Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Yet I destroyed the Amorites before them, though they were tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks. I destroyed their fruit above and their roots below. New Living Translation “But as my people watched, I destroyed the Amorites, though they were as tall as cedars and as strong as oaks. I destroyed the fruit on their branches and dug out their roots. English Standard Version “Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars and who was as strong as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath. Berean Standard Bible Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, though his height was like that of the cedars, and he was as strong as the oaks. Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below. Berean Literal Bible And I—I have destroyed the Amorite before their faces, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the Oaks; and I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath. King James Bible Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath. New King James Version “Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, Whose height was like the height of the cedars, And he was as strong as the oaks; Yet I destroyed his fruit above And his roots beneath. New American Standard Bible “Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, Though his height was like the height of cedars And he was as strong as the oaks; I also destroyed his fruit above and his roots below. NASB 1995 “Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, Though his height was like the height of cedars And he was strong as the oaks; I even destroyed his fruit above and his root below. NASB 1977 “Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, Though his height was like the height of cedars And he was strong as the oaks; I even destroyed his fruit above and his root below. Legacy Standard Bible “Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, Though his height was like the height of cedars, And he was strong as the oaks; I even destroyed his fruit above and his root below. Amplified Bible “Yet it was I [not the false gods] who destroyed the Amorite before them, Though his height was like the height of the cedars, And he was as strong as the oaks; I even destroyed his fruit above and his root below. Berean Annotated Bible Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite (a sayer) before them, though his height was like that of the cedars, and he was as strong as the oaks. Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below. Christian Standard Bible Yet I destroyed the Amorite as Israel advanced; his height was like the cedars, and he was as sturdy as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath. Holman Christian Standard Bible Yet I destroyed the Amorite as Israel advanced; his height was like the cedars, and he was as sturdy as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath. American Standard Version Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath. Contemporary English Version Israel, the Amorites were there when you entered Canaan. They were tall as cedars and strong as oaks. But I wiped them out--I destroyed their branches and their roots. English Revised Version Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath. GOD'S WORD® Translation I destroyed the Amorites in front of them, although the Amorites were as tall as cedars and as strong as oaks. I destroyed their fruit above the ground and their roots below it. Good News Translation "And yet, my people, it was for your sake that I totally destroyed the Amorites, who were as tall as cedar trees and as strong as oaks. International Standard Version Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorites in front of them, though their height seemed like a cedar, though their strength seemed like an oak, but whose fruit I destroyed from above and the roots from beneath. NET Bible For Israel's sake I destroyed the Amorites. They were as tall as cedars and as strong as oaks, but I destroyed the fruit on their branches and their roots in the ground. New Heart English Bible Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath. Webster's Bible Translation Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose hight was like the hight of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleYet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, though his height was like that of the cedars, and he was as strong as the oaks. Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below. World English Bible Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd I have destroyed the Amorite from before them, "" Whose height [is] as the height of cedars, "" And he [is] strong as the oaks, "" And I destroy his fruit from above, "" And his roots from beneath. Berean Literal Bible And I—I have destroyed the Amorite before their faces, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the Oaks; and I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath. Young's Literal Translation And I -- I have destroyed the Amorite from before them, Whose height is as the height of cedars, And strong he is as the oaks, And I destroy his fruit from above, And his roots from beneath. Smith's Literal Translation And I destroyed the Amorite from their face, whom his height as the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; and I will destroy his fruit from above and his roots from beneath. