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Selected Verse: Amos 9:2 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Am 9:2	Strong Concordance	Though they dig [02864] into hell [07585], thence shall mine hand [03027] take [03947] them; though they climb up [05927] to heaven [08064], thence will I bring them down [03381]:
	King James	Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Though they dig into hell--though they hide ever so deeply in the earth (Psa 139:8). though they climb up to heaven--though they ascend the greatest heights (Job 20:6-7; Jer 51:53; Oba 1:4).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Though they dig into hell--though they hide ever so deeply in the earth (Psa 139:8).

though they climb up to heaven--though they ascend the greatest heights (Job 20:6-7; Jer 51:53; Oba 1:4).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Height or depth are alike open to the Omnipresent God. The grave is not so awful as God. The sinner would gladly "dig through" into hell, bury himself, the living among the dead, if so he could escape the sight of God. But thence, God says, "My hand shall take them," to place them in His presence, to receive their sentence. Or if, like the rebel angels, they could "place" their "throne amid the stars Isa 14:12-14 of God thence will I bring them down," humbling, judging, condemning.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
hell Hebrew, "Sheol," (See Scofield) - (Hab 2:5).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The thought is still further expanded in Amo 9:2-6. Amo 9:2. "If they break through into hell, my hand will take them thence; and if they climb up to heaven, thence will I fetch them down. Amo 9:3. And if they hide themselves upon the top of Carmel, I will trace them, and fetch them thence; and if they conceal themselves from before mine eyes in the bottom of the sea, thence do I command the serpent, and it biteth them. Amo 9:4. And if they go into captivity before their enemies, I will command the sword thence, and it slayeth them; and I direct my eye upon them for evil, and not for good." The imperfects, with אם, are to be taken as futures. They do not assume what is impossible as merely hypothetical, in the sense of "if they should hide themselves;" but set forth what was no doubt in actual fact an impossible case, as though it were possible, in order to cut off every escape. For the cases mentioned in Amo 9:3 and Amo 9:4 might really occur. Hiding upon Carmel and going into captivity belong to the sphere of possibility and of actual occurrence. In order to individualize the thought, that escape from the punishing arm of the Almighty is impossible, the prophet opposes the most extreme spaces of the world to one another, starting from heaven and hell, as the loftiest height and deepest depth of the universe, in doing which he has in all probability Psa 139:7-8 floating before his mind. He commences with the height, which a man cannot possibly climb, and the depth, to which he cannot descend, to show that escape is impossible. חתר, to break through, with ב, to make a hole into anything (Eze 8:8; Eze 12:5, Eze 12:7). According to the Hebrew view, Sheol was deep in the interior of the earth. The head of Carmel is mentioned (see at Jos 19:26). The reference is not to the many caves in this promontory, which afford shelter to fugitives; for they are not found upon the head of Carmel, but for the most part on the western side (see v. Raumer, Pal. p. 44). The emphasis lies rather upon the head, as a height overgrown with trees, which, even if not very high (about 1800 feet; see at Kg1 18:19), yet, in comparison with the sea over which it rises, might appear to be of a very considerable height; in addition to which, the situation of Carmel, on the extreme western border of the kingdom of Israel, might also be taken into consideration. "Whoever hides himself there, must assuredly know of no other place of security in the whole of the land besides. And if there is no longer any security there, there is nothing left but the sea." But even the deep sea-bottom will not shelter from the vengeance of God. God commands the serpent, or summons the serpent to bite him. Nâchâsh, here the water-serpent, called elsewhere livyāthān or tannı̄n (Isa 27:1), a sea-monster, which was popularly supposed to be extremely dangerous, but which cannot be more exactly defined. Even by going into captivity, they will not be protected from the sword. בּשּׁבי, not into captivity, but in statu captivitatis: even if they should be among those who were wandering into captivity, where men are generally sure of their lives (see Lam 1:5). For God has fixed His eye upon them, i.e., has taken them under His special superintendence (cf. Jer 39:12); not, however, to shelter, to protect, and to bless, but לרעה, for evil, i.e., to punish them. "The people of the Lord remain, under all circumstances, the object of special attention. They are more richly blessed than the world, but they are also more severely punished" (Hengstenberg).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The thought is still further expanded in Amo 9:2-6. Amo 9:2. "If they break through into hell, my hand will take them thence; and if they climb up to heaven, thence will I fetch them down. Amo 9:3. And if they hide themselves upon the top of Carmel, I will trace them, and fetch them thence; and if they conceal themselves from before mine eyes in the bottom of the sea, thence do I command the serpent, and it biteth them. Amo 9:4. And if they go into captivity before their enemies, I will command the sword thence, and it slayeth them; and I direct my eye upon them for evil, and not for good." The imperfects, with אם, are to be taken as futures. They do not assume what is impossible as merely hypothetical, in the sense of "if they should hide themselves;" but set forth what was no doubt in actual fact an impossible case, as though it were possible, in order to cut off every escape. For the cases mentioned in Amo 9:3 and Amo 9:4 might really occur. Hiding upon Carmel and going into captivity belong to the sphere of possibility and of actual occurrence. In order to individualize the thought, that escape from the punishing arm of the Almighty is impossible, the prophet opposes the most extreme spaces of the world to one another, starting from heaven and hell, as the loftiest height and deepest depth of the universe, in doing which he has in all probability Psa 139:7-8 floating before his mind. He commences with the height, which a man cannot possibly climb, and the depth, to which he cannot descend, to show that escape is impossible. חתר, to break through, with ב, to make a hole into anything (Eze 8:8; Eze 12:5, Eze 12:7). According to the Hebrew view, Sheol was deep in the interior of the earth. The head of Carmel is mentioned (see at Jos 19:26). The reference is not to the many caves in this promontory, which afford shelter to fugitives; for they are not found upon the head of Carmel, but for the most part on the western side (see v. Raumer, Pal. p. 44). The emphasis lies rather upon the head, as a height overgrown with trees, which, even if not very high (about 1800 feet; see at Kg1 18:19), yet, in comparison with the sea over which it rises, might appear to be of a very considerable height; in addition to which, the situation of Carmel, on the extreme western border of the kingdom of Israel, might also be taken into consideration. "Whoever hides himself there, must assuredly know of no other place of security in the whole of the land besides. And if there is no longer any security there, there is nothing left but the sea." But even the deep sea-bottom will not shelter from the vengeance of God. God commands the serpent, or summons the serpent to bite him. Nâchâsh, here the water-serpent, called elsewhere livyāthān or tannı̄n (Isa 27:1), a sea-monster, which was popularly supposed to be extremely dangerous, but which cannot be more exactly defined. Even by going into captivity, they will not be protected from the sword. בּשּׁבי, not into captivity, but in statu captivitatis: even if they should be among those who were wandering into captivity, where men are generally sure of their lives (see Lam 1:5). For God has fixed His eye upon them, i.e., has taken them under His special superintendence (cf. Jer 39:12); not, however, to shelter, to protect, and to bless, but לרעה, for evil, i.e., to punish them. "The people of the Lord remain, under all circumstances, the object of special attention. They are more richly blessed than the world, but they are also more severely punished" (Hengstenberg).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Hell - The center of the earth, or the depth of hell.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Though they dig into hell - Though they should get into the deepest caverns; though they climb up to heaven - get to the most inaccessible heights; I will drag them up from the one, and pull them down from the other.

