Amos 6:13-14

13 you who rejoice in Lo-debar,[a] who say, 1"Have we not by our own strength captured Karnaim[b] for ourselves?"
14 "For behold, 2I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel," declares the LORD, the God of hosts; "and they shall oppress you from 3Lebo-hamath to the Brook of 4the Arabah."

Amos 6:13-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 6

This chapter seems to be directed both to the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and the ten tribes of Israel, under the names of Zion and Samaria, and to the principal men in both; who are reproved and threatened for their carnal security and self-confidence, being in no fear of the evil day, though they had no reason for it no more than other people, Am 6:1-3; are charged with wantonness, luxury, intemperance, and want of sympathy with those in distress, Am 6:4-6; therefore are threatened to be carried captive first, and their city to be delivered up; which, for the certainty of it, is not only said, but swore to, Am 6:7,8; and a great mortality in every house, and the destruction of all houses, both great and small, Am 6:9-11; and since a reformation of them seemed impracticable, and not to be expected, but they gloried in their wealth, and boasted of their strength, therefore they should be afflicted by a foreign nation raised against them, which affliction should be general, from one end of the country to the other, Am 6:12-14.

Cross References 4

  • 1. [1 Kings 22:11; Micah 4:13]
  • 2. [Jeremiah 5:15]
  • 3. 2 Kings 14:25
  • 4. See Deuteronomy 1:1

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Lo-debar means nothing
  • [b]. Karnaim means horns (a symbol of strength)
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.