King James Bible

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Amos

3

:

12

Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
Thus such Adverb H3541 כֹּה֮ koh
Thus saith answer Verb H559 אָמַ֣ר a·mar
the LORD Jehovah Noun H3068 יְהוָה֒ Yah·weh
As the shepherd break Verb H7462 הָרֹעֶ֜ה ha·ro·'eh
taketh out snatch away Verb H5337 יַצִּ֨יל ya·tzil
of the lion lion Noun H738 הָאֲרִ֛י ha·'a·ri
of the mouth according Noun H6310 מִפִּ֧י mip·pi
two both Noun H8147 שְׁתֵּ֥י she·tei
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

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legs leg Noun H3767 כְרָעַ֖יִם che·ra·'a·yim
or and Conjunction H176 אֹ֣ו ov
or a piece piece Noun H915 בְדַל־ ve·dal-
of an ear hearing Noun H241 אֹ֑זֶן o·zen;
So after that Adjective H3651 כֵּ֣ן ken
Analysis:
Read more about: So
so shall the children afflicted Noun H1121 בְּנֵ֣י be·nei
of Israel Israel Noun H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל yis·ra·'el
Analysis:
Read more about: Israel
that dwell abide Verb H3427 הַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙ hai·yo·she·vim
in Samaria Samaria Noun H8111 בְּשֹׁ֣מְרֹ֔ון be·sho·me·ro·vn,
Analysis:
Read more about: Samaria
be taken out snatch away Verb H5337 יִנָּצְל֞וּ yin·na·tze·lu
in the corner corner Noun H6285 בִּפְאַ֥ת bif·'at
of a bed bed Noun H4296 מִטָּ֖ה mit·tah
and in Damascus in Damascus Noun H1833 וּבִדְמֶ֥שֶׁק u·vid·me·shek
Analysis:
Read more about: Damascus
[in] a couch bed Noun H6210 עָֽרֶשׂ׃ a·res.

Locations

Damascus

DAMASCUSda-mas'-kus:1. The Name2. Situation and Natural Features3. The City Itself4. Its History(1) The Early Period (to circa 950 B.C.)(2) The Aramean Kingdom (circa 950-732 B.C.)(3) The Middle Period (732 B.C.-650 A.D.)(4) Under Islam1. Name:The English name is the same as the Greek Damaskos. The Hebrew name is Dammeseq, but the Aramaic form Darmeseq, occu... View Details

Israel

ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF" I. THE FIRST PERIOD1. The Two Kingdoms2. The Ist Dynasty3. The IInd Dynasty4. Civil WarII. PERIOD OF THE SYRIAN WARS1. The IIIrd Dynasty2. World-Politics3. Battle of Karkar4. Loss of Territory5. Reform of Religion6. Revolution7. The IVth Dynasty8. Renewed Prosperity9. AnarchyIII. DECLINE AND FALL1. Loss of Independence2. Decline3. Extinct... View Details

Samaria

SAMARIA, CITY OFsa-ma'-ri-a, (shomeron; Samareia, Semeron, and other forms):(1) Shechem was the first capital of the Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 12:25). Jeroboam seems later to have removed the royal residence to Tirzah (1 Kings 14:17). After the brief reigns of Elah and Zimri came that of Omri, who reigned 6 years in Tirzah, then he purchased the hill of Sama... View Details

People

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
King James Bible Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.
Hebrew Greek English Thus saith says the LORD; As LORD, "Just as the shepherd taketh out of snatches from the lion's mouth a couple of the lion two legs, legs or a piece of an ear; so shall ear, So will the children sons of Israel be taken out that dwell dwelling in Samaria in be snatched away-- With the corner of a bed, bed and in Damascus in the cover of a couch.couch!
New American Standard Bible 1995 Thus saith says the LORD; As LORD, "Just as the shepherd taketh out of snatches from the lion's mouth a couple of the lion two legs, legs or a piece of an ear; so shall ear, So will the children sons of Israel be taken out that dwell dwelling in Samaria in be snatched away-- With the corner of a bed, bed and in Damascus in the cover of a couch.couch!