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⁴ Though thou exalt [01361] thyself as the eagle [05404], and though thou set [07760] thy nest [07064] among the stars [03556], thence will I bring thee down [03381], saith [05002] the LORD [03068].

⁵³ Though Babylon [0894] should mount up [05927] to heaven [08064], and though she should fortify [01219] the height [04791] of her strength [05797], yet [0227] from me shall spoilers [07703] come [0935] unto her, saith [05002] the LORD [03068].

⁶ Though his excellency [07863] mount up [05927] to the heavens [08064], and his head [07218] reach [05060] unto the clouds [05645];
⁷ Yet he shall perish [06] for ever [05331] like his own dung [01561]: they which have seen [07200] him shall say [0559], Where [0335] is he?

⁸ If I ascend up [05266] into heaven [08064], thou art there: if I make my bed [03331] in hell [07585], behold, thou art there.

¹² How art thou fallen [05307] from heaven [08064], O Lucifer [01966], son [01121] of the morning [07837] [03213] ! how art thou cut down [01438] to the ground [0776], which didst weaken [02522] the nations [01471]!
¹³ For thou hast said [0559] in thine heart [03824], I will ascend [05927] into heaven [08064], I will exalt [07311] my throne [03678] above [04605] the stars [03556] of God [0410]: I will sit [03427] also upon the mount [02022] of the congregation [04150], in the sides [03411] of the north [06828]:
¹⁴ I will ascend [05927] above the heights [01116] of the clouds [05645]; I will be like [01819] the most High [05945].

