The Meaning of Amos 3:2 Explained

Amos 3:2

KJV: You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

YLT: Only you I have known of all families of the land, Therefore I charge on you all your iniquities.

Darby: You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore will I visit upon you all your iniquities.

ASV: You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

You only have I known  of all the families  of the earth:  therefore I will punish  you for all your iniquities. 

What does Amos 3:2 Mean?

Study Notes

therefore
It is noteworthy that Jehovah's controversy with the Gentile cities which hated Israel is brief: "I will send a fire." But Israel had been brought into the place of privilege and so of responsibility, and the Lord's indictment is detailed and unsparing. Cf. Matthew 11:23 ; Luke 12:47 ; Luke 12:48 .

Context Summary

Amos 3:1-15 - The Lord's Word Must Come True
The closer our relationship with God, the more searching His scrutiny and chastening. The sins of God's children which may seem of slight consequence are rigorously dealt with by their Heavenly Father, who loves them too well to allow their life to be permanently injured. It is because God loves us that He is so quick in detecting the least symptoms of disease. But we must agree with Him as to the sinfulness of sin, the need of cleansing, the hopelessness of our old nature, and the world's urgent need both of our sympathy and sacrifice. So only shall we walk with God as Enoch did. The soul that is one with Him is on the alert, as is the traveler who hears the lion's roar in the forest. Watch; ye know not the hour!
The nobles of Egypt and Philistia are summoned to view the sins of Samaria and to confirm the justice of her penalty. From all sides the invader would descend on the recreant land. Only a fragment should escape, like the small piece of a lamb rescued from the jaws of the savage beast of prey. The couch of luxury, the bed of sloth, the golden calf of Beth-el-all marked the degeneracy of the Chosen People. May the sorrows through which the world is passing at this hour be the means of cleansing human society from these same evils that our Christian civilization may escape the penalties that overtook Israel! [source]

Chapter Summary: Amos 3

1  The necessity of God's judgment against Israel
9  The publication of it, with the causes thereof

What do the individual words in Amos 3:2 mean?

only You have I known of all the families of the earth upon thus I will punish you - for all your iniquities
רַ֚ק אֶתְכֶ֣ם יָדַ֔עְתִּי מִכֹּ֖ל מִשְׁפְּח֣וֹת הָאֲדָמָ֑ה עַל־ כֵּן֙ אֶפְקֹ֣ד עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת כָּל־ עֲוֺנֹֽתֵיכֶֽם

רַ֚ק  only 
Parse: Adverb
Root: רַק  
Sense: only, altogether, surely.
יָדַ֔עְתִּי  have  I  known 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
מִכֹּ֖ל  of  all 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מִשְׁפְּח֣וֹת  the  families 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מִשְׁפָּחָה  
Sense: clan, family.
הָאֲדָמָ֑ה  of  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲדָמָה 
Sense: ground, land.
עַל־  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
כֵּן֙  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
אֶפְקֹ֣ד  I  will  punish 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
אֵ֖ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
כָּל־  for  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
עֲוֺנֹֽתֵיכֶֽם  your  iniquities 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.