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Amos 3:1-2, King James Version
Italic words were supplied in the English translation for clarity.
Amos 3:1-2
Known Relationship Brings Greater Accountability
The whole family brought from Egypt
A new "Hear this word" address names the entire family the LORD brought up from Egypt. The Exodus is not a footnote. It is the relationship that explains why this people is being spoken to so sharply.
"You only have I known of all the families of the earth" uses knowing as relational choosing, not as divine ignorance of other peoples. Chapters 1-2 have already judged neighbors. Amos 9:7 will place other migrations under the same LORD. Unique knowing is not ethnic superiority.
Therefore, not nevertheless
Because of that relationship, iniquities are visited. The logic is therefore, not in spite of. Being specially known makes betrayal more accountable. It does not create moral exemption, and it does not turn Israel into a modern church, party, or nation by simple substitution.
Christian claims of belonging likewise increase responsibility. They cannot be used to replace Israel or despise Jews. Punishment language here is covenant accountability toward northern Israel's first hearers, not a warrant for harm.
How this should shape us
Evaluate insiders and leaders at least as rigorously as outsiders. Greater trust and privilege create greater responsibility for how power is used. Do not turn accountability into collective hatred, and do not treat election as a rank over other peoples.
Teach it back
Explain Amos 3:1-2 in your own words. Include its place in Amos's judgment-restoration movement, one material uncertainty, and one use the context rules out.
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Go deeper
The explanation above is meant to stand on its own. Open these notes only if you want language, history, disagreements, or source locations.
Where careful interpreters disagreeThe strongest options and their difficulties
Where do careful interpreters disagree?
Best judgment: The reach of 'whole family' and the nuances of relational knowing are discussed differently, but the therefore-link to accountability is explicit.
How certain? probableResearch trail and exact locationsThe source record behind this section
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Amos 3:1-2, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Supports: Masoretic Hebrew wording, morphology, clause relationships, wordplays, names, and the base text behind translation discussion.
Open Scriptures MorphHB v.2.2, commit 6a5db284c715c18b239422e57bb89684e6a19f00, wlc/Amos.xml, 3:1-2
Supports: Verse-level translation, syntax, textual, literary, historical, and uncertainty notes.
NET Bible Amos PDF, printed pp. 1711, translation and notes on 3:1-2
Supports: Whole-book movement, eighth-century horizon, literary boundaries, composition, and verse-level alternatives.
Dines, 'Amos,' Oxford Bible Commentary, printed pp. 584-585, discussion of 3:1-2
Sources for This Section
These records identify the source, the claim it supports, and the exact location used. A source remains evidence to evaluate; it does not replace the biblical text.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: Amos 3:1-2, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗hebrew text and morphology
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible: Amos
Open Scriptures
Open Scriptures, release 2.2
Supports: Masoretic Hebrew wording, morphology, clause relationships, wordplays, names, and the base text behind translation discussion.
Exact location: Open Scriptures MorphHB v.2.2, commit 6a5db284c715c18b239422e57bb89684e6a19f00, wlc/Amos.xml, 3:1-2
Open source ↗translation and translator notes
NET Bible: Amos with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2006
Supports: Verse-level translation, syntax, textual, literary, historical, and uncertainty notes.
Exact location: NET Bible Amos PDF, printed pp. 1711, translation and notes on 3:1-2
Open source ↗modern critical commentary
Amos
Jennifer M. Dines
Oxford University Press, in The Oxford Bible Commentary, 2001
Supports: Whole-book movement, eighth-century horizon, literary boundaries, composition, and verse-level alternatives.
Exact location: Dines, 'Amos,' Oxford Bible Commentary, printed pp. 584-585, discussion of 3:1-2
Open source ↗