Amos6
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and to them that are secure in the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel come!
2Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines: are they better than these kingdoms? or is their border greater than your border?
3—ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;
4that lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;
5that sing idle songs to the sound of the viol; that invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;
6that drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief oils; but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
7Therefore shall they now go captive with the first that go captive; and the revelry of them that stretched themselves shall pass away.
8The Lord Jehovah hath sworn by himself, saith Jehovah, the God of hosts: I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces; therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.
9And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.
10And when a man’s uncle shall take him up, even he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is in the innermost parts of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No; then shall he say, Hold thy peace; for we may not make mention of the name of Jehovah.
11For, behold, Jehovah commandeth, and the great house shall be smitten with breaches, and the little house with clefts.
12Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? that ye have turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood;
13ye that rejoice in a thing of nought, that say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?
14For, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith Jehovah, the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entrance of Hamath unto the brook of the Arabah.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Amos 6.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The danger of luxury and false security. (1–7). Punishments of sins. (8–14).
vv1-7
Those are looked upon as doing well for themselves, who do well for their bodies; but we are here told what their ease is, and what their woe is. Here is a description of the pride, security, and sensuality, for which God would reckon. Careless sinners are every where in danger; but those at ease in Zion, who are stupid, vainly confident, and abusing their privileges, are in the greatest danger. Yet many fancy themselves the people of God, who are living in sin, and in conformity to the world. But the examples of others' ruin forbid us to be secure. Those who are set upon their pleasures are commonly careless of the troubles of others, but this is great offence to God. Those who placed their happiness in the pleasures of sense, and set their hearts upon them, shall be deprived of those pleasures. Those who try to put the evil day far from them, find it nearest to them.
vv8-14
How dreadful, how miserable, is the case of those whose eternal ruin the Lord himself has sworn; for he can execute his purpose, and none can alter it! Those hearts are wretchedly hardened that will not be brought to mention God's name, and to worship him, when the hand of God is gone out against them, when sickness and death are in their families. Those that will not be tilled as fields, shall be abandoned as rocks. When our services of God are soured with sin, his providences will justly be made bitter to us. Men should take warning not to harden their hearts, for those who walk in pride, God will destroy.
Key Words
הוֹי: oh!
שַׁאֲנָן: secure; in a bad sense, haughty
צִיּוֹן: Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem
בָּטַח: figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure
הַר: a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
שֹׁמְרוֹן: Shomeron, a place in Palestine
נָקַב: to puncture, literally (to perforate, with more or less violence) or figuratively (to specify, designate, libel)
רֵאשִׁית: the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit)
גּוֹי: a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Cross References
Amos 6Explicitly names David inventing musical instruments, which Amos's wealthy contemporary targets falsely imitated.
Supported by JFB
Associates instruments of music directly with the name and authority of David.
Supported by JFB
The original heartless feast of Joseph's brothers while he lay in the pit, echoing Joseph's affliction.
Supported by JFB
Jeroboam II restored Israel's border to the entering of Hamath; Amos predicts affliction from that same point.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the foolish claim that prophetic visions are only for times far off.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Speaks of the 'throne of iniquity,' mirroring the 'seat of violence' brought near by Israel.
Supported by JFB
Amos's earlier denunciation of luxurious resting on garments laid to pledge by the altar.
Supported by JFB
Connects to the ivory houses and luxurious beds targeted in Amos's previous judgments.
Supported by JFB
Mentions the 'excellency of Jacob' which God loved, but here abhors due to their corruption.
Supported by JFB
Israel's election as the chief/firstfruits of the nations, which they abused for false security.
Supported by JFB
Identifies Calneh as an ancient, powerful city built by Nimrod, now a warning of ruin.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Assyrian boast over conquered cities, including Calno (Calneh) and Hamath.
Supported by JFB
God profaning His sanctuary, which was the pride and strength ('excellency') of the people.
Supported by JFB
Moses warns of a root bearing gall and wormwood, matching Amos's turned judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Describes judgment springing up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
Supported by Matthew Poole