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleYet I cast out the Amorrhite before their face: whose height was like the height of cedars, and who was strong as an oak: and I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots beneath. Catholic Public Domain Version Yet I exterminated the Amorites before their face, whose height was like the height of cedars, and whose strength was like the oak. And I crushed his fruit from above and his roots below. New American Bible Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorites before them, who were as tall as cedars, and as strong as oak trees. I destroyed their fruit above and their roots beneath. New Revised Standard Version Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of cedars, and who was as strong as oaks; I destroyed his fruit above, and his roots beneath. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleYet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of a cedar, and he was strong as an oak; yet I destroyed his fruit from above and his roots from beneath. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And I have destroyed the Amorite from before them, whose height was like the height of a cedar and was venerable as an oak. I have destroyed its fruit from above and its roots from beneath OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, Whose height was like the height of the cedars, And he was strong as the oaks; Yet I destroyed his fruit from above, And his roots from beneath. Brenton Septuagint Translation Nevertheless I cut off the Amorite from before them, whose height was as the height of a cedar, and he was strong as an oak; and I dried up his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Judgment on Moab, Judah, and Israel…8They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. And in the house of their God, they drink wine obtained through fines. 9Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, though his height was like that of the cedars, and he was as strong as the oaks. Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below. 10And I brought you up from the land of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness, that you might take possession of the land of the Amorite.… Cross References Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, Deuteronomy 2:24-25 “Arise, set out, and cross the Arnon Valley. See, I have delivered into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle. / This very day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon all the nations under heaven. They will hear the reports of you and tremble in anguish because of you.” Deuteronomy 3:2-3 But the LORD said to me, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, along with all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.” / So the LORD our God also delivered Og king of Bashan and his whole army into our hands. We struck them down until no survivor was left. Joshua 24:8 Later, I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived beyond the Jordan. They fought against you, but I delivered them into your hand, that you should possess their land when I destroyed them before you. though his height was like that of the cedars, Ezekiel 31:3 Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds. Isaiah 37:24 Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest heights, the densest of its forests. Psalm 92:12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. and he was as strong as the oaks. Isaiah 2:13 against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan, Zechariah 11:2 Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen; the majestic trees are ruined! Wail, O oaks of Bashan, for the dense forest has been cut down! Ezekiel 27:6 Of oaks from Bashan they made your oars; of wood from the coasts of Cyprus they made your deck, inlaid with ivory. Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below. Job 18:16 The roots beneath him dry up, and the branches above him wither away. Ezekiel 17:9-10 So you are to tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Will it flourish? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it shrivels? All its foliage will wither! It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by its roots. / Even if it is transplanted, will it flourish? Will it not completely wither when the east wind strikes? It will wither on the bed where it sprouted.’” Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.” Deuteronomy 9:1-3 Hear, O Israel: Today you are about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities fortified to the heavens. / The people are strong and tall, the descendants of the Anakim. You know about them, and you have heard it said, “Who can stand up to the sons of Anak?” / But understand that today the LORD your God goes across ahead of you as a consuming fire; He will destroy them and subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them swiftly, as the LORD has promised you. Joshua 24:12 I sent the hornet ahead of you, and it drove out the two Amorite kings before you, but not by your own sword or bow. Numbers 13:28-33 Nevertheless, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We even saw the descendants of Anak there. / The Amalekites live in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.” / Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We must go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly conquer it!” … Deuteronomy 7:1-2 When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— / and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. Treasury of Scripture Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath. I the. Genesis 15:16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. Exodus 3:8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Exodus 