36 The verb, which literally means “to drip,” appears to be a synonym of “to prophesy,” but it might carry a derogatory tone here, perhaps alluding to the impassioned, frenzied way in which prophets sometimes delivered their messages. If so, one could translate, “to drivel; to foam at the mouth” (see נטף).
37 Heb “in the city,” that is, “in public.”
38 Heb “will fall by the sword.”
39 Heb “will be divided up with a [surveyor’s] measuring line.”
40 Heb “[an] unclean”; or “[an] impure.” This fate would be especially humiliating for a priest, who was to distinguish between the ritually clean and unclean (see Lev 10:10).
41 See the note on the word “exile” in .

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Now therefore hear the word of the Lord.

“You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel,

and do not preach against the house of Isaac.’

Therefore thus says the Lord:

“ ‘Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city,

and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword,

and your land shall be divided up with a measuring line;

you yourself shall die in an unclean land,

and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.’ ”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Now then, hear the word of the Lord. You say,

“ ‘Do not prophesy against Israel,

and stop preaching against the descendants of Isaac.’

“Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“ ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city,

and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword.

Your land will be measured and divided up,

and you yourself will die in a pagan country.

And Israel will surely go into exile,

away from their native land.’ ”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Now hear the word of the Lord. You say:

Do not prophesy against Israel;

do not preach against the house of Isaac.

Therefore, this is what the Lord says:

Your wife will be a prostitute in the city,

your sons and daughters will fall by the sword,

and your land will be divided up

with a measuring line.

You yourself will die on pagan soil,

and Israel will certainly go into exile

from its homeland.

NLTNew Living Translation

Now then, listen to this message from the Lord:

“You say,

‘Don’t prophesy against Israel.

Stop preaching against my people.’

But this is what the Lord says:

‘Your wife will become a prostitute in this city,

and your sons and daughters will be killed.

Your land will be divided up,

and you yourself will die in a foreign land.

And the people of Israel will certainly become captives in exile,

far from their homeland.’ ”

And so then, hear the word of Yahweh! You are saying, ‘You must not prophesy against Israel and you must not preach against the house of Isaac!’ Therefore, thus says Yahweh, ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city and your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword and your land will be divided with a line, and you will die in an unclean land and Israel will surely go into exile from this land.’ ”

KJV 1900King James Version

Now therefore hear thou the word of the Lord:

Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel,

And drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.

Therefore thus saith the Lord;

Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city,

And thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword,

And thy land shall be divided by line;

And thou shalt die in a polluted land:

And Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.

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Amos 7:16–17

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