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    Amos 5 (KJV)

    Read Amos chapter 5 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

    Amos 5

    Deep Verse Commentaries in This Chapter

    Amos 5:24

    "But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a …"

    Amos 5:14

    "Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, …"

    Popular Verses in Amos 5

    Most searched verses from this chapter, with KJV text and context.

    Amos 5:24 KJV

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    Amos 5 Summary

    Amos 5 is a funeral dirge for a nation that doesn't know it's dead. The prophet laments, 'The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise.' Yet within the dirge comes a repeated plea: 'Seek the LORD, and ye shall live.' God offers life even while pronouncing death — the tension of prophetic preaching.

    The chapter contains one of the Old Testament's most explosive passages about worship: 'I hate, I despise your feast days… Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs… But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.' God rejects Israel's elaborate worship because it exists without social justice.

    Key Themes

    Justice as worshipSeeking God and livingJudgment on empty religionLet justice roll downDay of the LORD is darkness

    Key Verses in Amos 5

    "But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream."

    — Amos 5:24

    One of the most quoted verses in the prophets — Martin Luther King Jr. cited it in his 'I Have a Dream' speech.

    "I hate, I despise your feast days… Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols."

    — Amos 5:21-23

    God rejects worship that coexists with injustice — the strongest possible language.

    "Seek ye me, and ye shall live."

    — Amos 5:4

    Even in a funeral dirge, God offers life — repentance is always possible until it isn't.

    Life Application

    Amos 5 demolishes the idea that God is impressed by worship services when worshippers ignore injustice. Singing on Sunday while exploiting people on Monday is not worship — it's offense. This chapter demands integration: what you do in the marketplace must match what you sing in the sanctuary. Justice is not a social add-on to faith; it is the evidence of genuine faith.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What does 'let justice roll down as waters' mean?

    Amos envisions justice not as occasional good deeds but as a powerful, unstoppable river — constant, refreshing, and life-giving. Righteousness should flow through society like a perennial stream, not appear occasionally like a seasonal wadi that dries up.

    Why did God hate Israel's worship?

    Israel's worship was technically correct — proper festivals, sacrifices, and songs — but it was disconnected from daily life. The same people who worshipped enthusiastically were exploiting the poor, perverting justice, and oppressing the vulnerable. God rejected the worship because it was hypocritical.

    Read the full summary of Amos

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