Bible Verses

Amos · Chapter 5

Amos 5:24 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context

Read this verse slowly. Let it settle before you move on.

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Read in chapter context · Amos 5

Both translations, side by side

WEB · World English Bible

"But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream."

KJV · King James Version

"But let judgment4941 run down1556 as waters4325, and righteousness6666 as a mighty386 stream5158. run: Heb. roll"

How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses judgment, run, down, waters, while the WEB renders these as justice, like, rivers. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.

In context

Amos 5:24 in Amos 5

A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Amos 5:24 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Amos 5. Read the full chapter →

  1. v.22 Yes, though you offer me your burnt offerings and meal offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat animals.
  2. v.23 Take away from me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
  3. v.24 But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
  4. v.25 “Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, house of Israel?
  5. v.26 You also carried the tent of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves.

Book background

About the Book of Amos

Testament
Old Testament
Genre
Minor prophet
Author
Amos
Date written
c. 760–750 BC
Audience
Northern Israel during a time of prosperity
Chapters
9

Amos confronted the prosperous but morally rotten northern kingdom with God's demand for justice over religious ritual: "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (5:24). He showed that worship without righteousness is offensive to God.

Setting: Amos was a shepherd from Tekoa called to prophesy in the wealthy north.

Key themes: justice · social righteousness · judgment · remnant · restoration

Read Amos from the beginning →

Memorisation aid

How to memorise Amos 5:24

Amos 5:24 contains 13 words in 2 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.

  1. 1

    But let justice roll on like rivers

    BLJROL

  2. 2

    and righteousness like a mighty stream.

    ARLAMS

Frequently asked

FAQ about Amos 5:24

What does Amos 5:24 say?

Amos 5:24 reads: "But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream." — from the Old Testament, Amos (Minor prophet). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.

What book of the Bible is Amos 5:24 in?

Amos 5:24 is in the book of Amos, traditionally attributed to Amos and written around c. 760–750 BC. Amos is minor prophet in the Old Testament, originally addressed to Northern Israel during a time of prosperity. Best known for "let justice roll down like waters".

What is the difference between Amos 5:24 in WEB and KJV?

Amos 5:24 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "But let judgment4941 run down1556 as waters4325, and righteousness6666 as a mighty386 stream5158. run: Heb. roll". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.

How long is Amos 5:24?

Amos 5:24 is 13 words in the WEB translation (76 characters), broken into 2 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 4 seconds.

How can I memorise Amos 5:24?

To memorise Amos 5:24, split it into its 2 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.

Why does Amos 5:24 matter in Amos?

Amos confronted the prosperous but morally rotten northern kingdom with God's demand for justice over religious ritual: "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (5:24). He showed that worship without righteousness is offensive to God. Amos 5:24 sits within this larger story — Amos as a whole emphasises justice, social righteousness, judgment.

How can I apply Amos 5:24 today?

Many readers use Amos 5:24 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Amos 5:24 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.