Amos 5:9-19

9 It is He who ¹flashes forth with destruction upon the strong, So that ²destruction comes upon the fortress.

10 They hate him who ³reproves in the gate, And they ⁴abhor 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 ⁵houses of well-hewn stone, Yet you will not live in them; You have planted pleasant vineyards, yet you will ⁶not drink their wine.

12 For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great, You who ⁷distress the righteous and accept bribes And turn aside the poor in the gate.

13 Therefore at such a time the prudent person ⁸keeps 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, ⁹Just as you have said!

15 ¹⁰Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the LORD God of hosts ¹¹May be gracious to the ¹²remnant of Joseph.

16 Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts, the Lord, "There is ¹³wailing in all the plazas, And in all the streets they say, 'Alas! Alas!' They also call the ¹⁴farmer to mourning And ¹⁵professional mourners to lamentation.

17 "And in all the ¹⁶vineyards there is wailing, Because I will pass through the midst of you," says the LORD.

18 Alas, you who are longing for the ¹⁷day of the LORD, For what purpose will the day of the LORD be to you? It will be ¹⁸darkness and not light;

19 As when a man ¹⁹flees from a lion And a bear meets him, Or goes home, leans his hand against the wall And a snake bites him.

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Amos 5:9-19 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 19

1. Isaiah 29:5; Amos 2:14
2. Micah 5:11
3. Isaiah 29:21; Amos 5:15
4. 1 Kings 22:8; Isaiah 59:15; Jeremiah 17:16-18
5. Amos 3:15; Amos 6:11
6. Micah 6:15
7. Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 5:23; Amos 2:6
8. Ecclesiastes 3:7; Hosea 4:4
9. Micah 3:11
10. Psalms 97:10; Romans 12:9
11. Joel 2:14
12. Mic 5:3, 7, 8
13. Jer 9:10, 18-20; Amos 8:3
14. Joel 1:11
15. 2 Chronicles 35:25; Jeremiah 9:17
16. Isaiah 16:10; Jeremiah 48:33
17. Isaiah 5:19; Jeremiah 30:7; Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1, 11, 31
18. Isaiah 5:30; Joel 2:2
19. Job 20:24; Isaiah 24:17, 18; Jeremiah 15:2, 3; Jeremiah 48:44

Footnotes 8

[a]. I.e. the place where court was held
[b]. Another reading is "trample upon"
[c]. Lit "they turn"
[d]. I.e. the place where court was held
[e]. Lit "that time"
[f]. I.e. the place where court was held
[g]. Lit "those who know lamentation"
[h]. Or "Then"

Amos 5:9-19

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Amos 5:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 5

Cross References 19

Footnotes 8