What Does Amos 3:7 Mean in the King James?
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The “secret” God reveals is counsel held within an inner circle, uncovered before the act appears.
THE MEANING
You are not asked to treat God’s action as opaque: this verse presents disclosure as part of the action itself. The LORD’s secret is counsel uncovered to those who serve as prophets. What is hidden becomes speakable before it becomes visible.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that God’s work is always opaque until after it happens: the verse says counsel is disclosed to those who serve as prophets.
THE ROOT
סוֹדוֹ
sodó
GROWS FROM
סוד
Confidential counsel, shared within an intimate circle.
The word translated “secret” is also rendered “counsel,” as in Psalm 25:14. It describes what is held in confidence and then shared, not merely a riddle waiting to be solved.
ALSO GROWS
sod: Secret counsel or confidence.
סוֹד
This is the same word used here: the disclosure is a sharing of counsel.
sod YHWH: The counsel of the LORD.
סוֹד יְהוָה
Psalm 25:14 uses the same expression, revealing the sense of intimate counsel beneath “secret.”
גִּלָּה
gillāh
GROWS FROM
גלה
To uncover, expose, or make visible.
“revealeth” in this verse is gillāh. The act of revealing is an uncovering: what was concealed is opened to view. This root also gives a word for exile, carrying the sense of being stripped from what covered or sheltered you.
ALSO GROWS
galah: To uncover or reveal.
גָּלָה
This is the root action in the verse: counsel is brought out of concealment.
golah: Exiles or those carried away.
גּוֹלָה
The shared root holds both uncovering and exposure to removal, adding weight to what disclosure can mean.
megulleh: Uncovered, revealed.
מְגֻלֶּה
This form makes the movement plain: what was hidden stands open.
עֲבָדָיו
ʿavadav
GROWS FROM
עבד
To work or serve.
“servants” in this verse is ʿavadav. The recipients are named by their service, not by control over the message. Revelation moves through people whose role is to carry and speak what has been entrusted to them.
ALSO GROWS
eved: Servant or worker.
עֶבֶד
The prophets receive the counsel as servants entrusted to carry it.
avodah: Work or service.
עֲבֹדָה
This branch shows service as active work, not merely a title.
avad: To serve or work.
עָבַד
The verb beneath “servants” ties their identity to the work of carrying what is revealed.
THE PATTERN
Hidden counsel becomes known through trusted servants as God’s work unfolds.
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.THE THREAD
For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?“Counsel” here is the same Hebrew word, sod, translated “secret” in Amos. Jeremiah asks who has stood within that counsel and heard the word; Amos shows that this counsel is uncovered to the servants who carry it.
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