Discovery BoxAmos 3:4-8 
Context3:4 Does a lion roar in the woods if he has not cornered his prey? 1
Does a young lion bellow from his den if he has not caught something?
3:5 Does a bird swoop down into a trap on the ground if there is no bait?
Does a trap spring up from the ground unless it has surely caught something?
3:6 If an alarm sounds 2 in a city, do people not fear? 3
If disaster overtakes a 4 city, is the Lord not responsible? 5
3:7 Certainly the sovereign Lord does nothing without first revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
3:8 A lion has roared! 6 Who is not afraid?
The sovereign Lord has spoken! Who can refuse to prophesy? 7
1 tn Heb “without having prey [or “food”].”
2 tn Heb “If the ram’s horn is blown.”
3 tn Or “tremble” (NASB, NIV, NCV); or “shake.”
4 tn Heb “is in”; NIV, NCV, NLT “comes to.”
5 tn Heb “has the
6 sn The roar of the lion is here a metaphor for impending judgment (see 1:2; cf. 3:4, 12). Verses 7-8 justify Amos’ prophetic ministry and message of warning and judgment. The people should expect a prophetic message prior to divine action.
7 sn Who can refuse to prophesy? When a message is revealed, the prophet must speak, and the news of impending judgment should cause people to fear.
