Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Seek the LORD and live, or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire; it will devour them, and Bethel will have no one to quench it. New Living Translation Come back to the LORD and live! Otherwise, he will roar through Israel like a fire, devouring you completely. Your gods in Bethel won’t be able to quench the flames. English Standard Version Seek the LORD and live, lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, with none to quench it for Bethel, Berean Standard Bible Seek the LORD and live, or He will sweep like fire through the house of Joseph; it will devour everything, with no one at Bethel to extinguish it. King James Bible Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel. New King James Version Seek the LORD and live, Lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, And devour it, With no one to quench it in Bethel— New American Standard Bible “Seek the LORD so that you may live, Or He will break through like a fire, house of Joseph, And it will consume with no one to extinguish it for Bethel, NASB 1995 “Seek the LORD that you may live, Or He will break forth like a fire, O house of Joseph, And it will consume with none to quench it for Bethel, NASB 1977 “Seek the LORD that you may live, Lest He break forth like a fire, O house of Joseph, And it consume with none to quench it for Bethel, Legacy Standard Bible Seek Yahweh that you may live, Lest He come mightily like a fire, O house of Joseph, And it will consume with none to quench it for Bethel, Amplified Bible “Seek the LORD [search diligently for Him and long for Him as your most essential need] so that you may live, Or He will rush down like a [devouring] fire, O house of Joseph, And there will be no one to quench the flame for [idolatrous] Bethel, Christian Standard Bible Seek the LORD and live, or he will spread like fire throughout the house of Joseph; it will consume everything with no one at Bethel to extinguish it. Holman Christian Standard Bible Seek Yahweh and live, or He will spread like fire throughout the house of Joseph; it will consume everything, with no one at Bethel to extinguish it. American Standard Version Seek Jehovah, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, and there be none to quench it in Beth-el. Contemporary English Version Turn back to the LORD, you descendants of Joseph, and you will live. If you don't, the LORD will attack like fire. Bethel will burn to the ground, and no one can save it. English Revised Version Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour and there be none to quench it in Beth-el: GOD'S WORD® Translation Search for the LORD and live! If you don't, he will spread like a fire through the house of Joseph and burn it down. Bethel will have no one to put it out. Good News Translation Go to the LORD, and you will live. If you do not go, he will sweep down like fire on the people of Israel. The fire will burn up the people of Bethel, and no one will be able to put it out. International Standard Version Seek the LORD and live! Otherwise, he may break out like a fire in the house of Joseph and devour Bethel, and there will be no one to extinguish it. NET Bible Seek the LORD so you can live! Otherwise he will break out like fire against Joseph's family; the fire will consume and no one will be able to quench it and save Bethel. New Heart English Bible Seek the LORD, and you will live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, and there be no one to quench it in Bethel. Webster's Bible Translation Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Beth-el. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSeek the LORD and live, or He will sweep like fire through the house of Joseph; it will devour everything, with no one at Bethel to extinguish it. World English Bible Seek Yahweh, and you will live, lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, and there be no one to quench it in Bethel. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionSeek YHWH, and live, "" Lest He prosper as fire [against] the house of Joseph, "" And it has consumed, "" And there is no quencher for Beth-El— Young's Literal Translation Seek ye Jehovah, and live, Lest He prosper as fire against the house of Joseph, And it hath consumed, And there is no quencher for Beth-El. Smith's Literal Translation Seek ye Jehovah and live, lest he shall break through the house of Joseph as fire, and devour, and none quenching to the house of God. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSeek ye the Lord, and live: lest the house of Joseph be burnt with fire, and it shall devour, and there shall be none to quench Bethel. Catholic Public Domain Version Seek the Lord and live. Otherwise, the house of Joseph may be destroyed with fire, and it will devour, and there will be no one who can extinguish Bethel. New American Bible Seek the LORD, that you may live, lest he flare up against the house of Joseph like a fire that shall consume the house of Israel, with no one to quench it. New Revised Standard Version Seek the LORD and live, or he will break out against the house of Joseph like fire, and it will devour Bethel, with no one to quench it. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSeek the LORD and you shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph and devour Beth-el, and there will be none to quench it. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Seek LORD JEHOVAH and live, that he will not burn the house of Yoseph like fire and consume Bayth Eil, and there is none who puts it out OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Seek the LORD, and live-- Lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, And it devour, and there be none to quench it in Bethel-- Brenton Septuagint Translation Seek ye the Lord, and ye shall live; lest the house of Joseph blaze as fire, and it devour him, and there shall be none to quench it for the house of Israel. