Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.
Read it in contextA Call to Repentance
Start reading at Amos 5:4 (Amos 5:4 to Amos 5:15).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
Addresses against injustice and complacency reject the notion that religious activity can substitute for righteousness.
5:4For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:
5:5But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.
5:6Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel.
5:7Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,
5:8Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:
5:9That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.
5:10They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.
5:11Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.
5:12For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.
5:13Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.
5:14Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.
5:15Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Amos, a herdsman from Tekoa, is the named prophet and traditional author. Biblical references: Amos 1:1; Amos 7:14. stated in the text
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Amos 3:1–6:14): Israel, especially its privileged families and leaders in Samaria, is addressed; the warning also challenges those at ease in Zion. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Principally the northern kingdom of Israel, while the opening judgments also concern neighboring nations and Judah. Biblical references: Amos 1:1; Amos 2:4; Amos 3:1. stated in the text
What
What is the topic of this reading unit? A Call to Repentance. Read Amos 5:4 through Amos 5:15 as a connected unit. interpretation
How does it contribute to the book? Addresses against injustice and complacency reject the notion that religious activity can substitute for righteousness. interpretation
When
When are the events or message set? Amos dates his words by the reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam and by the earthquake. The announced day and later restoration are subjects of prophecy, not simple dates of composition. book background
Where
What is the book’s geographic setting? Amos is identified with Tekoa, while the messages focus on Israel and also address Judah and surrounding peoples. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in A Call to Repentance (Amos 5:4 to Amos 5:15).
Start reading at Amos 5:4. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? James cites the promise concerning David's fallen tabernacle in the discussion of Gentiles in Acts 15. This is an explicit apostolic use of Amos, not a warrant to ignore the book's rebukes of injustice. See Amos 9:11, Acts 15:15, Acts 15:16, Acts 15:17. interpretation
How should this book guide our response? Reject worship that coexists with exploitation and complacency. Listen to the accusations as well as the closing promise of restoration. interpretation
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Amos 5
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Amos identifies his background and locates his words in the reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam. The book addresses Israel's injustice and false religious security while also announcing judgment on neighboring peoples. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Addresses against injustice and complacency reject the notion that religious activity can substitute for righteousness.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. Addresses against injustice and complacency reject the notion that religious activity can substitute for righteousness.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Amos
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Amos identifies his background and locates his words in the reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam. The book addresses Israel's injustice and false religious security while also announcing judgment on neighboring peoples.
Connection to the wholeThe visions and confrontation with Amaziah bring the announced judgment into sharp focus while distinguishing the LORD's command from the prophet's own status.