Amos 5:4 For this is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: "Seek Me and live!

◄ Amos 5:4 ►

New International Version
This is what the LORD says to Israel: “Seek me and live;

New Living Translation
Now this is what the LORD says to the family of Israel: “Come back to me and live!

English Standard Version
For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: “Seek me and live;

Berean Standard Bible
For this is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live!

King James Bible
For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:

New King James Version
For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live;

New American Standard Bible
For this is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek Me so that you may live.

NASB 1995
For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel, “Seek Me that you may live.

NASB 1977
For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel, “Seek Me that you may live.

Legacy Standard Bible
For thus says Yahweh to the house of Israel, “Seek Me that you may live.

Amplified Bible
For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel, “Seek Me [search diligently for Me and regard Me as more essential than food] so that you may live.

Christian Standard Bible
For the LORD says to the house of Israel: Seek me and live!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the LORD says to the house of Israel: Seek Me and live!

American Standard Version
For thus saith Jehovah unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live;

Contemporary English Version
The LORD keeps saying, "Israel, turn back to me and you will live!

English Revised Version
For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This is what the LORD says to the nation of Israel: Search for me and live!

Good News Translation
The LORD says to the people of Israel, "Come to me, and you will live.

International Standard Version
"For this is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: 'Seek me and live,

Majority Standard Bible
For this is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: ?Seek Me and live!

NET Bible
The LORD says this to the family of Israel: "Seek me so you can live!

New Heart English Bible
For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: "Seek me, and you will live;

Webster's Bible Translation
For thus saith the LORD to the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:

World English Bible
For Yahweh says to the house of Israel: “Seek me, and you will live;

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
For thus said YHWH to the house of Israel: “Seek Me, and live,

Young's Literal Translation
For thus said Jehovah to the house of Israel: Seek ye Me, and live,

Smith's Literal Translation
For thus said Jehovah to the house of Israel: Seek ye me and live:

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
For thus saith the Lord to the house of Israel: Seek ye me, and you shall live.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: Seek me and you will live.

New American Bible
For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: Seek me, that you may live,

New Revised Standard Version
For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: Seek me and live;

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: Seek me and you shall live;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because thus says LORD JEHOVAH to those of the house of Israel: ’seek me for myself and live!

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel: Seek ye Me, and live;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Wherefore thus saith the Lord to the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

A Call to Repentance
4For this is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live! 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.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

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.

Isaiah 55:6
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

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.

Psalm 105:4
Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.

Isaiah 55:3
Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.

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.

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

1 Chronicles 16:11
Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.

Psalm 27:8
My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek.

Isaiah 45:22
Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

John 6:35
Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.

John 7:37
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.

Treasury of Scripture

For thus said the LORD to the house of Israel, Seek you me, and you shall live:

Seek.

Amos 5:6
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.

Deuteronomy 30:1-8
And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, …

1 Chronicles 28:9
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

and.

Psalm 22:26
The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

Psalm 69:32
The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.

Psalm 105:3,4
Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD…

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Amos 5

1. A lamentation for Israel.
4. An exhortation to repentance.
21. God rejects their hypocritical service.

Berean Study Bible

For thus says the LORD
This phrase introduces a direct message from God, emphasizing the divine authority and urgency of the command. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "YHWH," the sacred and personal name of God, which underscores His covenant relationship with Israel. This introduction is a common prophetic formula, indicating that what follows is not merely human advice but a divine imperative. Historically, this reflects the period of the divided kingdom, where prophets like Amos were sent to call the people back to faithfulness.

to the house of Israel
The "house of Israel" refers to the Northern Kingdom, which had fallen into idolatry and social injustice. This phrase is significant as it identifies the audience of the prophecy, reminding them of their identity as God's chosen people. The term "house" implies a familial and covenantal relationship, which Israel has neglected. Archaeological findings from this period reveal a society that had become prosperous yet morally and spiritually corrupt, highlighting the need for this prophetic call.

Seek Me
The Hebrew word for "seek" is "darash," which implies a diligent pursuit or inquiry. This is not a casual or superficial search but a deep, intentional turning towards God. In the context of Amos, this call to "seek" is a call to repentance and a return to covenant faithfulness. It contrasts with the people's tendency to seek idols or rely on their own strength. Scripturally, seeking God is associated with life, blessing, and restoration.

and live
The promise of life is contingent upon seeking God. The Hebrew word "chayah" for "live" encompasses not just physical survival but a flourishing, abundant life in the presence of God. This reflects the Deuteronomic theme where obedience to God leads to life and blessing, while disobedience leads to death and curse. In the historical context of Amos, this was a call to avert impending judgment by returning to God. Theologically, it points to the ultimate life found in relationship with God, fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus Christ.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) Seek . . . live.--Search after God is rewarded by finding Him, and this is life in the highest sense.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 4. - The more formal proof that Israel has merited her punishment here begins. In calling her to repentance the prophet contrasts God's requirements with her actual conduct. Seek ye me, and ye shall live. Two imperatives: "Seek me, and (so) live;" duty and its reward. "Seek me in the appointed way, and ye shall be saved from destruction" (comp. Genesis 42:18).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

For
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

this is what
כֹ֥ה (ḵōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

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

says
אָמַ֛ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to the house
לְבֵ֣ית (lə·ḇêṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Israel:
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

“Seek
דִּרְשׁ֖וּנִי (dir·šū·nî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | first person common singular
Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship

Me and live!
וִֽחְיֽוּ׃ (wiḥ·yū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

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OT Prophets: Amos 5:4 For thus says Yahweh to the house (Amo. Am)