Israel Condemned for Social Injustice and Violence
Amos 2:6-16
Amo.2.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- שלשה: NUM,m
- פשעי: NOUN,m,sg,suff,1,sg
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- ארבעה: NUM,card,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- אשיבנו: VERB,hiph,imf,1,m,sg,suf:3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- מכרם: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg+3,pl
- בכסף: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- צדיק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואביון: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בעבור: PREP
- נעלים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Micah 3:11 (verbal): Leaders and religious officials taking payment and perverting justice; closely parallels Amos’ charge that the righteous are sold for silver and the needy for sandals (same theme of bribery/justice corrupted).
- Amos 5:12 (thematic): Within the same prophet: accuses Israel of afflicting the righteous, taking bribes and denying justice to the needy—reiterates the same social-justice charge as Amos 2:6.
- Isaiah 10:1-2 (thematic): Condemns unjust decrees and statutes that deprive the needy of justice and rob the poor—echoes Amos’ denunciation of economic oppression and judicial corruption.
- Ezekiel 22:12 (verbal): Explicitly accuses leaders of taking bribes to pervert justice and oppressing the needy; parallels Amos’ imagery of selling the righteous and exploiting the poor.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn it back; because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.
- Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Israel, and for four—I will not turn it back; because they sell the righteous for silver and the poor for a pair of sandals.
Amo.2.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- השאפים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- על: PREP
- עפר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בראש: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cstr
- דלים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ודרך: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ענוים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- יטו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ואיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואביו: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRONSUF,3,m,sg
- ילכו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- הנערה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- למען: PREP
- חלל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- שם: ADV
- קדשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
Parallels
- Amos 8:4-6 (thematic): Same prophet condemns trampling the needy and exploiting Sabbath/market practices—continues the theme of economic oppression of the poor.
- Isaiah 3:14-15 (verbal): Uses closely related language about 'crushing the face of the poor' and grinding the afflicted, echoing Amos's image of trampling the poor into the dust.
- Micah 2:1-2 (thematic): Condemns schemes to seize land and houses and the oppression of people for gain—parallels Amos's critique of social and economic injustice.
- Ezekiel 36:20-23 (verbal): Speaks of Israel's actions causing God's 'holy name' to be profaned among the nations, paralleling Amos's charge that such abuses profane God's name.
- Ezekiel 22:27 (thematic): Describes leaders as ravening wolves who shed blood and commit violence for gain—resonates with Amos's indictment of social violence, exploitation, and moral corruption.
Alternative generated candidates
- They trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and force the afflicted along a crooked path; father and son go in to the same girl, so that my holy name is profaned.
- They who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and turn aside the way of the afflicted; and a man and his father go in to the same maiden, to profane my holy name.
Amo.2.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- בגדים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- חבלים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- יטו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אצל: PREP
- כל: DET
- מזבח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ענושים: ADJ,pass,m,pl
- ישתו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלהיהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3mp
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 24:10-13 (verbal): Law forbids keeping a neighbor’s cloak as a pledge overnight and commands its return — directly parallels Amos’ condemnations of taking garments as pledges.
- Amos 8:4-6 (verbal): Within the same book: denounces trampling the needy, buying the poor for silver, and taking unjust pledges — closely parallels the social oppression charged in 2:8.
- Amos 5:11-12 (thematic): Accuses the wealthy of oppressing the poor, taking bribes, and perverting justice — similar charge of economic exploitation and corrupt cultic life.
- Isaiah 1:23 (thematic): Condemns leaders who love bribes and fail to defend the widow and orphan—echoes the social injustice and corrupt officials associated with cultic life in Amos 2:8.
- Micah 3:11 (thematic): Charges priests and officials with taking bribes and perverting justice (priests teaching for a price) — parallels Amos’ linkage of social exploitation with corrupt religious practice.
Alternative generated candidates
- They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge, and drink the wine of the fined in the house of their god.
- They lay a garment as pledge beside every altar, and in the house of their god they drink the wine of the condemned.
Amo.2.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואנכי: PRON,1,sg
- השמדתי: VERB,hiph,perf,1,,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- האמרי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מפניהם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- אשר: PRON,rel
- כגבה: PREP
- ארזים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- גבהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- וחסן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- כאלונים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ואשמיד: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,1,,sg
- פריו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ממעל: ADV
- ושרשיו: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,poss3,ms
- מתחת: PREP
Parallels
- Numbers 21:21-25 (allusion): Narrates Israel's defeat of Sihon the Amorite and possession of his land—the historical event Amos invokes when saying God destroyed the Amorite.
- Joshua 24:11-12 (quotation): Joshua's summary: 'I gave into your hand Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites,' closely echoing Amos' claim that God destroyed the Amorite for Israel.
- Ezekiel 31:3-9 (verbal): Describes a nation 'tall like the cedars' and 'strong as the oaks' that was brought low—uses the same cedar/oak imagery to depict the fall of a mighty power.
- Isaiah 10:34 (verbal): Speaks of Lebanon (cedars) falling by a mighty one—another use of cedar-felling imagery to portray divine overthrow of the proud and powerful.
