Amos 5:20

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Bible in Basic English

Will not the day of the Lord be dark and not light? even very dark, with no light shining in it?

Free Bible Version

Isn't the day of the Lord darkness without light? Yes, pitch dark without a glimmer of light.

Geneva Bible 1599

Shal not the day of the Lord be darkenes, and not light? euen darkenes and no light in it?

King James (Authorized) Version

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

Translation for Translators

That day, when he punishes people, will certainly be [RHQ] a very dark day [MET], without even a little bit of light.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Will not the day of Yahweh be darkness and not light? Gloom and no brightness?

Noah Webster Bible

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?

Young's Literal Translation

Is not the day of Jehovah darkness and not light, Even thick darkness that hath no brightness?

Context

Woe to Rebellious Israel

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?

Summary

In this verse, the prophet Amos warns the people of Israel about the impending judgment of God. He describes a scenario where darkness will overtake their lives instead of light, emphasizing the severity of the consequences of their sins. The imagery of fleeing from a lion only to encounter a bear, or entering a house and leaning a hand on the wall only to be bitten by a snake, illustrates the inescapable nature of God's judgment. This serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of repentance and turning back to God before it is too late.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light?.... The design of such a question is strongly to affirm, that, in this day of the Lord spoken of, there should be nothing but misery and distress, and no prosperity and happiness, at least to the wicked Israelites, or the unbelieving Jews: even very dark, and no brightness in it? signifying that there should be no deliverance, nor the least glimmering view or hope of it; that the calamity should be so very great, and the destruction so entire, that there should be no mixture of mercy, nor the least appearance of relief.

Amos 5:20

Woe to Rebellious Israel

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Bible in Basic English

Will not the day of the Lord be dark and not light? even very dark, with no light shining in it?

Free Bible Version

Isn't the day of the Lord darkness without light? Yes, pitch dark without a glimmer of light.

Geneva Bible 1599

Shal not the day of the Lord be darkenes, and not light? euen darkenes and no light in it?

King James (Authorized) Version

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

Translation for Translators

That day, when he punishes people, will certainly be [RHQ] a very dark day [MET], without even a little bit of light.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Will not the day of Yahweh be darkness and not light? Gloom and no brightness?

Noah Webster Bible

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?

Young's Literal Translation

Is not the day of Jehovah darkness and not light, Even thick darkness that hath no brightness?