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context A Call to Repentance…5Do not seek Bethel or go to Gilgal; do not journey to Beersheba, for Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will come to nothing. 6Seek the LORD and live, or He will sweep like fire through the house of Joseph; it will devour everything, with no one at Bethel to extinguish it. 7There are those who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground.… Cross References Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain. Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger. Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 2 Chronicles 15:2 So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. Isaiah 1:16-20 Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil! / Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.” / “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool. ... Jeremiah 4:1-2 “If you will return, O Israel, return to Me,” declares the LORD. “If you will remove your detestable idols from My sight and no longer waver, / and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.” Hosea 5:15 Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.” Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Luke 13:3 No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish. John 12:35-36 Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. / While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them. Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Treasury of Scripture Seek the LORD, and you shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel. Seek. Amos 5:4 For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? lest. Exodus 22:6 If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution. the house. Amos 6:6 That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Genesis 48:8-20 And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these? … Joshua 18:5 And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north. there. Isaiah 1:31 And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them. Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. Jeremiah 7:20 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched. Jump to Previous Bethel Beth-El Break Bursting Causing Consume Consumed Devour Family Fear Fire Forth Help House Joseph Live Prosper Quench Seek SweepJump to Next Bethel Beth-El Break Bursting Causing Consume Consumed Devour Family Fear Fire Forth Help House Joseph Live Prosper Quench Seek SweepAmos 5 1. A lamentation for Israel.4. An exhortation to repentance. 21. God rejects their hypocritical service. Seek the LORD and live This phrase is a call to repentance and a return to God. In the context of Amos, the Israelites were engaging in idolatry and injustice, turning away from the covenant relationship with God. The call to "seek the LORD" emphasizes the necessity of genuine worship and obedience to God's commandments. The promise of life is both physical and spiritual, indicating that turning to God can avert impending judgment and bring spiritual renewal. This echoes Deuteronomy 30:19-20, where choosing life is associated with loving and obeying God. or He will sweep like fire through the house of Joseph it will devour everything with no one at Bethel to extinguish it Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORDThe covenant God of Israel, Yahweh, who calls His people to repentance and righteousness. 2. House of Joseph Refers to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, often symbolized by the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, descendants of Joseph. 3. Bethel A significant religious center in the Northern Kingdom, known for its idolatrous practices despite its historical significance as a place where Jacob encountered God. 4. Amos A prophet from the Southern Kingdom of Judah, sent by God to deliver a message of judgment and a call to repentance to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. 5. Fire Symbolizes God's judgment and wrath, which is unquenchable and purifying, consuming sin and rebellion. Teaching Points The Urgency of Seeking GodThe command to "seek the LORD and live" underscores the urgency of turning to God. It is a call to prioritize our relationship with Him above all else. Consequences of Ignoring God The imagery of fire sweeping through the house of Joseph serves as a stark warning of the consequences of ignoring God's call to repentance. It reminds us that God's judgment is real and inevitable for those who persist in rebellion. The Futility of Idolatry Bethel, once a place of divine encounter, became a center of idolatry. This transformation warns us of the dangers of allowing anything to take the place of God in our lives. Repentance as a Path to Life The promise of life for those who seek the LORD highlights repentance as a path to restoration and blessing. It is a call to turn away from sin and towards God's righteousness. God's Relentless Pursuit Despite the impending judgment, God's call to seek Him reveals His desire for reconciliation and relationship with His people. It is a testament to His grace and mercy. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Amos 5:6?2. How can we "seek the LORD" daily to ensure spiritual vitality and growth? 3. What does Amos 5:6 teach about the consequences of ignoring God's call? 4. How does Amos 5:6 connect with Jesus' teachings on seeking God in Matthew? 5. In what ways can our community avoid the "fire" mentioned in Amos 5:6? 6. How can we encourage others to "seek the LORD" in their daily lives? 7. What does Amos 5:6 mean by "Seek the LORD and live"? 8. How does Amos 5:6 challenge our understanding of divine justice? 9. What historical context influenced the message of Amos 5:6? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Amos 5? 