Judgment and National Downfall
Amos 6:8-14
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Amo.6.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- נשבע: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בנפשו: PREP,3,m,sg
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- צבאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מתאב: VERB,qal,ptc,ms,sg
- אנכי: PRON,1,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- גאון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וארמנתיו: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,3,m,sg
- שנאתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- והסגרתי: CONJ+VERB,hifil,perf,1,m,sg
- עיר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ומלאה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 45:23 (verbal): Uses the same divine self‑swearing formula (“I have sworn by myself”), a common prophetic way to assert God’s irrevocable judgment and determination to act, paralleling Amos’s opening oath.
- Isaiah 2:12-17 (thematic): Announces Yahweh’s judgment on haughtiness and the humbling of the lofty; thematically parallels Amos’s condemnation of Jacob’s pride and the destruction of its strongholds/palaces.
- Zephaniah 2:15 (thematic): Speaks of a once‑boastful, secure city brought low and made desolate — echoes Amos’s denunciation of an arrogant city and the promise to give it up.
- Jeremiah 22:13-19 (thematic): Condemns those who build grand houses in unrighteousness and predicts loss of dynasty/house; parallels Amos’s denunciation of proud elites and the fate of their palaces.
- Amos 6:4-7 (structural): Immediate context — describes the luxury, complacency, and social injustice of Israel’s elite that provokes the divine oath in 6:8; 6:8 functions as the judicial conclusion to the pericope.
Alternative generated candidates
- By the life of the LORD—declares the LORD, the God of hosts—I loathe the pride of Jacob and its fortified places; I hate and will shut up the city and its fullness.
- The LORD GOD has sworn by his life, declares the LORD God of hosts: I loathe the pride of Jacob and its palaces; I will shut up the city and all who are in it.
Amo.6.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- אם: CONJ
- יותרו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- עשרה: NUM,card,m,pl
- אנשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- ומתו: CONJ+VERB,qal,imperf,3,_,pl
Parallels
- Luke 17:34–36 (structural): Same household imagery: multiple people in one dwelling with some taken and others left — a striking, parallel motif of sudden, selective removal as divine judgment.
- Luke 13:4–5 (thematic): Jesus cites sudden deaths (tower collapse, Galileans slain) as examples of unexpected divine judgment and a call to repentance, echoing Amos’s warning of death within houses.
- Ezekiel 9:6 (thematic): Ezekiel portrays agents executing judgment in the city, slaying inhabitants (including in their homes), paralleling Amos’s prophecy of death overtaking people in their houses.
- Zephaniah 1:15–18 (thematic): The Day of the LORD is depicted as a swift, inescapable time of wrath that brings sudden death and devastation—similar in tone and outcome to Amos’s prediction of death within homes.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it shall come to pass, when there are ten men in one house, that they shall die.
- And if there be ten men in one house, they shall die.
Amo.6.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ונשאו: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- דודו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומסרפו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- להוציא: VERB,hiphil,inf
- עצמים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מן: PREP
- הבית: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ואמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- לאשר: CONJ
- בירכתי: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- הבית: NOUN,m,sg,def
- העוד: PART,interrog
- עמך: NOUN,m,sg,suff-2m
- ואמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אפס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- הס: VERB,qal,impv,2,ms
- כי: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- להזכיר: VERB,hif,inf
- בשם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Kings 25:13-17 (thematic): Babylonian removal of vessels and goods from houses and the temple—parallels Amos’ image of people/things being carried out from houses as part of judgment.
- Ezekiel 7:19 (thematic): People cast away silver and gold in the day of wrath because valuables cannot save—echoes the futility of possessions at the time of doom implied in Amos.
- Habakkuk 2:20 (verbal): “But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.” The injunction to be silent before the Lord parallels Amos’ command “Hush,” tied to the divine name and presence.
- Zephaniah 1:7 (verbal): “Hold thy peace at the presence of the LORD” — a prophetic call to silence because of the imminent day of the LORD, closely echoing the quieting motif in Amos 6:10.
- Amos 5:11 (structural): Within the same prophetic work, Amos condemns the wealthy who trust in houses and goods—provides internal context for the judgment motif of houses emptied and the abandonment of the LORD’s name.
Alternative generated candidates
- And their kinsmen shall carry them out and hand them away from the house; and he shall say to him at the entrance of the house, “Is there yet anyone with you?” and he shall say, “No.” Then he shall say, “Be silent, for we must not mention the name of the LORD.”
- And his uncle and his cousin shall lift them up to carry out the goods of the house; and they shall say to the one in the inner rooms, "Is there yet any with you?" and he shall answer, "No." Then they shall say, "Be silent, for we may not mention the name of the LORD."
Amo.6.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- הנה: PART
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מצוה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- והכה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הבית: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הגדול: ADJ,m,sg,def
- רסיסים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- והבית: NOUN,m,sg,def,pref:v
- הקטן: ADJ,m,sg,def
- בקעים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 19:10–11 (verbal): Uses the imagery of smashing a clay vessel to symbolize God's command to break and make the city/people irreparable—parallels Amos' command that great and small houses be broken.
- Amos 9:1 (structural): Within the same prophetic corpus: God commands striking and shattering (capitals/thresholds)—a closely related formula of divine command bringing violent ruin on dwellings and people.
- Micah 3:12 (thematic): Declares that because of the leaders' injustice Zion/Jerusalem will be made like a plowed field and become ruins—echoes the theme of total destruction of houses and social order.
- Zephaniah 1:13 (thematic): Speaks of plundered goods and houses laid waste as judgment for complacency and sin—themewise parallel to Amos' pronouncement that both large and small houses will be broken.
