Amos 6:5

5 Who improvise to the sound of the harp, And like David have composed 1songs for themselves,

Amos 6:5 Meaning and Commentary

Amos 6:5

That chant to the sound of the viol
Or psaltery; an instrument of twelve cords, and that gave twelve sounds, as Josephus


FOOTNOTES:

F24 says, being stricken with the fingers; and to these sounds these men chanted or quivered, made like sounds with their voice, which they raised higher or lower, according to the sound of the instrument: they "particularized", as the word signifies F25; or observed the divisions and distinctions of notes and sounds, by the modulation of their voice: [and] invent to themselves instruments of music, like David:
not content with old ones, such as were used in former times, they invented new instruments and new tunes, and new songs to sing to them; as David made songs and invented several instruments of music to sing them upon and to, in religious worship, and for the praise and glory of God; so these men invented new ones to indulge their carnal mirth and jollity, in which they thought themselves to be justified by the example of David.
F24 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 19. sect. 3.
F25 (Myjrwph) "particularizantes", Montanus; "qui particularia habent cantica", Pagninus; "qui particulatim canunt", Vatablus, Mercerus; "variis modulationibus concinunt", Tigurine version.

Amos 6:5 In-Context

3 Do you put off the day of calamity, And would you bring near the seat of violence?
4 Those who recline on beds of ivory And sprawl on their couches, And eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall,
5 Who improvise to the sound of the harp, And like David have composed songs for themselves,
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.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 1 Chronicles 15:16; 1 Chronicles 23:5; Isaiah 5:12

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "invented musical instruments"
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.