Amos 5:11

11 Therefore because you 1trample on[a] the poor and you exact taxes of grain from him, 2you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; 3you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.

Amos 5:11 Meaning and Commentary

Amos 5:11

Forasmuch therefore as your treading [is] upon the poor
This seems to be spoken to the princes, judges, and civil magistrates, as Kimchi observes; who oppressed the poor and needy, and crushed them to the ground, trampled upon them, stripped them of the little substance they had, and left them destitute; exercising a cruel and tyrannical power over them, they having none to stand by them, and deliver them: and ye take from him burdens of wheat;
which perhaps he had been gleaning in the field, and was carrying home for the support of his family; or which he had gotten with great labour, and was all he had in the world: this they took away from him, for the payment of pretended debts, or lawsuits; or as not in right belonging to him, but taken out of fields where he should not have entered: ye have built houses of hewn stones;
in a very grand and pompous manner for themselves and their children, with money they had extorted from the poor, and got by oppression and injustice: but ye shall not dwell in them;
at least but a very short time; for quickly and suddenly the enemy will come and turn you out of them, and destroy them, which would be a just retaliation for their spoiling the houses of the poor: ye have planted pleasant vineyards:
well situated, and filled with the choicest vines, which promise a large produce of the best wine: but ye shall not drink wine of them;
for before the grapes are fully ripe they should be either taken away by death, or be carried captive, and others should dwell in their houses, and drink the wine of their vineyards.

Amos 5:11 In-Context

9 who makes destruction flash forth against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress.
10 They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth.
11 Therefore because you trample on the poor and you exact taxes of grain from him, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.
12 For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins-- you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate.
13 Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time.

Cross References 3

  • 1. [James 2:6]
  • 2. Deuteronomy 28:30, 39; Micah 6:15; Zephaniah 1:13
  • 3. Deuteronomy 28:30, 39; Micah 6:15; Zephaniah 1:13

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.