34:11 Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. whose. Numbers 13:28,29,32,33 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there… Deuteronomy 1:28 Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. Deuteronomy 2:10,11 The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; … I destroyed. Joshua 11:21,22 And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities… 2 Samuel 23:16-22 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD… Job 18:16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off. Jump to Previous Amorite Below Beneath Cedar Cedars Cutting Destroy Destroyed Destruction Fruit Height High Hight Oaks Oak-Tree Root Roots Strong TallJump to Next Amorite Below Beneath Cedar Cedars Cutting Destroy Destroyed Destruction Fruit Height High Hight Oaks Oak-Tree Root Roots Strong TallAmos 2 1. God's judgments upon Moab,4. upon Judah, 6. and upon Israel. 9. God complains of their ingratitude. Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them This phrase emphasizes God's direct intervention in the history of Israel. The Amorites were a powerful Canaanite people who occupied the land before the Israelites. God's destruction of the Amorites is a reminder of His sovereignty and faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to the patriarchs, such as in Genesis 15:16, where God promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land. This act of divine intervention underscores God's role as a warrior on behalf of His people, a theme seen throughout the Old Testament. though his height was like that of the cedars and he was as strong as the oaks Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below Persons / Places / Events 1. AmosA prophet from the southern kingdom of Judah, called by God to deliver messages to the northern kingdom of Israel. His prophecies often focused on social justice and divine judgment. 2. Amorites A powerful and formidable group of people in the ancient Near East, known for their strength and stature. They were one of the nations that the Israelites encountered and defeated during their conquest of Canaan. 3. Canaan The land promised by God to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was inhabited by various groups, including the Amorites, before the Israelites took possession of it. 4. Israelites The descendants of Jacob (Israel), chosen by God to be His people. They were delivered from slavery in Egypt and led into the Promised Land. 5. God's Deliverance The event of God intervening on behalf of the Israelites to defeat their enemies, demonstrating His power and faithfulness to His covenant promises. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty and PowerGod is sovereign over all nations and peoples. His power is unmatched, as demonstrated by His ability to defeat the mighty Amorites. Faithfulness to His Promises God is faithful to His covenant promises. Just as He delivered the Amorites into the hands of the Israelites, He will fulfill His promises to us today. Dependence on God The Israelites' victory over the Amorites was not due to their own strength but because of God's intervention. We, too, must rely on God for victory in our lives. Judgment and Justice God's destruction of the Amorites serves as a reminder of His justice. He will not tolerate sin and rebellion indefinitely. Spiritual Warfare Just as God destroyed the "fruit above and roots below" of the Amorites, He can help us overcome sin and spiritual strongholds in our lives. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Amos 2:9?2. How does Amos 2:9 demonstrate God's power over seemingly invincible foes? 3. What does God's destruction of the Amorites teach about His protection for Israel? 4. How can we trust God's strength in overcoming personal "Amorites" in our lives? 5. Connect Amos 2:9 with other scriptures showing God's deliverance from enemies. 6. How can we apply God's past victories to current spiritual battles we face? 7. How does Amos 2:9 reflect God's power and judgment against nations? 8. What historical events might Amos 2:9 be referencing? 9. How does Amos 2:9 challenge our understanding of divine justice? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Amos 2? 11. (Amos 2:9-10) Is there any archaeological or scientific evidence to support the miraculous overthrow of the Amorites and the exodus narrative? 12. How did Absalom become caught by his head or hair in the oak tree (2 Samuel 18:9), and does this detail conflict with scientific plausibility? 13. Amos 7:11 - The text predicts Jeroboam's death by the sword; does this claim conflict with other biblical or extra-biblical accounts regarding Jeroboam's end? 14. (Amos 1:9-10) Where is the external proof that Tyre was punished for breaking its covenant of brotherhood, or is this a theological claim without historical backing? What Does Amos 2:9 Mean It was I who destroyed the Amorite before them• God Himself speaks, reminding Israel that their victories were not self-made but divinely given. He singles out the Amorites—iconic Canaanite warriors who once dominated the land (Genesis 15:16; Deuteronomy 1:27-30). • The emphasis on “I” underlines covenant faithfulness. As in Exodus 14:14, “The LORD will fight for you,” the Lord took the battlefield position, clearing the way for His people (Joshua 24:12). • The statement confronts Israel’s current complacency. Forgetting past grace leads to present rebellion; remembering fuels obedience (Psalm 78:10-11). Though his height was like that of the cedars • Cedars of Lebanon were ancient symbols of towering grandeur (Psalm 92:12). Describing