The archer will not stand his ground, the fleet of foot will not escape, and the horseman will not save his life.
Parallel translations
- WEB neither shall he stand who handles the bow; and he who is swift of foot won’t escape; neither shall he who rides the horse deliver himself;
- KJV Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself.
- NKJV He shall not stand who handles the bow, The swift of foot shall not escape, Nor shall he who rides a horse deliver himself.
- NASB “The one who grasps the bow will not stand his ground, The swift of foot will not escape, Nor will the one who rides the horse save his life.
- NLT The archers will not stand their ground. The swiftest runners won’t be fast enough to escape. Even those riding horses won’t be able to save themselves.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Neither archer, runner, nor horseman will escape the judgment. Every form of military skill will fail.
Overview
Continuing the theme, the skilled bowman, the fleet-footed, and the cavalry will all be helpless. The repetition drives home the totality of the coming defeat. Israel's military confidence under Jeroboam II was misplaced. No earthly security can stand against the Lord's decree.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Ps 33:16–17No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength.
- Ezek 39:3Then I will strike the bow from your left hand and dash down the arrows from your right hand.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Amid judgment on injustice, Amos promises the raising up of David's fallen tent — read by James in Acts 15 as the ingathering of the nations into the kingdom of the risen Christ.
How Amos 2:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.