Amos 6:8

8 The Lord GOD has ¹sworn by Himself, the LORD God of hosts has declared: "I ²loathe the arrogance of Jacob, And detest his ³citadels; Therefore I will ⁴deliver up the city and all it contains."

Amos 6:8 Meaning and Commentary

Amos 6:8

The Lord God hath sworn by himself
Because he could swear by no greater, ( Hebrews 6:13 ) ; which shows the importance and certainty of the thing sworn to, and is as follows: saith the Lord, the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob;
or, "the pride of Jacob" ^F3; of Israel, of the ten tribes, remarkable for their pride; hence called the crown of pride, ( Isaiah 28:3 ) ; it may include all that was glorious, valuable, and excellent among them, of which they were proud; their kingdom, riches, wealth, and strength, their fortified cities and towns: if Judah is comprehended in this, it may regard the temple, which was their excellency, and in which they gloried. So the Targum paraphrases it,

``the house of the sanctuary of the house of Jacob;''

and in like manner Jarchi, Kimchi, and Ben Melech, interpret it; and hate his palaces;
the palaces of the king and nobles, and great men, which should fall into the enemy's hand, and be plundered and destroyed; which is meant by the Lord's abhorrence and hatred of them, this being an evidence of it; therefore will I deliver up the city, with all that is therein;
or, "with its fulness" ^F4; with all its inhabitants and riches; according to Jarchi, the city of Jerusalem is meant; though rather the city of Samaria, unless both are intended, city for cities; since the chief men both of Israel and Judah seem to be addressed, ( Amos 6:1 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 (Nwag ta) "superbiam", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus; "fastium", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius.
F4 (halmw) "et plenitudinem ejus", Mercerus, Piscator, Cocceius.

Amos 6:8 In-Context

6 Who drink wine from sacrificial bowls While they anoint themselves with the finest of oils, Yet they have not grieved over the ruin of Joseph.

7 Therefore, they will now go into exile at the head of the exiles, And the sprawlers' banqueting will pass away.

8 The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself, the LORD God of hosts has declared: "I loathe the arrogance of Jacob, And detest his citadels; Therefore I will deliver up the city and all it contains."

9 And it will be, if ten men are left in one house, they will die.

10 Then one's uncle, or his undertaker, will lift him up to carry out his bones from the house, and he will say to the one who is in the innermost part of the house, "Is anyone else with you?" And that one will say, "No one." Then he will answer, "Keep quiet. For the name of the LORD is not to be mentioned."

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 22:16; Jeremiah 22:5; Jeremiah 51:14; Amos 4:2; Amos 8:7
• 2. Leviticus 26:30; Deuteronomy 32:19; Psalms 106:40; Amos 5:21
• 3. Amos 3:10, 11
• 4. Hosea 11:6

Footnotes

• [a]. Heb "YHWH," usually rendered LORD
• [b]. Lit "hate"
• [c]. Lit "its fullness"