Read & explore together
A Promise of Restoration
Amos 9:11–15 speaks as prophecy and teaching about Yahweh restoring what has fallen, bringing fruitfulness, and settling his people securely. The passage moves from a broken house, to wide reach, to abundant harvest, to rebuilt life in the land.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
These verses present Yahweh’s own words about a future day. The passage looks ahead to the raising up of David’s fallen tent, the rebuilding of ruins, the possession of nations called by Yahweh’s name, the return from captivity, and lasting planting in the land Yahweh gave.
Amos 9:11–15Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Yahweh himself promises to restore, rebuild, and firmly plant his people in the land he gives.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A fallen tent raised upYahweh says, “In that day” he will raise up “the tent of David” that has fallen. The picture is of something broken, with breaches and ruins, being repaired and rebuilt.
Explanation
Yahweh says, “In that day” he will raise up “the tent of David” that has fallen. The picture is of something broken, with breaches and ruins, being repaired and rebuilt. The passage does not describe people achieving this by their own strength. Yahweh says repeatedly, “I will.”
02Restoration reaches beyond IsraelThe rebuilding of David’s tent is linked with possessing “the remnant of Edom” and “all the nations who are called by my name”.
Explanation
The rebuilding of David’s tent is linked with possessing “the remnant of Edom” and “all the nations who are called by my name”. The focus is still on what Yahweh will do. The verse ends by stressing his authority and action: “says Yahweh who does this.”
03A picture of overflowing provisionYahweh announces days of such abundance that farming seasons seem to overlap. The ploughman overtakes the reaper, and the grape-treader overtakes the sower.
Explanation
Yahweh announces days of such abundance that farming seasons seem to overlap. The ploughman overtakes the reaper, and the grape-treader overtakes the sower. Sweet wine dripping from the mountains and flowing from the hills is prophetic language for extraordinary fruitfulness and provision.
04Return, rebuilding, and secure plantingYahweh promises to bring his people Israel back from captivity. They will rebuild ruined cities, live in them, plant vineyards and gardens, and enjoy what grows.
Explanation
Yahweh promises to bring his people Israel back from captivity. They will rebuild ruined cities, live in them, plant vineyards and gardens, and enjoy what grows. The final promise is stability: Yahweh will plant them in their land, and they will no more be plucked up from it.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What broken things does Yahweh say he will repair in verse 11?
Look for the words that describe damage, such as “fallen”, “breaches”, and “ruins”, and notice that Yahweh says he will raise up and build.
02How does verse 12 show that this promise reaches further than one nation alone?
Notice the mention of Edom and also “all the nations who are called by my name”.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Amos 9:11–15
11In that day I will raise up the tent of David who is fallen and close up its breaches, and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old,
12that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name,” says Yahweh who does this.
13“Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the one treading grapes him who sows seed; and sweet wine will drip from the mountains, and flow from the hills.
14I will bring my people Israel back from captivity, and they will rebuild the ruined cities, and inhabit them; and they will plant vineyards, and drink wine from them. They shall also make gardens, and eat their fruit.
15I will plant them on their land, and they will no more be plucked up out of their land which I have given them,” says Yahweh your God.