- Ezekiel 7:26–27 (allusion): Announces imminent disaster and desolation, with dwellings and human life brought to ruin—shares the apocalyptic/terminal judgment tone of Amos' breaking of houses.
Alternative generated candidates
- For behold, the LORD commands: he will strike the great house into fragments and batter the small house into breaches.
- For behold, the LORD will command, and he will strike the great house into fragments and the little house into pieces.
Amo.6.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הירצון: PART+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בסלע: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- סוסים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אם: CONJ
- יחרוש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בבקרים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כי: CONJ
- הפכתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- לראש: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- משפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ופרי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- צדקה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ללענה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Amos 5:7 (verbal): Uses almost identical language — condemns those who 'turn justice into wormwood' and treat righteousness as something cast aside, directly paralleling Amos 6:12's charge.
- Amos 5:24 (thematic): Provides the prophetic counterpoint to Amos 6:12: where Amos 6 laments perverted justice, Amos 5 calls for justice to 'roll down like waters' as the proper response.
- Isaiah 5:7 (thematic): Isaiah likewise laments that God looked for justice and found bloodshed, and for righteousness found an outcry — a closely related complaint about justice and the 'fruit' of righteousness being perverted.
- Micah 6:11 (thematic): Denounces corrupt measures and judicial corruption ('wicked scales'), echoing Amos's critique that judgment has been perverted and righteousness turned to bitterness.
- Hosea 10:12 (thematic): Urges 'sow righteousness, reap steadfast love' — a constructive contrast to Amos 6:12's image of the fruits of righteousness being turned into bitterness, highlighting the intended outcome of righteousness.
Alternative generated candidates
- Do horses tread upon rock? Does one plow the sea with oxen? For you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood.
- Can horses run upon the rock? Will one plow the sea with oxen? For you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood.
Amo.6.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- השמחים: VERB,qal,ptc,-,m,pl,def
- ללא: PREP
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- האמרים: VERB,qal,ptcp,0,m,pl
- הלוא: PART
- בחזקנו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+1,pl
- לקחנו: VERB,qal,perf,1,pl
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- קרנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 75:10 (verbal): Uses the image of 'horns' as symbols of strength and declares God will cut off the horns of the wicked — connects to Amos' 'we have taken horns for ourselves' (boastful power).
- Deuteronomy 33:17 (verbal): Describes 'horns' as the symbol of power and blessing for a people; parallels Amos' horn‑imagery for strength and status (contrast between perceived strength and divine judgment).
- Isaiah 10:12-13 (thematic): Condemns imperial boasting — 'By the strength of my hand I have done it' — echoing Amos' critique of those who claim victory by their own strength. Both rebuke self‑confident pride.
- Psalm 20:7 (thematic): Contrasts human confidence in chariots and horses with reliance on the LORD. Resonates with Amos' indictment of those who boast in their own power rather than trust God.
- Proverbs 16:18 (thematic): 'Pride goes before destruction' — a general proverb against the arrogance of self‑reliance and boasting that mirrors Amos' warning about rejoicing in vain strength.
Alternative generated candidates
- Those who rejoice without cause, who say, “Have we not by our own strength taken horns for ourselves?”
- Those who rejoice without cause, who say, "Is it not by our own strength that we have taken horns for ourselves?"
Amo.6.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- הנני: PRT+PRON,1,sg
- מקים: VERB,qal,ptc,NA,m,sg
- עליכם: PREP+PRON,2mp
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הצבאות: NOUN,m,pl,def
- גוי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולחצו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- מלבוא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חמת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- עד: PREP
- נחל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הערבה: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Amos 5:27 (verbal): Within the same book—another explicit threat of deportation: 'therefore I will send you away... ye shall go into captivity,' echoing Amos 6:14's promise to remove and depose the people.
- Amos 9:9 (verbal): Same prophetic corpus uses the phrase 'house of Israel' and God's action against them—'I will sift the house of Israel among all nations'—a thematic parallel about divine judgment and scattering.
- 2 Kings 17:6 (structural): Historical account of the Assyrian seizure and deportation of Israel (Samaria taken and people carried into Assyria), a concrete fulfillment/parallel to prophetic threats of removal in Amos 6:14.
- Deuteronomy 28:49 (thematic): Covenantal curse motif: 'The LORD will bring a nation against you from far...,' a legal-theological parallel describing foreign invasion and exile as punishment, similar to Amos 6:14's promise of being pressed out to the Arabah.
Alternative generated candidates
- For behold, I raise up against you the house of Israel—declares the LORD, the God of hosts—a nation that shall press you from the coming of Hamath to the brook of the Arabah.
- For behold, I will raise up against you the house of Israel, declares the LORD God of hosts—a nation that will press you from Hamath to the brook of the Arabah.
The LORD God has sworn by his life—declares the LORD, the God of hosts: I loathe the pride of Jacob and hate his palaces; I will give over the city with all that is in it.
If ten men are left in one house, they shall die.
Their uncle and their nearest kinsman will take them up to carry out the goods of the house; and he who waits at the threshold will ask, “Is anyone still with you?” and the answer will be, “No.” Then he will say, “Hush! For we must not mention the name of the LORD.”
For behold, the LORD has commanded: he will shatter the great house into fragments and break the small house in pieces.
Can horses run on the rock? Will one plow the sea with oxen? For you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood.
Those who rejoice without cause—who say, “Have we not, by our own strength, taken horns for ourselves?”
For behold, I will raise up against you the house of Israel, declares the LORD, the God of hosts; and they shall press you from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of the Arabah.