⁵ Yea also, because he transgresseth [0898] by wine [03196], he is a proud [03093] man [01397], neither keepeth at home [05115], who enlargeth [07337] his desire [05315] as hell [07585], and is as death [04194], and cannot be satisfied [07646], but gathereth [0622] unto him all nations [01471], and heapeth [06908] unto him all people [05971]:

¹² Take [03947] him, and look well [05869] [07760] to him, and do [06213] him no harm [03972] [07451]; but do [06213] unto him even as he shall say [01696] unto thee.

⁵ Her adversaries [06862] are the chief [07218], her enemies [0341] prosper [07951]; for the LORD [03068] hath afflicted [03013] her for the multitude [07230] of her transgressions [06588]: her children [05768] are gone [01980] into captivity [07628] before [06440] the enemy [06862].

¹ In that day [03117] the LORD [03068] with his sore [07186] and great [01419] and strong [02389] sword [02719] shall punish [06485] leviathan [03882] the piercing [01281] serpent [05175], even leviathan [03882] that crooked [06129] serpent [05175]; and he shall slay [02026] the dragon [08577] that is in the sea [03220].

¹⁹ Now therefore send [07971], and gather [06908] to me all Israel [03478] unto mount [02022] Carmel [03760], and the prophets [05030] of Baal [01168] four [0702] hundred [03967] and fifty [02572], and the prophets [05030] of the groves [0842] four [0702] hundred [03967], which eat [0398] at Jezebel's [0348] table [07979].

²⁶ And Alammelech [0487], and Amad [06008], and Misheal [04861]; and reacheth [06293] to Carmel [03760] westward [03220], and to Shihorlibnath [07884];

⁷ And I did [06213] so as I was commanded [06680]: I brought forth [03318] my stuff [03627] by day [03119], as stuff [03627] for captivity [01473], and in the even [06153] I digged [02864] through the wall [07023] with mine hand [03027]; I brought it forth [03318] in the twilight [05939], and I bare [05375] it upon my shoulder [03802] in their sight [05869].

⁵ Dig [02864] thou through the wall [07023] in their sight [05869], and carry out [03318] thereby.

⁸ Then said [0559] he unto me, Son [01121] of man [0120], dig [02864] now in the wall [07023]: and when I had digged [02864] in the wall [07023], behold a [0259] door [06607].

⁷ Whither shall I go [03212] from thy spirit [07307]? or whither shall I flee [01272] from thy presence [06440]?
⁸ If I ascend up [05266] into heaven [08064], thou art there: if I make my bed [03331] in hell [07585], behold, thou art there.

⁴ And though they go [03212] into captivity [07628] before [06440] their enemies [0341], thence will I command [06680] the sword [02719], and it shall slay [02026] them: and I will set [07760] mine eyes [05869] upon them for evil [07451], and not for good [02896].

³ And though they hide [02244] themselves in the top [07218] of Carmel [03760], I will search [02664] and take them out [03947] thence; and though they be hid [05641] from my sight [05869] in the bottom [07172] of the sea [03220], thence will I command [06680] the serpent [05175], and he shall bite [05391] them:

² Though they dig [02864] into hell [07585], thence shall mine hand [03027] take [03947] them; though they climb up [05927] to heaven [08064], thence will I bring them down [03381]:

² Though they dig [02864] into hell [07585], thence shall mine hand [03027] take [03947] them; though they climb up [05927] to heaven [08064], thence will I bring them down [03381]:
³ And though they hide [02244] themselves in the top [07218] of Carmel [03760], I will search [02664] and take them out [03947] thence; and though they be hid [05641] from my sight [05869] in the bottom [07172] of the sea [03220], thence will I command [06680] the serpent [05175], and he shall bite [05391] them:
⁴ And though they go [03212] into captivity [07628] before [06440] their enemies [0341], thence will I command [06680] the sword [02719], and it shall slay [02026] them: and I will set [07760] mine eyes [05869] upon them for evil [07451], and not for good [02896].
⁵ And the Lord [0136] GOD [03069] of hosts [06635] is he that toucheth [05060] the land [0776], and it shall melt [04127], and all that dwell [03427] therein shall mourn [056]: and it shall rise up [05927] wholly like a flood [02975]; and shall be drowned [08257], as by the flood [02975] of Egypt [04714].
⁶ It is he that buildeth [01129] his stories [04609] in the heaven [08064], and hath founded [03245] his troop [092] in the earth [0776]; he that calleth [07121] for the waters [04325] of the sea [03220], and poureth them out [08210] upon the face [06440] of the earth [0776]: The LORD [03068] is his name [08034].