Amos 6

King James Version

Full text for Amos Chapter 6

1¶ Woe to them [that are] at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, [which are] named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!

2Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: [be they] better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?

3Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;

4That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;

5That chant to the sound of the viol, [and] invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;

6That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

7Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed.

8¶ The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.

9And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.

10And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that [is] by the sides of the house, [Is there] yet [any] with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.

11For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts.

12Shall horses run upon the rock? will [one] plow [there] with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:

13Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?

14But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Amos 6 pronounces a severe "woe" upon the complacent and luxurious elites of Zion and Samaria, who trust in their own strength and ignore the impending judgment. These privileged individuals indulge in lavish living, unconcerned by the nation's spiritual and physical affliction. Consequently, the Lord God swears to deliver them into captivity and destroy their cities, bringing widespread death and desolation as punishment for their perverted justice and pride.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with a stern "woe" directed at the privileged and complacent leaders in Zion and Samaria, who feel secure in their status and trust in their own power, comparing themselves favorably to other nations. These individuals are depicted as living in extreme luxury, reclining on ivory beds, feasting on the finest meats, creating music, drinking wine in bowls, and anointing themselves with costly oils. Despite their opulence, they remain profoundly indifferent to the "affliction of Joseph," signifying a lack of concern for the suffering of their own people. The prophet declares that because of their arrogance and perversion of justice, they will be among the first to be led into captivity. The Lord God, having sworn by Himself, expresses His abhorrence for Jacob's pride and palaces, vowing to deliver the city and its inhabitants to destruction. A severe plague is foretold, leading to widespread death, where even mentioning the Lord's name will be feared, as God promises to raise a powerful nation to afflict Israel from north to south.

Long Summary

Amos 6 begins with a dire "woe" pronounced against the complacent and self-assured leaders residing in Zion and Samaria, who are described as the "chief of the nations" yet trust in their own perceived security rather than God. The prophet challenges them to compare their kingdoms to others like Calneh, Hamath, and Gath, implying their hubris is unfounded. These elites are condemned for pushing away the thought of a "day of evil" while simultaneously bringing near "the seat of violence" through their actions. Their lifestyle is characterized by extreme luxury: lounging on ivory beds, feasting on choice lambs and calves, inventing musical instruments like David, drinking wine in bowls, and anointing themselves with the finest oils. Crucially, their indulgence is coupled with a profound indifference to the "affliction of Joseph," meaning they are unconcerned with the spiritual and national suffering of their own people. As a direct consequence of this moral decay and complacency, the Lord declares that these very individuals, who "stretch themselves" in luxury, will be the first to go into captivity, and their banquets will cease. The Lord God solemnly swears by Himself, stating His abhorrence for the "excellency of Jacob" and His hatred for their opulent palaces, promising to deliver the entire city and all within it to destruction. The judgment will be so severe that if ten men remain in one house, they will all die. The scene depicts a grim future where relatives will secretly remove the dead, fearing to even utter the name of the Lord due to the overwhelming calamity. God's command will bring breaches to great houses and clefts to small ones, signifying total devastation. The prophet uses rhetorical questions, asking if horses can run on rocks or oxen plow there, to highlight the perversion of justice into "gall" and righteousness into "hemlock" by the people. They are rebuked for rejoicing in "a thing of nought" and boasting in their own strength, believing they have acquired "horns" (power) by themselves. The chapter concludes with God's promise to raise a powerful nation that will afflict the house of Israel from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness, signifying a comprehensive and inescapable judgment.

Core Concepts

  • Complacency of Zion and SamariaThe spiritual and physical ease of the ruling class in Israel and Judah, leading to a false sense of security and indifference to God's warnings and the nation's true state.
  • Luxurious IndulgenceThe extravagant lifestyle of the elites, characterized by opulent furnishings, fine dining, elaborate music, and costly anointing oils, all while ignoring national distress.
  • Indifference to Joseph's AfflictionThe profound lack of concern among the privileged for the suffering, spiritual decay, or impending judgment facing the rest of the nation of Israel, referred to as 'Joseph'.
  • Divine Judgment and CaptivityGod's solemn declaration and oath to bring severe punishment upon Israel, including widespread death, the destruction of their cities, and forced exile as the first captives.
  • Perversion of JusticeThe corruption of moral and legal standards by the people, where righteousness is turned into bitterness and poisonous outcomes, making true justice impossible.
  • Boasting in Self-StrengthThe prideful reliance of the people on their own power and achievements, believing they have secured their own strength ('horns') without divine aid or approval.
  • Inescapable National AfflictionThe promise of God to raise an opposing nation that will bring comprehensive and inescapable suffering upon Israel across its entire territory, from north to south.