Amos 1 6

Amos 1:6 kjv

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:

Amos 1:6 nkjv

Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they took captive the whole captivity To deliver them up to Edom.

Amos 1:6 niv

This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Gaza, even for four, I will not relent. Because she took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom,

Amos 1:6 esv

Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they carried into exile a whole people to deliver them up to Edom.

Amos 1:6 nlt

This is what the LORD says: "The people of Gaza have sinned again and again,
and I will not let them go unpunished!
They sent whole villages into exile,
selling them as slaves to Edom.

Amos 1 verses

Amos 1 6 Meaning

Amos 1:6 declares the unalterable judgment of the LORD upon Gaza, one of the primary cities of the Philistines. The divine decree, prefaced by a formula of escalating sin, reveals that Gaza's offense was the large-scale deportation of entire communities of captives, whom they then sold into slavery, specifically to Edom. This act of dehumanization and profit from human suffering exceeded God's tolerance, making the impending divine punishment irreversible. It underscores God's universal moral standard that holds even pagan nations accountable for their actions, especially concerning basic human rights and dignity.

Amos 1 6 Context

Amos chapter 1 serves as the prologue to the book of Amos, introducing the prophet's message of judgment from God, first to surrounding nations, and then ultimately to Israel and Judah. This particular verse focuses on Gaza, a major Philistine city-state. Amos delivers eight oracles (often called "burdens") against nations in a structured sequence, each beginning with the formula "For three transgressions... and for four." This strategic placement against external nations before condemning Israel creates an expectation among the prophet's original audience—likely Israelite farmers—that God's justice would fall upon their historical enemies, thus preparing them for the shock when the indictment turned inward upon Israel's own sins in subsequent chapters. Historically, the 8th century BC, the time of Amos, saw regional powers engaging in extensive trade, including human trafficking, a common practice of warfare where captives were taken and sold. Gaza, being a significant trade center, would have been involved in such activities. The selling of captives "to Edom" is particularly pointed, highlighting the cruelty and alliance with a historically antagonistic nation that regularly profited from Israel's distress.

Amos 1 6 Word analysis

• Thus says the LORD: This powerful opening (Hebrew: כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה, koh amar YHWH) establishes the divine authority of the prophecy. It is not Amos's personal opinion, but the direct, absolute word of God. This formula underlines the covenant keeping nature of God as a speaking God, declaring His will.
• For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four: This numerical formula is a rhetorical device indicating a culminating measure of sin that has passed the point of no return. It signifies not merely a tally of offenses (three being numerous, four being one beyond the full measure), but rather an overflowing abundance of wickedness, indicating the full and persistent nature of their transgression. It implies God's long-suffering has reached its end. This idiom conveys divine exasperation and settled intent to judge.
• Gaza: A prominent Philistine city on the Mediterranean coast. Strategically vital for trade and military campaigns. Its designation here points to God's authority over specific geo-political entities and His scrutiny of their ethical conduct, even for those outside His covenant people.
• I will not revoke the punishment (lo ashīvennu): The Hebrew phrase לֹא אֲשִׁיבֶנּוּ means "I will not turn it back," or "I will not make it return." This is a definitive statement of an irreversible decree. Once God's patience is exhausted and His judgment is declared in this manner, there is no reprieve or withdrawal of the punishment. It signifies an unwavering divine resolve to bring justice.
• because they carried away captive a whole captivity (haglut shlemah): The core offense. "A whole captivity" (הַגְלוּת שְׁלֵמָה) denotes the deportation of entire communities, a mass human trafficking event. This was not merely taking prisoners of war for tribute, but seizing entire populations—men, women, and children—as human merchandise. It signifies the profound dehumanization and brutality involved, highlighting an act of indiscriminate cruelty. This was a clear violation of basic human dignity.
• to deliver them up to Edom: The destination of the captives. Edom was Israel's perennial adversary, known for its animosity (reflected in Oba). Selling people, especially those related by blood or shared heritage (even if from a separate nation like Judah or Ephraim), to a fierce enemy demonstrated not just a transactional act, but one steeped in cruelty and malicious intent. It compounds the moral heinousness of the slave trade.

Amos 1 6 Bonus section

The specific choice of "Gaza" as the initial target for large-scale slave trading highlights the bustling commercial nature of this city. Gaza was part of a powerful trade network connecting Egypt, Arabia, and the northern empires, making it a hub for various goods, including human beings captured in conflicts. The trade in captives, while common in the ancient world, often escalated to brutal extremes where entire families were uprooted. The very public and systematic nature of this trade, moving entire 'captivities,' rather than just isolated individuals, signifies a sophisticated and ruthless commerce in human lives that garnered divine wrath. Furthermore, Amos's strategy of beginning with foreign nations, moving closer, and then finally to Israel and Judah, was likely designed to garner Israel's affirmation and agreement with God's justice, only to turn that same justice upon their own failings. This structure highlights a divine standard that transcends national boundaries or perceived "chosenness," emphasizing God's impartial righteous judgment for all people groups based on common humanity.

Amos 1 6 Commentary

Amos 1:6 initiates the series of condemnations against Israel's neighbors, focusing on Gaza for its egregious sin of large-scale slave trading. The prophetic word "Thus says the LORD" immediately establishes the absolute authority behind the pronouncement, signaling an inevitable divine reckoning. The rhetorical "for three transgressions... and for four" communicates that Gaza's cup of iniquity was overflowing; their persistent cruelty had exhausted divine patience. The specific indictment—carrying away "a whole captivity" and selling them to Edom—highlights an appalling lack of humanity. This was not a consequence of war but a deliberate act of profiting from the dehumanization of entire populations, treating human beings as mere commodities. This slave trade was particularly heinous because Edom was a notorious enemy of Israel, and profiting from the sale of any captive to them amplified the maliciousness. The phrase "I will not revoke the punishment" signifies God's unyielding commitment to justice; once a society has so deeply violated fundamental moral laws by turning human beings into chattel, His judgment becomes final. This verse vividly portrays God's universal governance, holding even nations unaware of His specific covenant laws accountable to a basic moral standard of human dignity. It teaches that even outside the direct covenant, the LORD actively watches, judges, and punishes grave ethical misconduct, especially concerning the treatment of the vulnerable.