it has fallen to nothing more than a fragile hut—yet God will raise even this.
In Amos
"In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen" (9:11). The humble language emphasizes grace—God raises what has completely collapsed. James quotes this at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:16).
9:11
Meaning
To turn, return, repent. One of the most theologically significant verbs in Hebrew—describes both human repentance (turning to God) and divine restoration (bringing back).
In Amos
"Yet you did not return to me" (4:6, 8, 9, 10, 11)—God's refrain after each failed discipline. But "I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel" (9:14)—God's final promise.
4:6-11 (refrain) 9:14
Quick Reference: Key Terms at a Glance
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning | Key Verse |
|---|---|---|---|
| מִשְׁפָּט | mishpat | Justice (actionable) | 5:24 |
| צְדָקָה | tsedaqah | Righteousness (relational) | 5:24 |
| פֶּשַׁע | pesha | Transgression/rebellion | 1:3 |
| יוֹם יְהוָה | yom YHWH | Day of the LORD | 5:18 |
| גָּלָה | galah | Exile | 5:27 |
| עָנִי | 'ani | Poor/afflicted | 2:6-7 |
| שַׁעַר | sha'ar | Gate (courthouse) | 5:15 |
| נָבִיא | navi | Prophet | 7:14 |
| שׁוּב | shuv | Return/repent | 4:6 |
| סֻכָּה | sukkah | Booth/shelter | 9:11 |