Amos 4:3

3 You will each go straight out through breaches in the wall, and you will be cast out toward Harmon,[a] ” declares the LORD.

Amos 4:3 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
3 And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
3 And you shall go out through the breaches, each one straight ahead; and you shall be cast out into Harmon," declares the LORD.
New Living Translation (NLT)
3 You will be led out through the ruins of the wall; you will be thrown from your fortresses, ” says the LORD .
The Message Bible (MSG)
3 They'll drag you through the ruined city walls, forcing you out single file, And kick you to kingdom come." God's Decree.
American Standard Version (ASV)
3 And ye shall go out at the breaches, every one straight before her; and ye shall cast [yourselves] into Harmon, saith Jehovah.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
3 Each of you will leave [the city] through breaks in the wall, one woman ahead of another. You will be thrown into a garbage dump. The LORD declares this.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
3 You will go through breaches in the wall, each woman straight ahead, and you will be driven along toward Harmon. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
3 Each of you will go straight out through a gap in the wall. You will be thrown out of the city on the hill where you crush others," announces the Lord.

Amos 4:3 Meaning and Commentary

Amos 4:3

And ye shall go out at the breaches
Not at the gates of the city, as they had used to do at pleasure; but at the breaches of the walls of it, made by the enemy, in order to make their escape, if possible; they who had broke down the fences of law and justice, and injured the poor and needy, shall now have the walls of their city broken down and they themselves exposed to the most imminent danger, and glad to get out of them to save their lives: every [cow] at that [which is] before her;
every woman, as Jarchi and Kimchi; or every great person, compared to the kine of Bashan, shall make up as fast as he can to the breach before him, to get out; shall follow one another as quick as they can, and clamber on one another's backs, as such cattle do, to get out first; which shows the hurry and confusion they should be in, upon the taking of their city Samaria: and ye shall cast [them] into the palace, saith the Lord;
either their children, or their substance, which they shall cast into the royal palace, or fort, or citadel, for safety. Some render it, "ye shall cast yourselves"; so Abarbinel; that is, such as could not get out at the breaches should betake themselves to the palace or fort for their security. The Targum of the whole is,

``and they shall break down the wall upon you, and bring you out, gathered everyone before him, and carry you beyond the mountains of Armenia.''
And so some others, taking it to be the name of a place, render it, "ye shall be cast into Armon", or Mona; which Bochart F18 suspects to be the same with Minni, mentioned with Ararat, a mountain in Armenia, ( Jeremiah 51:27 ) .
FOOTNOTES:

F18 Geograph. Sacr. l. 1. c. 3. col. 20.

Amos 4:3 In-Context

1 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, “Bring us some drinks!”
2 The Sovereign LORD has sworn by his holiness: “The time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks.
3 You will each go straight out through breaches in the wall, and you will be cast out toward Harmon, ” declares the LORD.
4 “Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years.
5 Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings— boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do,” declares the Sovereign LORD.

Cross References 1

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew (see Septuagint) "out, you mountain of oppression"
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