Amos 7:17
לָכֵ֞ן כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה אִשְׁתְּךָ֞ בָּעִ֤יר תִּזְנֶה֙ וּבָנֶ֤יךָ וּבְנֹתֶ֨יךָ֙ בַּחֶ֣רֶב יִפֹּ֔לוּ וְאַדְמָתְךָ֖ בַּחֶ֣בֶל תְּחֻלָּ֑ק וְאַתָּ֗ה עַל־אֲדָמָ֤ה טְמֵאָה֙ תָּמ֔וּת וְיִ֨שְׂרָאֵ֔ל גָּלֹ֥ה יִגְלֶ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל אַדְמָתֹֽו׃
Divine Introduction: לָכֵן כֹּה־אָמַר יְהוָה
לָכֵן (“therefore”) signals consequence or divine response. כֹּה־אָמַר יְהוָה (“thus said YHWH”) is a standard prophetic formula introducing an oracle.
- אָמַר — Qal perfect 3ms of א־מ־ר, highlighting completed divine speech
It sets the tone for a sequence of irreversible, divinely decreed judgments.
Public Disgrace and Death: אִשְׁתְּךָ בָּעִיר תִּזְנֶה
אִשְׁתְּךָ (“your wife”) is the subject, addressed directly to the priest Amaziah.
- תִּזְנֶה — Qal imperfect 3fs of ז־נ־ה (“to commit fornication”), suggesting future public disgrace
- בָּעִיר — “in the city,” reinforcing the shameful publicity of the act
This is a symbolic reversal: the priest’s family, expected to be dignified, is dishonored publicly.
War and Division: וּבָנֶיךָ וּבְנֹתֶיךָ בַּחֶרֶב יִפֹּלוּ
וּבָנֶיךָ וּבְנֹתֶיךָ (“your sons and your daughters”) broadens the scope of judgment.
- יִפֹּלוּ — Qal imperfect 3mp of נ־פ־ל (“to fall”), often used for dying in battle
- בַּחֶרֶב — “by the sword,” instrument of execution or warfare
This reflects covenant curses (cf. Deut 28), where familial loss follows national disobedience.
Land Loss and Pollution: וְאַדְמָתְךָ בַּחֶבֶל תְּחֻלָּק
אַדְמָתְךָ (“your land”) is placed in focus.
- בַּחֶבֶל — “by the line/cord,” indicating legal or forced redistribution, usually through measuring for division
- תְּחֻלָּק — Puʿal imperfect 3fs of ח־ל־ק (“to divide”) — passive form: “shall be apportioned”
A loss of inheritance and control — land being divided by others.
Unclean Death: וְאַתָּה עַל־אֲדָמָה טְמֵאָה תָּמוּת
אַתָּה — “you” (singular), returns to the priest.
- עַל־אֲדָמָה טְמֵאָה — “on unclean ground,” either in exile or a defiled land
- תָּמוּת — Qal imperfect 2ms of מ־ו־ת (“to die”), a sentence of exile and shame
The priest, who serves in holy space, will die in defilement — a bitter irony.
National Exile: וְיִשְׂרָאֵל גָּלֹה יִגְלֶה מֵעַל אַדְמָתוֹ
יִשְׂרָאֵל (“Israel”) now expands the focus beyond the priest to the northern kingdom.
- גָּלֹה יִגְלֶה — infinitive absolute + imperfect of ג־ל־ה (“to go into exile”), intensifying the verb: “shall surely be exiled”
- מֵעַל אַדְמָתוֹ — “from off his land,” indicating removal from covenant inheritance
The grammar here expresses inevitability — national exile is coming.
Parsing Table: Key Forms in Amos 7:17
| Hebrew Word | Root | Form | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| תִּזְנֶה | ז־נ־ה | Qal imperfect (3fs) | “She shall commit harlotry” — public disgrace of wife |
| יִפֹּלוּ | נ־פ־ל | Qal imperfect (3mp) | “They shall fall” — sons and daughters killed by sword |
| תְּחֻלָּק | ח־ל־ק | Puʿal imperfect (3fs) | “It shall be divided” — land parceling via cord |
| תָּמוּת | מ־ו־ת | Qal imperfect (2ms) | “You shall die” — death in defilement |
| גָּלֹה יִגְלֶה | ג־ל־ה | Infinitive absolute + Qal imperfect (3ms) | “He shall surely go into exile” — emphatic judgment on Israel |
The Grammar of Total Collapse
Amos 7:17 is a cascade of imperfect verbs, passive constructions, and intensifying devices — all expressing irreversible judgment. The oracle moves from personal disgrace to national exile, showing the prophet’s mastery of grammatical structure to mirror the inevitability and breadth of divine wrath. Syntax here is not just language — it is theology embodied in grammar.
