Amos 2:3 kjv
And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD.
Amos 2:3 nkjv
And I will cut off the judge from its midst, And slay all its princes with him," Says the LORD.
Amos 2:3 niv
I will destroy her ruler and kill all her officials with him," says the LORD.
Amos 2:3 esv
I will cut off the ruler from its midst, and will kill all its princes with him," says the LORD.
Amos 2:3 nlt
And I will destroy their king
and slaughter all their princes,"
says the LORD.
Amos 2 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Amos 2:3 | I will break the bars of Damascus... and the remnant of the people shall be to me like the fugitives of Edom... | Amos 1:5 |
| Jeremiah 48:46 | Alas for the people of Chemosh! For your sons and daughters shall be taken captive. | Jeremiah 48:46 |
| Isaiah 11:14 | But they will sling at them; and instead of your hand you will swing at them; and they will stretch out against them... | Isaiah 11:14 |
| Ezekiel 25:12 | Thus says the Lord God: Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and incurred grievous guilt by so doing, | Ezekiel 25:12 |
| Obadiah 1:10 | Because of violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. | Obadiah 1:10 |
| 2 Kings 3:26 | When the king of Moab saw that the battle went against him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew swords, to break through... | 2 Kings 3:26 |
| Psalm 79:12 | And thus render to our neighbors seventy-sevenfold the offenses with which they have offended you, O Lord. | Psalm 79:12 |
| Revelation 18:6 | Pay her back as she also has paid, and for her deeds twice over. | Revelation 18:6 |
| Genesis 15:18 | On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land..." | Genesis 15:18 |
| Deuteronomy 32:36 | For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone, and there is none shut up or left. | Deuteronomy 32:36 |
| Psalm 58:11 | Surely there is a God who judges on earth! | Psalm 58:11 |
| Amos 1:11 | Thus says the LORD: For three trespasses of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he pursued his brother with a sword and cast off all pity, and his anger smoldered continually, and he kept his wrath forever. | Amos 1:11 |
| Amos 1:3 | Thus says the LORD: For three trespasses of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron. | Amos 1:3 |
| Amos 1:13 | Thus says the LORD: For three trespasses of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead, that they might enlarge their border. | Amos 1:13 |
| Amos 2:1 | Thus says the LORD: For three trespasses of Moab, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he burned to lime the bones of the king of Edom. | Amos 2:1 |
| 2 Samuel 21:14 | And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son they buried in the land of Benjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. And they did not do all that the king commanded. | 2 Samuel 21:14 |
| Ezekiel 35:5 | Because you cherished perpetual enmity and delivered the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their iniquity finally coming to an end, | Ezekiel 35:5 |
| Leviticus 26:31 | And I will lay your cities waste and will make your sanctuaries desolate and will not savour your sweet odours. | Leviticus 26:31 |
| Psalm 137:8 | O daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! | Psalm 137:8 |
| Matthew 7:2 | For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. | Matthew 7:2 |
| Revelation 19:15 | From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. | Revelation 19:15 |
| Isaiah 34:2 | For the LORD is enkindled against all nations, and his fury against all their armies; he has devoted them to utter destruction, he has given them over to slaughter. | Isaiah 34:2 |
Amos 2 verses
Amos 2 3 Meaning
This verse pronounces judgment on Moab for their brutal treatment of the king of Edom. Their act of burning the bones of the Edomite king was a profound insult and a desecration, defying basic humanitarian and even pagan burial customs. God declares judgment on Moab for this unforgivable transgression.
Amos 2 3 Context
This verse is part of a broader oracle of judgment against various nations surrounding Israel, found at the beginning of the book of Amos. Amos is prophesying during a time of relative peace and prosperity for Israel (under King Jeroboam II), but he highlights the spiritual decay and social injustice within the nation. Before addressing Israel's sin, Amos pronounces judgment on Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab.
