Amos 5:20
New International Version
Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light— pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?

New Living Translation
Yes, the day of the LORD will be dark and hopeless, without a ray of joy or hope.

English Standard Version
Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?

Berean Standard Bible
Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it?

King James Bible
Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

New King James Version
Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?

New American Standard Bible
Will the day of the LORD not be darkness instead of light, Even gloom with no brightness in it?

NASB 1995
Will not the day of the LORD be darkness instead of light, Even gloom with no brightness in it?

NASB 1977
Will not the day of the LORD be darkness instead of light, Even gloom with no brightness in it?

Legacy Standard Bible
Will not the day of Yahweh be darkness instead of light, Even thick darkness with no brightness in it?

Amplified Bible
Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, instead of light, Even very dark with no brightness in it?

Christian Standard Bible
Won’t the day of the LORD be darkness rather than light, even gloom without any brightness in it?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Won’t the Day of the LORD be darkness rather than light, even gloom without any brightness in it?

American Standard Version
Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

Contemporary English Version
The day when the LORD judges will be dark, very dark, without a ray of light.

English Revised Version
Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The day of the LORD brings darkness and not light. It is pitch black, with no light.

Good News Translation
The day of the LORD will bring darkness and not light; it will be a day of gloom, without any brightness.

International Standard Version
Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness, and not light— pitch black at that, without a ray of sunshine?"

Majority Standard Bible
Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it?

NET Bible
Don't you realize the LORD's day of judgment will bring darkness, not light--gloomy blackness, not bright light?

New Heart English Bible
Won't the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?

Webster's Bible Translation
Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

World English Bible
Won’t the day of Yahweh be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Is not the Day of YHWH darkness and not light, "" Even thick darkness that has no brightness?

Young's Literal Translation
Is not the day of Jehovah darkness and not light, Even thick darkness that hath no brightness?

Smith's Literal Translation
Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness and not light? and dark and no shining to it?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light: and obscurity, and no brightness in it?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Will not the day of the Lord be darkness and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?

New American Bible
Truly, the day of the LORD will be darkness, not light, gloom without any brightness!

New Revised Standard Version
Is not the day of the LORD darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Such is the day of the LORD; it is darkness and not light; yea, it is a day of thick darkness and no brightness is in it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
In this way the day of LORD JEHOVAH is dark and not light; it is clouded over and there is no brightness in it
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light? and is not this day gloom without brightness?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Day of the LORD
19It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake. 20Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it? 21“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.…

Cross References
Isaiah 13:9-10
Behold, the Day of the LORD is coming—cruel, with fury and burning anger—to make the earth a desolation and to destroy the sinners within it. / For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.

Joel 2:1-2
Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near— / a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come.

Zephaniah 1:14-15
The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter. / That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,

Matthew 24:29-30
Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ / At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Isaiah 5:30
In that day they will roar over it, like the roaring of the sea. If one looks over the land, he will see darkness and distress; even the light will be obscured by clouds.

Jeremiah 13:16
Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You wait for light, but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness.

Ezekiel 32:7-8
When I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. / All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you, and I will bring darkness upon your land,’ declares the Lord GOD.

Joel 2:10-11
Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness. / The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful. Who can endure it?

Zechariah 14:6-7
On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. / It will be a unique day known only to the LORD, without day or night; but when evening comes, there will be light.

Revelation 6:12-13
And I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red, / and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind.

Isaiah 8:22
Then they will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into utter darkness.

Isaiah 60:2
For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you.

Matthew 25:30
And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Luke 21:25-26
There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. / Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Isaiah 34:4
All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The skies will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like foliage from the fig tree.


Treasury of Scripture

Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

darkness.

Job 3:4-6
Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it…

Job 10:21,22
Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; …

Isaiah 13:10
For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

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Brightness Dark Darkness Gloom Instead Light Ray Shining Thick Won't
Amos 5
1. A lamentation for Israel.
4. An exhortation to repentance.
21. God rejects their hypocritical service.














Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light
The "Day of the LORD" is a recurring theme in the prophetic books, signifying a time of divine intervention, judgment, and salvation. In Amos, this day is portrayed as a time of darkness, contrary to the expectations of Israel, who anticipated it as a time of deliverance and blessing. The imagery of darkness suggests judgment and calamity, aligning with other prophetic writings such as Joel 2:2 and Zephaniah 1:15, where the Day of the LORD is described as a day of wrath and distress. This phrase challenges the complacency of those who assume they are secure in their covenant relationship with God, highlighting the need for genuine repentance and righteousness.

even gloom with no brightness in it
The continuation of the imagery with "gloom" and "no brightness" emphasizes the severity and totality of the judgment. This description underscores the absence of hope or escape for those who have turned away from God's commands. The use of such stark imagery serves as a warning to the Israelites, who had become complacent in their religious practices, thinking that ritual observance was sufficient without true obedience and justice. This aligns with the broader message of Amos, which calls for social justice and sincere worship. The absence of brightness also contrasts with the hope and light often associated with God's presence, as seen in passages like Isaiah 60:1, where light symbolizes salvation and divine favor.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Amos
A prophet from Tekoa, a small town in Judah, who was called by God to deliver messages of judgment and repentance to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a time of prosperity and moral decay.

2. Israel
The Northern Kingdom, which had fallen into idolatry and social injustice, prompting God's warnings through Amos.

3. The Day of the LORD
A prophetic term used throughout the Bible to describe a time of divine intervention, judgment, and ultimate fulfillment of God's purposes. In Amos, it is depicted as a day of darkness for those who are unrepentant.
Teaching Points
Understanding the Day of the LORD
The Day of the LORD is not merely a future event but a present reality that calls for repentance and readiness. It serves as a reminder of God's holiness and justice.

The Illusion of Security
Israel believed they were secure because of their religious rituals, but Amos warns that without true repentance, these rituals are meaningless. This challenges us to examine the authenticity of our faith practices.

The Call to Repentance
Amos's message is a call to turn away from sin and seek God earnestly. It is a reminder that God's patience has limits, and His judgment is certain for those who persist in rebellion.

Social Justice and Righteousness
The context of Amos highlights the importance of justice and righteousness. As believers, we are called to reflect God's character in our treatment of others, advocating for justice and mercy.

Hope in the Midst of Judgment
While the Day of the LORD is a day of darkness for the unrepentant, it also holds the promise of restoration for those who turn back to God. This dual aspect encourages us to live in hope and obedience.(20) Darkness.--In the form of an interrogative, the condemnation contained in Amos 5:18 is emphatically reasserted. The term rendered "very dark" is that used to denote the gross Egyptian darkness that might be felt (Exodus 10:22), the awful gloom, such as fell on Jerusalem at the Crucifixion, which is always accompanied by the sense of confusion, terror, and intolerable suspense. (Comp. the graphic metaphorical language of Isaiah 5:30.)

Verse 20. - The character of the day of the Lord is enforced with reiterated earnestness (ver. 18) by an appeal to the conscience of e hearers. Do you not feel in your inmost hearts that in the case of such guilt as yours the Lord can visit but to punish?

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Will not
הֲלֹא־ (hă·lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

the Day
י֥וֹם (yō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

be darkness
חֹ֛שֶׁךְ (ḥō·šeḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2822: The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness

and not
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

light,
א֑וֹר (’ō·wr)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 216: Illumination, luminary

even gloom
וְאָפֵ֖ל (wə·’ā·p̄êl)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 651: Gloomy

with no
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

brightness
נֹ֥גַֽהּ (nō·ḡah)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5051: Brilliancy

in it?
לֽוֹ׃ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Prophets: Amos 5:20 Won't the day of Yahweh be darkness (Amo. Am)
Amos 5:19
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