Bible Strands
Amos 7:14
“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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Amos speaks to Amaziah at Bethel immediately after the priest commands him to stop prophesying in the royal sanctuary. He answers to clarify his social and professional background rather than his theological training.
The words — The Hebrew נָבִיא (na.Vi') means "prophet" and is directly negated by לֹא (lo'-) to deny formal or hereditary prophetic status. Amos explicitly identifies his actual trade as a herdsman and sycamore-fig cultivator.
The thread — This claim of non-prophetic origin echoes Amos 1:1, which identifies him among the sheepherders of Tekoa, and mirrors the laborer’s denial of the prophet title in Zechariah 13:5. The contrast stands against the established "sons of the prophets" mentioned in 2 Kings 2:5.
Why it lands — The passage requires readers to separate institutional religious titles from divine commission. It demands that authority be judged by its source rather than by human certification or lineage.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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:
Cross-references
- Amos 1:1 These are the words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders of Tekoa—what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, in the days when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
- Zechariah 13:5 He will say, ‘I am not a prophet; I work the land, for I was purchased as a servant in my youth.’
- 2 Kings 2:5 Then the sons of the prophets at Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.”
- 2 Kings 4:38 When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting at his feet, he said to his attendant, “Put on the large pot and boil some stew for the sons of the prophets.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
- 2 Kings 2:3 Then the sons of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.”
- 2 Chronicles 19:2 Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.
- 1 Kings 20:35 Meanwhile, by the word of the LORD, one of the sons of the prophets said to his companion, “Strike me, please!” But the man refused to strike him.
- 2 Kings 2:7 Then a company of fifty of the sons of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing Elijah and Elisha as the two of them stood by the Jordan.
- 2 Kings 6:1 Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Please take note that the place where we meet with you is too small for us.