Amos 5:13
in Amos 5Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Therefore he that is prudent shall keep silence in such a time; for it is an evil time.
KJV
Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.
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This verse in Amos 5
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time - The “time” may be either the time of the obduracy of the wicked, or that of the common punishment. For a time may be called “evil,” whether evil is done, or is suffered in it, as Jacob says, “Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been” Gen 47:9. Of the first, he would perhaps say, that the oppressed poor would, if wise, be silent, not complaining or accusing, for, injustice having the mastery, complaint would only bring on them fresh sufferings.
This site's exposition
hate him that rebuketh in the gate
on Amos 5:10-13
The gate was the court, and hating the one who rebukes there names a bench that punishes honesty rather than dishonesty, the very officials meant to protect the poor now feeding on burdens of wheat taken from them. Houses of hewn stone built and never lived in, vineyards planted and their wine never drunk, echo the covenant curses of Deuteronomy 28:30, 39 read by the bench as already falling before the exile itself arrives. The prudent shall keep silence in that time is taken two ways among the commentators, wise caution in a season too dangerous for honest speech, or the silencing of every voice that once spoke for the oppressed, both readings named without a verdict between them.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Verse 11 and following) Therefore, because you plundered the poor and took the choice spoil from them, you will build houses of cut stone but not live in them. You will plant pleasant vineyards but not drink their wine, for I know your many crimes and powerful sins, you who oppress the righteous and take bribes, and push aside the needy in the gate. Therefore, the wise will be silent in that time, for it is an evil time.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Therefore the prudent shall keep silence at that time,....
Men will reckon it their prudence, when they are wronged and injured, to be silent, and make no complaints to the magistrates, for it will be to no purpose; they shall not have justice done them. (4.) They were malicious persecutors of God's faithful ministers and people,
Evil times will not bear plain dealing, that is evil men will not; and the men the prophet here speaks of had reason to think themselves evil men indeed, when wise and good them thought it in vain to speak to them and were afraid of having any thing to do with them. They are told of their danger and what judgments they lay exposed to for their sins.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
the prudent--the spiritually wise. shall keep silence--not mere silence of tongue, but the prudent shall keep himself quiet from taking part in any public or private affairs which he can avoid: as it is "an evil time," and one in which all law is set at naught.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
The prudent shall keep silence - A wise man will consider that it is useless to complain. He can have no justice without bribes; and he has no money to give: consequently, in such an evil time, it is best to keep silence.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
the prudent —Whoever is wise shall keep silent when the evil comes, and he shall not criticize the Divine standard of justice, for they did all these.
2 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
you who oppress the just —[ Jonathan renders:] who oppress the innocent.
and so.. shall be etc. —If you do this, the Omnipresent shall be with you as you said in your heart, that you will keep your greatness.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לָכֵ֗ן | lakhen | <to> therefore | H3651 → | 771 times |
| הַמַּשְׂכִּ֛יל | hamaskil | the prudent [person] | H7919 → | |
| בָּעֵ֥ת | baet | at the time | H6256 → | |
| הַהִ֖יא | hahi' | <the> that | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| יִדֹּ֑ם | yidom | he will be silent | H1826 → | |
| כִּ֛י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| עֵ֥ת | ʾet | [is] a time | H6256 → | |
| רָעָ֖ה | raah | evil | H7451 → | 662 times |
| הִֽיא׃ | hi' | it | H1931 → | 1879 times |
לָכֵ֗ן<to> therefore
lakhenH3651 →771 times
הַמַּשְׂכִּ֛ילthe prudent [person]
hamaskilH7919 →
בָּעֵ֥תat the time
baetH6256 →
הַהִ֖יא<the> that
hahi'H1931 →1879 times
יִדֹּ֑םhe will be silent
yidomH1826 →
כִּ֛יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
עֵ֥ת[is] a time
ʾetH6256 →
רָעָ֖הevil
raahH7451 →662 times
הִֽיא׃it
hi'H1931 →1879 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Timothy 3:1But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.
it leads to
- 2 Peter 3:3
Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
- 2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
- 1 Timothy 4:1–3
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
- 1 John 2:18
Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3–12
Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed.
- 2 Peter 3:3
Through
Ecclesiastes 3:7a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
it leads to
- Micah 7:5
Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion. Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms.
- Lamentations 3:28
Let him sit alone in silence, for God has disciplined him.
- Esther 4:13–14
he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews.
- Micah 7:5
Where this verse is studied
About Amos
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Amos; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.