What does the chapter actually say?
Identify the explicit claims before importing later doctrine or assumptions.
AMOS • CHAPTER 1
Amos 1
Economic injustice, religious hypocrisy, judgment on Israel and the nations, prophetic conflict, and restoration.
READ THE CHAPTER
Amos 1
WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE
The complete biblical text below is stored on this website.
You do not need to leave The Bible for Smart People to read it.
1
The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
2
He said:
“Yahweh will roar from Zion,
and utter his voice from Jerusalem;
and the pastures of the shepherds will mourn,
and the top of Carmel will wither.”
“Yahweh will roar from Zion,
and utter his voice from Jerusalem;
and the pastures of the shepherds will mourn,
and the top of Carmel will wither.”
3
Yahweh says:
“For three transgressions of Damascus, yes, for four,
I will not turn away its punishment;
because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron;
“For three transgressions of Damascus, yes, for four,
I will not turn away its punishment;
because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron;
4
but I will send a fire into the house of Hazael,
and it will devour the palaces of Ben Hadad.
and it will devour the palaces of Ben Hadad.
5
I will break the bar of Damascus,
and cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven,
and him who holds the scepter from the house of Eden;
and the people of Syria shall go into captivity to Kir,” says Yahweh.
and cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven,
and him who holds the scepter from the house of Eden;
and the people of Syria shall go into captivity to Kir,” says Yahweh.
6
Yahweh says:
“For three transgressions of Gaza, yes, for four,
I will not turn away its punishment;
because they carried away captive the whole community,
to deliver them up to Edom;
“For three transgressions of Gaza, yes, for four,
I will not turn away its punishment;
because they carried away captive the whole community,
to deliver them up to Edom;
7
but I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza,
and it will devour its palaces.
and it will devour its palaces.
8
I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod,
and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon;
and I will turn my hand against Ekron;
and the remnant of the Philistines will perish,” says the Lord Yahweh.
and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon;
and I will turn my hand against Ekron;
and the remnant of the Philistines will perish,” says the Lord Yahweh.
9
Yahweh says:
“For three transgressions of Tyre, yes, for four,
I will not turn away its punishment;
because they delivered up the whole community to Edom,
and didn’t remember the brotherly covenant;
“For three transgressions of Tyre, yes, for four,
I will not turn away its punishment;
because they delivered up the whole community to Edom,
and didn’t remember the brotherly covenant;
10
but I will send a fire on the wall of Tyre,
and it will devour its palaces.”
and it will devour its palaces.”
11
Yahweh says:
“For three transgressions of Edom, yes, for four,
I will not turn away its punishment;
because he pursued his brother with the sword,
and cast off all pity,
and his anger raged continually,
and he kept his wrath forever;
“For three transgressions of Edom, yes, for four,
I will not turn away its punishment;
because he pursued his brother with the sword,
and cast off all pity,
and his anger raged continually,
and he kept his wrath forever;
12
but I will send a fire on Teman,
and it will devour the palaces of Bozrah.”
and it will devour the palaces of Bozrah.”
13
Yahweh says:
“For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, yes, for four,
I will not turn away its punishment;
because they have ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead,
that they may enlarge their border.
“For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, yes, for four,
I will not turn away its punishment;
because they have ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead,
that they may enlarge their border.
14
But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah,
and it will devour its palaces,
with shouting in the day of battle,
with a storm in the day of the whirlwind;
and it will devour its palaces,
with shouting in the day of battle,
with a storm in the day of the whirlwind;
15
and their king will go into captivity,
he and his princes together,” says Yahweh.
he and his princes together,” says Yahweh.
PROPHETIC
Where this chapter fits
Amos uses prophetic or apocalyptic language shaped by political crisis, judgment, hope, symbolic imagery, and expectations about God's action in history.
Chapter numbers were added long after the biblical books were written.
Read this chapter together with what comes immediately before and after it.
ANCIENT TEXT, MODERN QUESTIONS
Historical claims should be compared with historical evidence.
Scientific claims should be compared with science.
Moral claims should be examined morally.
Theological claims require theological and philosophical argument.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
Don't skip the hard parts.
What kind of literature is this?
Narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, letters, wisdom, and apocalypse communicate differently.
What historical evidence matters?
Ask whether names, places, institutions, events, customs, and chronology can be independently investigated.
What are the strongest competing interpretations?
Compare serious Jewish, Christian, academic, and skeptical readings rather than caricatures.
CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION
You've reached the member analysis.
You can keep reading every Bible chapter on this site for free.
Membership unlocks the deeper analysis, historical context, competing interpretations, perspectives, and conclusion.
WANT TO KEEP READING FOR FREE?
Continue to Amos 2
The complete biblical text of the next chapter is free to read.
You only need membership when you want the deeper analysis and side-by-side investigation.
READ NEXT CHAPTER FREEUNLOCK THE ANALYSIS
Already a member?
Sign in to continue →