American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Amos 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!
Reference
2
Pass you to Calneh, and see; and from there go you 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?
Reference
3
You that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;
Reference
Evil
Amos 9:10
Matthew 24:48
Parallel theme
Isaiah 56:12
Ezekiel 12:27
2 Peter 3:4
1 Thessalonians 5:3
Amos 3:10
Ezekiel 12:22
4
That lie on beds of ivory, and stretch themselves on their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the middle of the stall;
Reference
5
That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David;
Reference
6
That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 49:22
7
Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed.
Reference
8
The Lord GOD has sworn by himself, said 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.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 47:4
References God
Amos 4:2
Amos 3:11
References Lord
Jeremiah 51:14
Amos 8:7
Jeremiah 22:5
Psalm 106:40
9
And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.
Reference
Parallel theme
Amos 5:3
10
And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burns him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say to him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with you? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold your tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Samuel 31:12
Amos 5:13
Jeremiah 16:6
References Lord
Amos 8:3
Jeremiah 44:26
Ezekiel 24:21
Ezekiel 20:39
11
For, behold, the LORD commands, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts.
Reference
12
Shall horses run on the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for you have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:
Reference
13
You which rejoice in a thing of nothing, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?
Reference
📍 Karnaim
Summary of Amos 6
Amos 6 condemns the wealthy leaders of Israel and Judah who have become comfortable, proud, and indifferent to the suffering surrounding them, warning that their luxurious lifestyles and confidence in political strength are actually signs of spiritual blindness rather than evidence of God's approval.
The chapter begins by addressing those who feel secure in Zion and Samaria, particularly the influential leaders who believe their privileged position makes them safe from the dangers threatening the nation.
Amos challenges this confidence by pointing to other powerful cities that had experienced decline or destruction, reminding Israel that political prominence does not guarantee permanent security.
The leaders have convinced themselves that disaster is far away, but Amos declares that their careless confidence is actually bringing them closer to the day of national violence.
Their lifestyle reveals the depth of the problem.
They lie on expensive beds, eat the best food, drink large quantities of wine, use costly oils, and surround themselves with music and entertainment, enjoying an extraordinary level of comfort while their society is becoming increasingly unjust and unstable.
The most serious accusation is not simply that they possess wealth but that they do not grieve over the suffering and collapse of their nation.
Their comfort has produced indifference.
They are able to celebrate while others suffer, and they remain unconcerned about the moral and political disaster approaching Israel.
Because of this, Amos declares that these privileged people will be among the first to experience exile.
Their celebrations will become mourning, their luxurious homes will be destroyed, and their confidence will disappear.
The description of survivors dying inside their houses creates a particularly severe picture of the coming disaster, emphasizing that the judgment will not be limited to political leaders or military institutions.
Amos then uses deliberately absurd questions about horses running on rocks and oxen plowing the sea to show how irrational Israel's moral behavior has become.
The nation has taken something that should produce justice and turned it into poison, transforming righteousness into bitterness.
The final verses expose another source of Israel's arrogance: military success.
Israel celebrates its victories and believes that its strength has been achieved through its own power, but Amos warns that God will raise an enemy powerful enough to reverse those accomplishments.
The geographical reference from Lebo-hamath to the Arabah emphasizes that the judgment will reach across the territory Israel had become proud of controlling.
The central message is that Amos 6 warns that luxury, comfort, political influence, and military success can become dangerous when they produce pride and indifference toward injustice, because God holds privileged people especially accountable when they enjoy prosperity while ignoring the suffering and moral collapse around them.
The chapter therefore challenges the idea that material prosperity automatically proves security or divine approval, showing instead that a society can appear powerful and successful while moving toward destruction when its leaders become so comfortable that they no longer recognize injustice, respond to warning, or depend upon God.
The chapter begins by addressing those who feel secure in Zion and Samaria, particularly the influential leaders who believe their privileged position makes them safe from the dangers threatening the nation.
Amos challenges this confidence by pointing to other powerful cities that had experienced decline or destruction, reminding Israel that political prominence does not guarantee permanent security.
The leaders have convinced themselves that disaster is far away, but Amos declares that their careless confidence is actually bringing them closer to the day of national violence.
Their lifestyle reveals the depth of the problem.
They lie on expensive beds, eat the best food, drink large quantities of wine, use costly oils, and surround themselves with music and entertainment, enjoying an extraordinary level of comfort while their society is becoming increasingly unjust and unstable.
The most serious accusation is not simply that they possess wealth but that they do not grieve over the suffering and collapse of their nation.
Their comfort has produced indifference.
They are able to celebrate while others suffer, and they remain unconcerned about the moral and political disaster approaching Israel.
Because of this, Amos declares that these privileged people will be among the first to experience exile.
Their celebrations will become mourning, their luxurious homes will be destroyed, and their confidence will disappear.
The description of survivors dying inside their houses creates a particularly severe picture of the coming disaster, emphasizing that the judgment will not be limited to political leaders or military institutions.
Amos then uses deliberately absurd questions about horses running on rocks and oxen plowing the sea to show how irrational Israel's moral behavior has become.
The nation has taken something that should produce justice and turned it into poison, transforming righteousness into bitterness.
The final verses expose another source of Israel's arrogance: military success.
Israel celebrates its victories and believes that its strength has been achieved through its own power, but Amos warns that God will raise an enemy powerful enough to reverse those accomplishments.
The geographical reference from Lebo-hamath to the Arabah emphasizes that the judgment will reach across the territory Israel had become proud of controlling.
The central message is that Amos 6 warns that luxury, comfort, political influence, and military success can become dangerous when they produce pride and indifference toward injustice, because God holds privileged people especially accountable when they enjoy prosperity while ignoring the suffering and moral collapse around them.
The chapter therefore challenges the idea that material prosperity automatically proves security or divine approval, showing instead that a society can appear powerful and successful while moving toward destruction when its leaders become so comfortable that they no longer recognize injustice, respond to warning, or depend upon God.