Amos4
English Standard Version
1 this , you of , who are on the of , who the , who the , who to your , , that we may !
2The God has by his , , the are upon you, when they shall take you with , even the of you .
3And you shall through the , one straight ahead; and you shall be out into , the Lord.
4 to , and ; to , and ; your every , your every ;
5 a sacrifice of of that which , and , them; for you to do, O of ! the God.
6I you of in all your , and of in all your , yet you to me, the Lord.
7 the you when there were yet to the ; I would send on , and send on ; would have , and the on which it did would ;
8so or would to to , and would be ; yet you did to me, the Lord.
9I you with and ; your and your , your and your the ; yet you did not to me, the Lord.
10I among you a after the of ; I your with the , and your , and I made the of your into your ; yet you did to me, the Lord.
11I some of you, as when and , and you were out of the ; yet you did to me, the Lord.
12 I will to you, O ; I will this to you, to your , O !
13 , he who the and the , and to what is his , who the , and on the of the — the Lord, the of , is his !
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Amos 4.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Israel is reproved. (1–5). Their impenitence shown. (6–13).
vv1-5
What is got by extortion is commonly used to provide for the flesh, and to fulfil the lusts thereof. What is got by oppression cannot be enjoyed with satisfaction. How miserable are those whose confidence in unscriptural observances only prove that they believe a lie! Let us see to it that our faith, hope, and worship, are warranted by the Divine word.
vv6-13
See the folly of carnal hearts; they wander from one creature to another, seeking for something to satisfy, and labour for that which satisfies not; yet, after all, they will not incline their ear to Him in whom they might find all they can want. Preaching the gospel is as rain, and every thing withers where this rain is wanting. It were well if people were as wise for their souls as they are for their bodies; and, when they have not this rain near, would go and seek it where it is to be had. As the Israelites persisted in rebellion and idolatry, the Lord was coming against them as an adversary. Ere long, we must meet our God in judgment; but we shall not be able to stand before him, if he tries us according to our doings. If we would prepare to meet our God with comfort, at the awful period of his coming, we must now meet him in Christ Jesus, the eternal Son of the Father, who came to save lost sinners. We must seek him while he is to be found.
Key Words
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
פָּרָה: a heifer
בָּשָׁן: Bashan (often with the article), a region East of the Jordan
הַר: a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
שֹׁמְרוֹן: Shomeron, a place in Palestine
עָשַׁק: to press upon, i.e. oppress, defraud, violate, overflow
דַּל: properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or thin
רָצַץ: to crack in pieces, literally or figuratively
אֶבְיוֹן: destitute
Cross References
Amos 4Moses warns of Israel's luxury under the same figure: the fat cattle of Bashan.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Uses the 'bulls of Bashan' to represent proud, violent oppressors in high places.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Refers to the princes and mighty men metaphorically as fatlings of Bashan.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Amos satirizes their hypocritical zeal by referencing the law of the three-year tithe.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel to God swearing by His holiness, binding Him to execute His righteous judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Uses the same vivid image of hooks to catch and drag away a rebellious nation.
Supported by JFB
Depicts God putting a hook in the nose of proud rulers, a literal Assyrian practice.
Supported by JFB
Hosea similarly condemns Gilgal and Beth-aven (Bethel) as centers of syncretistic idolatry.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel ironical command where God tells a rebellious people to serve their idols.
Supported by JFB
Fulfills the covenant curse of bringing 'the diseases of Egypt' upon disobedient Israel.
Supported by JFB
The historical standard of total divine destruction, to which Israel's narrow escape is compared.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Vividly describes a remnant saved from judgment as 'a brand plucked out of the fire.'
Supported by JFB
Depicts rulers fleeing desperately through breaches in the wall during a siege.
Supported by JFB
The law concerning leavened bread in peace offerings, which Israel hypocritically abused.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Contrastive proverb illustrating that 'clean' stalls/teeth signify a complete lack of food.
Supported by JFB