Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.
Parallel translations
- WEB Surely the Lord Yahweh will do nothing, unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.
- KJV Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
- NKJV Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
- NASB Certainly the Lord God does nothing Unless He reveals His secret plan To His servants the prophets.
- NLT Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.
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
God does nothing without first revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. He graciously warns before he judges.
Overview
This key verse explains the prophetic office: before acting in judgment, God discloses his intentions through the prophets. This shows his mercy, giving warning and opportunity to repent. It also validates Amos's message as God's own word. Supremely, God has revealed his ultimate plan in Christ and through the apostles and prophets of Scripture.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- John 15:15No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.
- Gen 18:17And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
- Ps 25:14The LORD confides in those who fear Him, and reveals His covenant to them.
- Rev 1:1This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,
- Dan 9:22–27He instructed me and spoke with me, saying: “O Daniel, I have come now to give you insight and understanding.
- Gen 6:13Then God said to Noah, “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth.
- Rev 4:1After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.”
- Dan 10:21But first I will tell you what is inscribed in the Book of Truth. Yet no one has the courage to support me against these, except Michael your prince.
- Rev 1:19Therefore write down the things you have seen, and the things that are, and the things that will happen after this.
- Jer 23:22But if they had stood in My council, they would have proclaimed My words to My people and turned them back from their evil ways and deeds.”
- Dan 11:2Now then, I will tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. By the power of his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.
- 2 Kgs 22:13“Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah concerning the words in this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book by doing all that is written about us.”
- 2 Kgs 6:12But one of his servants replied, “No one, my lord the king. For Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”
- 1 Kgs 22:19–23Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.
- 2 Kgs 22:20‘Therefore I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place.’” So they brought her answer back to the king.
- Rev 6:1–17Then I watched as the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say in a thunderous voice, “Come!”
- 2 Kgs 3:17–20For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 3:7 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.