Amos 2:3 specifically addresses Moab's transgressions. The preceding verses (Amos 1:13-15) dealt with Ammon, and before that (Amos 1:11-12) Edom. This verse on Moab directly references Edom's humiliation, setting the stage for God's retribution against Moab for their cruel act against the Edomite king. The underlying theme is God's justice, which extends to the nations for their mistreatment of His chosen people and their fellow humans, especially in acts of extreme cruelty and desecration. The message serves as a warning to Israel as well, indicating that God's judgment is not limited to foreign nations but also encompasses those who stray from His covenant.
Amos 2 3 Word Analysis
"and" - Conjunction indicating continuation or connection of thoughts.
"for" - Preposition introducing the reason or cause.
"I" - The pronoun refers to God, the speaker of the oracle.
"will break" - Future tense verb, indicating a decisive action of destruction or dissolution.
"the bars" - Refers to fortifications, gates, or restraints; signifies a loss of security and control.
"of Damascus" - Refers to the city of Damascus, capital of Aram/Syria, signifying the extent of judgment.
"and" - Conjunction.
"will make desolate" - Verb phrase indicating utter destruction, abandonment, and ruin.
"its fortresses" - Refers to the strongholds and defenses of Damascus.
"and" - Conjunction.
"and" - Conjunction.
"the remnant" - Refers to those left behind after the main populace or army has been destroyed.
"of the people" - Generic reference to the inhabitants of a land or a group.
"shall be to me" - Indicates a change in status or possession before God; they become subject to His will or judgment.
"like" - Simile, comparing their fate to another group.
"the fugitives" - People who have fled from their homeland or army, often in a disorganized and defeated manner.
"of Edom" - Refers to the people of Edom. This connects back to the reason for Moab's judgment.
"I will pour out my wrath" - Figurative language representing the full force of God's anger and judgment being executed.
"upon Moab" - The specific recipient of God's poured-out wrath.
"for three transgressions of Moab, and for four" - A common prophetic formula signifying a cumulative record of sin and deep-seated wickedness that has reached its limit.
"because he burned to lime the bones of the king of Edom" - This phrase details the specific, heinous crime for which Moab is being judged. Burning bones was an act of utter disrespect and desecration, denying a proper burial and any possibility of rest or honor for the deceased, especially a king.
Amos 2 3 Bonus Section
The offense mentioned—burning the bones of the king of Edom—is a powerful detail. While the specific historical incident might not be fully detailed in Scripture elsewhere concerning Moab and Edom in this manner, it reflects the brutal warfare and intense hatred that could exist between ancient nations. This act would have been considered a profound insult, not just to the individual but to his entire lineage and people, implying a desire to completely erase his memory and legacy.
The reference to the "bones of the king of Edom" is critical because it links Moab's sin to Edom's previous transgressions, which Amos addressed earlier (Amos 1:11). Edom had shown great animosity towards their brother nation, Israel. Moab's act of desecrating an Edomite king suggests a broader pattern of cruelty and disrespect within the region.
The parallel with Damascus signifies the far-reaching consequences of God’s judgment, demonstrating that no nation, regardless of its strength or alliances, is beyond His sovereign power and justice. The fate of Moab, being scattered "like the fugitives of Edom," indicates a reversal of fortunes, where the oppressors become the oppressed, the pursuers become the pursued, and the desecrators face their own desecration or utter desolation. This echoes the principle of lex talionis ("an eye for an eye") in a divinely administered justice system.
Amos 2 3 Commentary
This verse pronounces a severe judgment upon Moab due to their exceptionally cruel and disrespectful act against the king of Edom. The prophetic formula "for three transgressions, and for four" underscores that Moab's sin was not isolated but a culmination of their wickedness, reaching a point where God’s judgment was unavoidable. Their desecration of the Edomite king's bones by burning them to lime was an extreme offense, violating common decency, honor owed to royalty, and burial customs respected even in pagan societies.
This act demonstrates Moab’s deep animosity and complete lack of compassion, especially in pursuit of military victory. God’s judgment will be thorough, indicated by breaking Damascus's bars and making its fortresses desolate. The people of Moab themselves will suffer a similar fate to the fleeing fugitives of Edom, meaning they will be scattered, defeated, and captured, experiencing displacement and utter ruin. The verse highlights God's justice, which not only punishes evil but also ensures that oppressors will eventually face consequences for their barbarity.