Lexical Summary anak: Anak Original Word: אֲנָךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance plumb-line Probably from an unused root meaning to be narrow; according to most a plumb-line, and to others a hook -- plumb-line. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition to plummet NASB Translation plumb line (3), vertical with a plumb (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֲנָךְ noun [masculine] plummet (compare words in cognate languages for lead, tin, etymology dubious, perhaps foreign; Arabic ![]() ![]() Topical Lexicon Object and Function The plumb line was a simple construction tool—a cord with a weight attached—used by ancient builders to determine true vertical alignment. Suspended beside a wall, it revealed any deviation from absolute uprightness. In Israelite society, where most structures were of stone or mud-brick, such a device was essential for safety, durability, and beauty. Biblical Occurrences and Immediate Context Four times in Amos 7:7-8 the prophet records a vision in which the Lord “was standing by a wall built true to plumb, with a plumb line in His hand” (Amos 7:7). When Amos asks for the meaning, the Lord answers, “Behold, I am setting a plumb line among My people Israel; I will spare them no longer” (Amos 7:8). The repetition underlines both the certainty and the imminence of divine judgment. Symbolic Meaning in Amos’s Prophecy 1. Standard of Righteousness: Just as a plumb line does not bend to a wall’s crookedness, God’s moral standard is fixed and immutable. Israel’s covenant violations—idolatry, injustice, and ritual hypocrisy—are exposed as glaringly misaligned with that standard. Historical Background Amos prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah of Judah and Jeroboam II of Israel (Amos 1:1), a period of outward prosperity but deep moral decay. Archaeological finds from eighth-century Samaria reveal opulent ivory carvings (cf. Amos 3:15; Amos 6:4), matching the prophet’s indictments of luxury built on oppression. Less than forty years after Amos’s ministry, the Assyrian campaigns of Tiglath-Pileser III, Shalmaneser V, and Sargon II toppled the northern kingdom, graphically fulfilling the plumb-line sentence. Theological Implications • Immutable Holiness: God’s character is the ultimate “true vertical”; He cannot adjust His righteousness to accommodate sin (Habakkuk 1:13). Connections to Other Scriptural Imagery • Cornerstone and Capstone: Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22 portray Messiah as the cornerstone. A true cornerstone presupposes a reliable plumb line, pointing to Jesus Christ as both the standard and sustainer of the new covenant temple (Ephesians 2:20-21). Ministry Applications 1. Preaching and Teaching: The plumb-line vision urges ministers to bring Scripture to bear on culture without compromise, allowing God’s Word to expose crookedness rather than bending the standard to fit societal trends (2 Timothy 3:16-17). See Also Isaiah 28:17; Zechariah 4:10; Matthew 7:24-27; Ephesians 4:11-16 Forms and Transliterations אֲנָ֑ךְ אֲנָֽךְ׃ אֲנָךְ֙ אנך אנך׃ ’ă·nāḵ ’ănāḵ aNach anoChLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Amos 7:7 HEB: עַל־ חוֹמַ֣ת אֲנָ֑ךְ וּבְיָד֖וֹ אֲנָֽךְ׃ NAS: was standing by a vertical wall KJV: upon a wall [made] by a plumbline, with a plumbline INT: and wall A vertical his hand A plumb Amos 7:7 Amos 7:8 Amos 7:8 4 Occurrences |