11. Why did Assyria conquer Israel? 12. Where is Beersheba mentioned in the Bible? 13. What does it mean to seek God? 14. Amos 5:8 – How can we reconcile the claim that God formed the Pleiades and Orion with modern astronomy, which dates these stars to vastly different periods? What Does Amos 5:6 Mean Seek the LORD“Seek the LORD” is a direct invitation to turn toward the covenant God, not simply to religious ceremony but to a wholehearted pursuit of Him. • Deuteronomy 4:29 reminds, “But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find Him if you search after Him with all your heart and all your soul.” • Isaiah 55:6 urges, “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.” • Jesus echoes this call in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” True seeking involves repentance from sin and sincere obedience, rejecting the hollow rituals practiced at the shrines of Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba mentioned earlier in Amos 5:5. and live God links seeking Him with life—both temporal protection and spiritual vitality. • Deuteronomy 30:19-20 sets the same choice before Israel: “Choose life…loving the LORD your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him.” • John 10:10 reveals the ultimate fulfillment: “I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.” The promise is literal: turn back and the impending national catastrophe can be averted, and each heart that turns finds abundant life in fellowship with God. or He will sweep like fire Fire pictures God’s holiness consuming unrepentant sin. • Hebrews 12:29 states plainly, “For our God is a consuming fire.” • Isaiah 33:14 asks, “Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire?” The warning is not metaphorical only; Assyria’s armies would in fact burn and destroy Israel’s towns. Rejecting mercy leaves only judgment. through the house of Joseph “House of Joseph” points to the Northern Kingdom—Ephraim and Manasseh descending from Joseph (Genesis 48:20). God addresses them as a family meant for blessing (Amos 5:15) yet now facing discipline. Their lineage grants no exemption; covenant breakers face covenant curses (Leviticus 26:14-17). it will devour everything Judgment will be total. • Nahum 1:5-6 depicts mountains quaking before the LORD, adding, “Who can endure His fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before Him.” • Jeremiah 30:23 describes “a tempest of the LORD” sweeping the wicked away. Nothing escapes when God’s patience ends. with no one at Bethel to extinguish it Bethel—once a place where God met Jacob (Genesis 28:19)—had become a center of calf-worship (1 Kings 12:28-30). Pilgrims assumed the shrine guaranteed safety, yet idols cannot save. • Hosea 10:15 laments, “Thus will it be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness.” When fire falls, no priest, sacrifice, or false god will quench it. Reliance on empty religion instead of the living LORD brings utter ruin. summary Amos 5:6 presents a stark choice: diligently seek the LORD in genuine repentance and obedience, and experience life; or refuse, and face God’s fiery judgment that will consume the Northern Kingdom without remedy. The verse underscores God’s mercy in warning and His righteousness in judging, urging every hearer to turn to Him while there is still time. (6) Render, lest he rush down like fire on the house of Joseph (i.e., the Northern Kingdom). For "in Bethel" read "for Bethel." Let the blending of mercy with judgment be here observed, "Seek Jehovah and live, lest this evil befall you." The curse is still conditional.Verse 6. - Break out like fire. God is called "a consuming fire" (Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29; comp. Jeremiah 4:4). And devour it; Septuagint, Ὅπως μὴ ἀναλάμψη ὡς πῦρ ὁ οϊκος Ἰωσὴφ καὶ καταφάγῃ αὐτόν, "Lest the house of Joseph blaze as fire, and he devour him;" Vulgate, Ne forte comburatur ut ignis domus Joseph, et devorabit. But it is best to take the last member of the sentence thus: "and it (the fire) devour." The house of Joseph. Ephraim, i.e. the kingdom of Israel, of which Ephraim was the distinguishing tribe. In Bethel; or, for Bethel. The LXX., paraphrasing, has, τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰσραήλ, "for the house of Israel."Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Seekדִּרְשׁ֥וּ (dir·šū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship the LORD יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3069: YHWH and live, וִֽחְי֑וּ (wiḥ·yū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 2421: To live, to revive or פֶּן־ (pen-) Conjunction Strong's 6435: Removal, lest He will spread יִצְלַ֤ח (yiṣ·laḥ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6743: To push forward like fire כָּאֵשׁ֙ (kā·’êš) Preposition-k, Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 784: A fire through the house בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1004: A house of Joseph; יוֹסֵ֔ף (yō·w·sêp̄) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites it will devour everything, וְאָכְלָ֥ה (wə·’ā·ḵə·lāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 398: To eat with no וְאֵין־ (wə·’ên-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle one at Bethel אֵֽל׃ (’êl) Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 1008: Bethel -- 'house of God', a city in Ephraim, also a place in southern Judah to extinguish it. מְכַבֶּ֖ה (mə·ḵab·beh) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 3518: To be quenched or extinguished, to go out Links Amos 5:6 NIVAmos 5:6 NLT Amos 5:6 ESV Amos 5:6 NASB Amos 5:6 KJV Amos 5:6 BibleApps.com Amos 5:6 Biblia Paralela Amos 5:6 Chinese Bible Amos 5:6 French Bible Amos 5:6 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Amos 5:6 Seek Yahweh and you will live (Amo. 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