- Judges 9:8-15 (thematic): Jotham's fable employs cedar and oak as symbols of lofty strength and kingship; thematically parallels Amos' use of cedar/oak metaphors to describe Amorite greatness prior to destruction.
Alternative generated candidates
- Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars and who was strong as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit above and his root beneath.
- Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of cedars, who was strong as oaks; I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath.
Amo.2.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואנכי: PRON,1,sg
- העליתי: VERB,hiph,perf,1,m,sg
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ואולך: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- במדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ארבעים: NUM,m,pl
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לרשת: VERB,qal,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- האמרי: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 8:2 (verbal): Explicitly recalls God leading Israel 'these forty years in the wilderness'; close verbal parallel to Amos' 'led you forty years in the wilderness.'
- Joshua 24:5 (allusion): God recounts bringing Israel out of Egypt and bringing them into the land of the Amorites—language parallel to Amos' 'I brought you up out of Egypt... to possess the land of the Amorite.'
- Numbers 14:33-34 (thematic): Speaks of the forty years of wandering in the wilderness as a defining period for Israel; thematically supports Amos' reference to forty years of divine guidance in the wilderness.
- Exodus 13:17-18 (verbal): Describes the LORD leading Israel by the way of the wilderness after Egypt—echoes Amos' statement that God 'led you in the wilderness.'
Alternative generated candidates
- And I brought you up from the land of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness to possess the land of the Amorite.
- And I brought you up from the land of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness to possess the land of the Amorite.
Amo.2.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואקים: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- מבניכם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+SUF:2mp
- לנביאים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ומבחוריכם: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+SUF:2mp
- לנזרים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- האף: PART
- אין: PART,neg
- זאת: DEM,f,sg
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 18:15-18 (verbal): Moses states that the LORD will raise up a prophet like him for Israel — a close verbal/thematic parallel to God 'raising up' prophets among the people.
- Numbers 6:1-21 (structural): The law defining the Nazirite vow; Amos' mention of young men made Nazirites alludes to this established institution and its religious significance.
- Judges 13:2-5 (thematic): The birth and dedication of Samson as a Nazirite from the womb provides an Old Testament example of God commissioning youth as Nazirites and agents of deliverance.
- 1 Samuel 3:19-21 (thematic): Samuel is called and established as a prophet while young; this exemplifies the phenomenon Amos describes of God raising up 'sons' for prophets.
- Jeremiah 1:4-5 (allusion): God's declaration that He appointed Jeremiah as a prophet before his birth echoes the theme of divine initiative in raising and appointing prophets among Israel.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I raised up some of your sons as prophets and some of your young men as Nazirites; is this not so, O people of Israel? declares the LORD.
- And I raised up of your sons prophets and of your young men Nazirites; is this not so, O people of Israel? declares the LORD.
Amo.2.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותשקו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- הנזרים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- יין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- הנביאים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- צויתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- לא: PART_NEG
- תנבאו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Amos 2:11 (structural): Immediate context — the preceding verse names God raising up Nazirites and prophets among Israel; 2:12 continues the indictment by describing how those groups were mistreated (Nazirites given wine; prophets forbidden to prophesy).
- Amos 7:12 (verbal): Amaziah the priest at Bethel tells Amos explicitly not to prophesy there (’Do not prophesy any more at Bethel’), a direct narrative parallel of authorities forbidding prophetic speech.
- Zechariah 13:2–4 (thematic): Foretells the silencing, shame, and removal of false prophets (’they will be ashamed of their visions; they shall no longer wear a prophet’s garment’), echoing the theme of prophets being discredited or silenced.
- 2 Chronicles 24:20–22 (thematic): Zechariah son of Jehoiada is rebuked, imprisoned/stoned at the instigation of the leadership after confronting the people — an example of prophets being persecuted and effectively silenced by authorities.
Alternative generated candidates
- Yet you made the Nazirites drink wine, and you charged the prophets, “You shall not prophesy.”
- Yet you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, and you commanded the prophets, “You shall not prophesy.”
Amo.2.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הנה: PART
- אנכי: PRON,1,sg
- מעיק: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- תחתיכם: PREP+PRON,2,m,pl
- כאשר: CONJ
- תעיק: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- העגלה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- המלאה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- עמיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 63:3 (verbal): God speaks of treading the winepress and trampling in anger — a close verbal/image parallel to being pressed down like a laden cart as an image of divine judgment.
- Revelation 14:19-20 (verbal): The harvest thrown into the great winepress of God's wrath uses pressing/treading imagery for eschatological judgment, echoing Amos’s metaphor of being pressed down.
- Isaiah 10:5-6 (thematic): God acts through an instrument (Assyria) to oppress and crush nations — thematically parallel to God’s intent to press down and judge Israel/its neighbors.
- Deuteronomy 28:48 (thematic): A curse imagery of becoming a servant under a heavy yoke (submission and oppression) parallels the sense of being overborne and pressed down under judgment.
