Amos 7 · Verse 14

Amos 7:14

Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
Amos 7:14, King James Version

Amos 7:14 in other translations

BSB“I was not a prophet,” Amos replied, “nor was I the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore-fig trees.
WEBThen Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman, and a farmer of sycamore figs;
ASVThen answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was a herdsman, and a dresser of sycomore-trees:
YLTAnd Amos answereth and saith unto Amaziah, ‘I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son am I, but a herdsman I am, and a cultivator of sycamores,
DARBYAnd Amos answered and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was a herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit.
BBEThen Amos in answer said to Amaziah, I am no prophet, or one of the sons of the prophets; I am a herdman and one who takes care of sycamore-trees:
WebsterThen answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was a herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit:

What does Amos 7:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. I was no prophet--in answer to Amaziah's insinuation (Am 7:12), that he discharged the prophetical office to earn his "bread" (like Israel's mercenary prophets). So far from being rewarded, Jehovah's prophets had to expect imprisonment and even death as the result of their prophesying in Samaria or Israel: whereas the prophets of Baal were maintained at the king's expense (compare 1Ki 18:19). I was not, says Amos, of the order of prophets, or educated in their schools, and deriving a livelihood from exercising the public functions of a prophet. I am a shepherd (compare Am 7:15, "flock"; the Hebrew for "herdsman" includes the meaning, shepherd, compare Am 1:1) in humble position, who did not even think of prophesying among you, until a divine call impelled me to it. prophet's son--that is, disciple. Schools of prophets are mentioned first in First Samuel; in these youths were educated to serve the theocracy as public instructors. Only in the kingdom of the ten tribes is the continuance of the schools of the prophets mentioned. They were missionary stations near the chief seats of superstition in Israel, and associations endowed with the Spirit of God; none were admitted but those to whom the Spirit had been previously imparted. Their spiritual fathers travelled about to visit the training schools, and cared for the members and even their widows (2Ki 4:1, 2). The pupils had their common board in them, and after leaving them still continued members. The offerings which in Judah were given by the pious to the Levites, in Israel went to the schools of the prophets (2Ki 4:42). Prophecy (for example, Elijah and Elisha) in Israel was more connected with extraordinary events than in Judah, inasmuch as, in the absence of the legal hierarchy of the latter, it needed to have more palpable divine sanction. sycamore--abounding in Palestine. The fruit was like the fig, but inferior; according to Pliny, a sort of compound, as the name expresses, of the fig and the mulberry. It was only eaten by the poorest (compare 1Ki 10:27). gatherer--one occupied with their cultivation [Maurer]. To cultivate it, an incision was made in the fruit when of a certain size, and on the fourth day afterwards it ripened [Pliny, Natural History, 13.7,14]. Grotius from Jerome says, if it be not plucked off and "gathered" (which favors English Version), it is spoiled by gnats.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 I was no prophet - I am an extraordinary messenger of God. I am not called to the prophetic office but for this occasion. I have no message to Judah, and therefore need not go there. I have a message to Israel alone, and I must faithfully deliver it. For the account which Amos gives here of himself, see the introduction.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Amos 7:10-17

It is no new thing for the accusers of the brethren, to misrepresent them as enemies to the king and kingdom, as traitors to their prince, and troublers of the land, when they are the best friends to both. Those who make gain their godliness, and are governed by the hopes of wealth and preferment, are ready to think these the most powerful motives with others also. But those who have a warrant from God, like Amos…

Read the full comment on Amos 7:10-17 →

Amos 7:14 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיַּ֤עַןvai.Ya.'anand he answeredH6030
עָמוֹס֙'a.mOsAmosH5986
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אֶל\־'el-toH413
אֲמַצְיָ֔ה'a.matz.YahAmaziahH558
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
נָבִ֣יאna.Vi'[am] a prophetH5030
אָנֹ֔כִי'a.No.khiIH595
וְלֹ֥אve.Lo'and notH3808
בֶן\־ven-[am] a son ofH1121
נָבִ֖יאna.Vi'a prophetH5030
אָנֹ֑כִי'a.No.khiIH595
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
בוֹקֵ֥רvo.Ker[was] a herdsmanH951
אָנֹ֖כִי'a.No.khiIH595
וּבוֹלֵ֥סu.vo.Lesand a fig picker ofH1103
שִׁקְמִֽים\׃shik.MimsycamoresH8256

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Amos 7:14

  • Amos 1:1

    The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

  • Zechariah 13:5

    But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.

  • 2 Kings 4:38

    And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.

  • 2 Kings 2:5

    And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:27

    But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

  • 2 Kings 2:3

    And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth–el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

  • 2 Chronicles 19:2

    And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:34

    Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.

  • 2 Chronicles 16:7

    And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.

  • 2 Kings 6:1

    And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.

  • 1 Kings 20:35

    And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the Lord, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.

  • 2 Kings 2:7

    And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
neither.
1Ki 20:35; 2Ki 2:3,5,7; 4:38; 6:1; 2Ch 16:7; 19:2; 20:34
an herdman.
1:1; Zec 13:5; 1Co 1:27
a gatherer.Rather, as {bolais} is rendered by the LXX. and Vulgate, [knizon,] {vellicans,} "a scraping," or a scraper of sycamores; for the fruit does not ripen till it is rubbed with iron combs.
sycamore fruit. or, wild figs.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Amos 7:13

    But prophesy not again any more at Beth–el: for it is the king’s chapel, and it is the king’s court.

  • Amos 7:14

    Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:

  • Amos 7:15

    And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

Read all of Amos 7

Amos 7:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces respondió Amós, y dijo á Amasías: No soy profeta, ni soy hijo de profeta, sino que soy boyero, y cogedor de cabrahigos:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Amos répondit et dit à Amatsia: Je n’étais pas prophète, et je n’étais pas fils de prophète; mais je gardais le bétail, et je cueillais le fruit des sycomores;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Amos antwortete und sprach zu Amazja: Ich war kein Prophet und war kein Prophetensohn sondern ich war ein Viehhirt und las wilde Feigen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Responditque Amos, et dixit ad Amasiam: Non sum propheta, et non sum filius prophetæ: sed armentarius ego sum vellicans sycomoros.