Amorite height this way recalls the intimidating report of the spies who felt “like grasshoppers” beside the giants of the land (Numbers 13:32-33). • God’s past triumph over what looked humanly impossible assures His people that no present foe is too large (Deuteronomy 9:1-3). • The comparison also highlights the distance between appearance and reality: seeming strength collapses when the Lord steps in (1 Samuel 17:45-47). And he was as strong as the oaks • Oaks suggest endurance and deep-rooted strength (Isaiah 2:13). The Amorites’ military entrenchment in the hill country of Judah and Ephraim (Judges 1:34-35) felt immovable. • By pairing “cedars” with “oaks,” the Lord addresses both height (outward impressiveness) and depth (entrenched power). Neither dimension withstands divine judgment (Jeremiah 17:5-8 contrasting cursed shrubs and blessed trees). • Present readers are reminded that human fortresses—political, cultural, or personal—are no match for God’s sovereign will (Psalm 20:7). I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below • The double action pictures total eradication—branches and offspring (“fruit above”) as well as heritage and future (“roots below”). Similar language marks decisive judgment in Job 18:16 and Isaiah 37:31. • Historically, God accomplished this through Israel’s conquest of Sihon and Og (Numbers 21:21-35; Deuteronomy 2:24-3:11). Their cities, armies, and dynasties were wiped out, leaving no regrowth. • Spiritually, the verse signals the completeness of divine justice. When repentance is rejected, God’s judgment is thorough (Malachi 4:1). Conversely, in Christ, salvation is just as comprehensive—He uproots sin’s penalty and breaks its fruit in our lives (Colossians 2:13-15). summary Amos 2:9 recalls God’s past victory over the seemingly invincible Amorites to expose Israel’s ingratitude and warn against complacency. The Lord alone crushed a foe as tall as cedars and as rooted as oaks, removing every branch and root. Remembering that decisive deliverance invites renewed trust, humble obedience, and confidence that the God who once overthrew towering giants still reigns with unrivaled power today. (9) Destroyed I.--Emphasis belongs to the pronoun "I." The Amorites proper occupied the S.W. coast of the Dead Sea. Their formidable stature and power were attributed occasionally to all the inhabitants of the land. (Joshua 24:18; Judges 6:10.) They were absorbed before the time of Amos.Verse 9. - God complains of Israel's ingratitude for the favour which he had shown them. And yet I. The personal pronoun has a prominent position, and is continually repeated, to contrast God's faithfulness and the people's unthankfulness. The Amorite (Joshua 24:8, 18). The representative of the seven nations of Canaan who were dispossessed by the Israelites (Genesis 15:16; Exodus 23:27; Exodus 34:11). The hyperbolical description of this people is taken from Numbers 13:32, etc.; Deuteronomy 1:28. Thus is shown Israel's inability to cope with such an enemy, and their entire dependence on the help of the Lord. Fruit... roots. Keil explains that the posterity of a nation is regarded as its fruit, and the kernel of the nation out of which it springs as the root, comparing Job 18:16; Ezekiel 17:9; Hosea 9:16. The expression is equivalent to our "root and branch" (Malachi 4:1).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Yet [it was] Iוְאָ֨נֹכִ֜י (wə·’ā·nō·ḵî) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 595: I who destroyed הִשְׁמַ֤דְתִּי (hiš·maḏ·tî) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 8045: To be exterminated or destroyed the Amorite הָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ (hā·’ĕ·mō·rî) Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 567: Amorites -- perhaps 'mountain dwellers', a Canaanite tribe before them, מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם (mip·pə·nê·hem) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 6440: The face though אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that his height כְּגֹ֤בַהּ (kə·ḡō·ḇah) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1363: Elation, grandeur, arrogance was like that of גָּבְה֔וֹ (gā·ḇə·hōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1363: Elation, grandeur, arrogance the cedars, אֲרָזִים֙ (’ă·rā·zîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 730: A cedar tree and he was ה֖וּא (hū) Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are as strong וְחָסֹ֥ן (wə·ḥā·sōn) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2634: Powerful as the oaks; כָּֽאַלּוֹנִ֑ים (kā·’al·lō·w·nîm) Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 437: An oak, other strong tree yet I destroyed וָאַשְׁמִ֤יד (wā·’aš·mîḏ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 8045: To be exterminated or destroyed his fruit פִּרְיוֹ֙ (pir·yōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 6529: Fruit above מִמַּ֔עַל (mim·ma·‘al) Preposition-m | Adverb Strong's 4605: The upper part, with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top and his roots וְשָׁרָשָׁ֖יו (wə·šā·rā·šāw) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 8328: A root below. מִתָּֽחַת׃ (mit·tā·ḥaṯ) Preposition-m Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of Links Amos 2:9 NIVAmos 2:9 NLT Amos 2:9 ESV Amos 2:9 NASB Amos 2:9 KJV Amos 2:9 BibleApps.com Amos 2:9 Biblia Paralela Amos 2:9 Chinese Bible Amos 2:9 French Bible Amos 2:9 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Amos 2:9 Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them (Amo. 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