- Psalm 2:9 (thematic): The promise that the ruler will break nations with a rod of iron conveys the motif of crushing/enforcing divine dominion, comparable to Amos’s image of overwhelming pressure as punishment.
Alternative generated candidates
- Behold, I will press you down beneath burdens, as when a cart that is full presses down the sheaves.
- Behold, I will press you down beneath, as a cart full of sheaves presses down.
Amo.2.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואבד: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,conj-w
- מנוס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מקל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וחזק: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- יאמץ: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- כחו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+SUFF:3,m,sg
- וגבור: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- ימלט: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- נפשו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Amos 9:1-4 (structural): Within the same prophetic collection Amos repeats the motif of inescapable divine judgment—'not a man shall be rescued'—echoing the helpless flight and inability of the strong to save themselves.
- Ezekiel 7:19 (verbal): Speaks of people casting away silver and gold and declares that their wealth and strength will not deliver them in the day of the LORD—paralleling the assertion that the fleeing or strong will not escape.
- Zephaniah 1:14-18 (thematic): The coming 'day of the LORD' is described as a day of wrath when neither riches nor might can save, and there will be no escape—closely matching Amos's theme of powerless flight.
- Revelation 6:15-17 (allusion): Apocalyptic scene where kings and the mighty hide and ask who can stand before the wrath—New Testament echo of the prophetic motif that flight and strength cannot avert divine judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- The swift will not flee away, the strong will not be mighty, and the warrior will not preserve his life.
- A fugitive's staff will not hold fast; the strong man will not have strength to save himself; the warrior will not escape.
Amo.2.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותפש: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הקשת: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לא: PART_NEG
- יעמד: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- וקל: ADJ,m,sg
- ברגליו: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,suff,3,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- ימלט: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ורכב: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הסוס: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לא: PART_NEG
- ימלט: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- נפשו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 31:3-4 (thematic): Speaks of horses and human helpers failing when the Lord stretches out his hand—like Amos’ image that bow, swift runner, and horseman will not be able to save themselves.
- Joel 2:7-9 (thematic): Describes an invading force of runners and riders and the unstoppable advance of judgment; parallels the theme of swiftness and military strength rendered futile before divine judgment.
- Nahum 2:13 (verbal): God declares he will deal with chariots and cavalry (burning chariots, overthrowing military power); echoes Amos’ claim that bows and horsemen will not stand or escape.
- Psalm 18:39-40 (2 Samuel 22:40-41) (structural): Portrays God as the one who subdues enemies and delivers victors by neutralizing opponents’ strength—parallel to the prophetic assertion that warriors cannot save themselves from Yahweh’s hand.
Alternative generated candidates
- The archer will not stand, the swift-footed will not escape, and the horseman will not save his life.
- The archer will not stand, the swift of foot will not escape, and the horseman will not save his life.
Amo.2.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואמיץ: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg
- לבו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- בגבורים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ערום: ADJ,m,sg
- ינוס: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ביום: PREP
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 20:4-5 (verbal): Assyria leads the Egyptians 'naked and barefoot'—the explicit image of being exposed and led away mirrors Amos' phrase that the mighty shall flee naked.
- Nahum 3:5 (verbal): God says he will 'discover thy skirts' (expose nakedness) as part of judgment—the motif of naked exposure as humiliation echoes Amos' prophecy.
- Isaiah 47:3 (thematic): Babylon is threatened with stripping and exposed shame; nakedness functions as a symbol of disgrace under divine judgment, paralleling Amos' image.
- Proverbs 28:1 (thematic): 'The wicked flee when no man pursueth' —the theme of sudden flight and loss of courage parallels Amos' reversal where even the brave among the mighty will flee.
- Ezekiel 16:37 (allusion): God promises to bring lovers to shame and 'discover thy nakedness'—the revelation of shame and exposure as punishment aligns with Amos' picture of naked flight.
Alternative generated candidates
- He who is stout of heart among the mighty shall run away naked in that day, declares the LORD.
- Even the bravest among the mighty shall flee naked on that day, declares the LORD.
Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Israel, and for four—I will not turn it back; because they sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals.
They trample the poor into the dust of the ground and pervert the way of the lowly; a man and his father go in to the same young woman, so as to profane my holy name.
They lay garments taken as pledges beside every altar and drink the fined one's wine in the houses of their gods. And I destroyed the Amorite before them, though he was tall as cedars and strong as oaks; I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath. And I brought you up from the land of Egypt and led you through the wilderness forty years, to possess the land of the Amorite. And I appointed some of your sons as prophets and some of your young men as Nazirites. Is this not so, O children of Israel?—declares the LORD.
Yet you made the Nazirites drink wine, and you charged the prophets, saying, “Do not prophesy.”
Behold, I will press you down beneath, as one presses down a wagon full of sheaves—its load will crush you, and it will rise up against you.
The fleeing man shall not escape by his staff; the strong shall not keep his strength; the mighty shall not save his life.
The archer shall not stand, the swift of foot shall not escape, and the rider on the horse shall not save his life. And the bravest among the warriors shall flee naked on that day, declares the LORD.