Amos 5:6-16

6 "¹Seek the LORD that you may live, Or He will break forth like a ²fire, O house of Joseph, And it will consume with none to quench it for Bethel,

7 For those who turn ³justice into wormwood And cast righteousness down to the earth."

8 He who made the ⁴Pleiades and Orion And ⁵changes deep darkness into morning, Who also ⁶darkens day into night, Who ⁷calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The ⁸LORD is His name.

9 It is He who ⁹flashes forth with destruction upon the strong, So that ¹⁰destruction comes upon the fortress.

10 They hate him who ¹¹reproves in the gate, And they ¹²abhor him who speaks with integrity.

11 Therefore because you impose heavy rent on the poor And exact a tribute of grain from them, Though you have built ¹³houses of well-hewn stone, Yet you will not live in them; You have planted pleasant vineyards, yet you will ¹⁴not drink their wine.

12 For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great, You who ¹⁵distress the righteous and accept bribes And turn aside the poor in the gate.

13 Therefore at such a time the prudent person ¹⁶keeps silent, for it is an evil time.

14 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; And thus may the LORD God of hosts be with you, ¹⁷Just as you have said!

15 ¹⁸Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the LORD God of hosts ¹⁹May be gracious to the ²⁰remnant of Joseph.

16 Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts, the Lord, "There is ²¹wailing in all the plazas, And in all the streets they say, 'Alas! Alas!' They also call the ²²farmer to mourning And ²³professional mourners to lamentation.

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Amos 5:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 5

In this chapter the prophet exhorts Israel to hear his lamentation over them for their impending ruin, Am 5:1-3; nevertheless to seek the Lord, and all that is good; to forsake their idols, and repent of their sins, in hopes of finding mercy, and living comfortably; or otherwise they must expect the wrath of God for their iniquities, especially their oppression of the poor, Am 5:4-15; otherwise it would be a time of weeping and wailing, of darkness and distress, however they might harden or flatter themselves, or make a jest of it, Am 5:16-20; for all their sacrifices and ceremonial worship would signify nothing, so long as they continued their idolatry with them Am 5:21-26; and therefore should surely go into captivity, Am 5:27.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 23

1. Is 55:3, 6, 7; Amos 5:14
2. Deuteronomy 4:24
3. Amos 2:3; Amos 5:12; Amos 6:12
4. Job 9:9; Job 38:31
5. Job 12:22; Job 38:12; Isaiah 42:16
6. Psalms 104:20
7. Psalms 104:6-9; Amos 9:6
8. Amos 4:13
9. Isaiah 29:5; Amos 2:14
10. Micah 5:11
11. Isaiah 29:21; Amos 5:15
12. 1 Kings 22:8; Isaiah 59:15; Jeremiah 17:16-18
13. Amos 3:15; Amos 6:11
14. Micah 6:15
15. Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 5:23; Amos 2:6
16. Ecclesiastes 3:7; Hosea 4:4
17. Micah 3:11
18. Psalms 97:10; Romans 12:9
19. Joel 2:14
20. Mic 5:3, 7, 8
21. Jer 9:10, 18-20; Amos 8:3
22. Joel 1:11
23. 2 Chronicles 35:25; Jeremiah 9:17

Footnotes 10

[a]. Or in "the house"
[b]. Lit "they have put down"
[c]. Lit "And He darkened"
[d]. I.e. the place where court was held
[e]. Another reading is "trample upon"
[f]. Lit "they turn"
[g]. I.e. the place where court was held
[h]. Lit "that time"
[i]. I.e. the place where court was held
[j]. Lit "those who know lamentation"

Amos 5:6-16

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Amos 5:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 5

Cross References 23

Footnotes 10