The Book of Amos
Amos, a shepherd-prophet from Judah sent north to Israel, thunders against injustice and empty religion, calling for righteousness to flow like a river.
- Testament
- Old (9 chapters)
- Type
- Minor Prophet
- Date
- Active roughly 760-750 BC during a prosperous but corrupt period in the northern kingdom.
Justice and worship are inseparable
Amos savages a religion that meets weekly while crushing the poor on weekdays. God says: 'I hate, I despise your feast days... let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream' (5:21, 24). The line has been the engine of every Christian justice movement since.
Privilege and accountability
Israel imagined God's favor protected them from consequence. Amos insists: God has chosen them, therefore he will hold them to account — 'You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you' (3:2). Privilege without faithfulness is doom.
Key verses (KJV)
“Let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.” — Amos 5:24 (KJV)
“Seek the LORD, and ye shall live.” — Amos 5:6 (KJV)
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” — Amos 3:3 (KJV)
How to read Amos
Read straight through — nine short chapters. Chapter 5 is the heart. The closing vision (9:11-15) is a startling note of hope after the storm.
Read Amos on your iPhone
Read the full book of Amos in Quiethaven — choose your translation, read offline, and pick up where you left off. Pair it with a daily verse and a prayer timer.
Read Amos free on iPhone.
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From the blog
Frequently asked questions
What is the Book of Amos about?
Amos is a book of Minor Prophet, running to 9 chapters. Its main threads: Justice and worship are inseparable; Privilege and accountability.
Who wrote the Book of Amos?
Amos, a shepherd and fig-farmer from Tekoa in Judah.
Where does Amos come in the Bible?
Amos is one of the 39 books of the Old Testament in the Protestant canon, grouped with the Minor Prophet books. You can walk the canon in order using the previous and next links on this page.