Amos 2 7

Amos 2:7 kjv

That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:

Amos 2:7 nkjv

They pant after the dust of the earth which is on the head of the poor, And pervert the way of the humble. A man and his father go in to the same girl, To defile My holy name.

Amos 2:7 niv

They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.

Amos 2:7 esv

those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and turn aside the way of the afflicted; a man and his father go in to the same girl, so that my holy name is profaned;

Amos 2:7 nlt

They trample helpless people in the dust
and shove the oppressed out of the way.
Both father and son sleep with the same woman,
corrupting my holy name.

Amos 2 verses

Amos 2 7 Meaning

Amos 2:7 details two major categories of egregious sins committed by the people of Israel that deeply offend God. First, it condemns their severe social injustice: an intense and greedy exploitation of the most vulnerable—the poor and the meek. This exploitation involves not only defrauding them but metaphorically trampling their very essence or driving them to utter destitution. Second, the verse exposes profound moral degradation in the form of sexual perversion, specifically highlighting a shocking incident of a father and son having sexual relations with the same "maid" or young woman, possibly involving cult prostitution or extreme exploitation. Both categories of sin culminate in the ultimate transgression: profaning and dishonoring God's holy name and His character before the world.

Amos 2 7 Context

Amos 2:7 falls within Amos's powerful series of oracles against surrounding nations (Syria, Philistia, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab), each detailed for specific transgressions. However, the tone sharply intensifies when Amos turns his prophetic gaze to Judah (Amos 2:4-5) and especially Israel (Amos 2:6-16). Israel, as God's covenant people, is held to a higher standard, and their sins are deemed more egregious due to their special relationship and knowledge of God's laws. This particular verse describes deeply entrenched social injustice and rampant moral depravity among the Israelites during a period of economic prosperity but spiritual hollowness (8th century BCE, under Jeroboam II). The abuses targeted by Amos are not mere personal failings but systemic issues that have corrupted the nation from the elite down, impacting the very fabric of society and demonstrating a complete disregard for the covenant.

Amos 2 7 Word analysis

• They pant after / tread down: The Hebrew term for "pant after" (שֹׁאֲפִים - sho'afim) conveys an intense, insatiable craving or ruthless pursuit, often interpreted as "gasping" for what the poor have, or trampling upon them. Some translations lean toward "trample," signifying utter subjugation. This points to an aggressive greed that actively crushes the vulnerable, pushing them to absolute destitution where they might literally be forced to scrape sustenance from the "dust of the earth." It speaks of extreme humiliation and deprivation imposed by the powerful.
• the dust of the earth on the head of the poor: This phrase vividly illustrates extreme destitution and degradation. It can be understood metaphorically as relentlessly pursuing every last scrap from the poor, even what little dust they might possess (implying the earth from which they live/toil). Or, it could imply forcing them into such poverty that they "eat dust," or are trampled so completely that their heads are pushed into the dust, symbolizing ultimate submission and debasement. The "poor" (עֲנִיִּים - aniyim) refers to those who are economically disadvantaged and powerless.
• and turn aside the way of the meek: "Turn aside" (יַטּוּ - yaṭṭu) signifies perverting justice, bending the rules, or depriving the humble of their legal rights and fair treatment. The "meek" (עֲנָוִים - anawim) are the humble, lowly, and afflicted, who are especially vulnerable to legal manipulation and oppression from those with influence and power. This highlights corruption in the judicial system where justice is denied to those who need it most.
• and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid: "Go in unto" is a common Hebrew euphemism for sexual intercourse. The phrase "the same maid" (הַנַּעֲרָה - hanna'arah) implies shared exploitation of a single young woman by father and son. This points to extreme sexual promiscuity and moral decay, possibly in the context of cultic prostitution, exploitation, or flagrant incestuous behavior that shatters the core familial and societal structures, showing an utter disregard for divine law and basic human decency.
• to profane my holy name: "Profane" (לְחַלֵּל - leḥallel) means to defile, desecrate, or dishonor. It indicates an act that pollutes or trivializes what is sacred. "My holy name" (שֵׁם קָדְשִׁי - shem qodshiy) refers to God's character, reputation, and divine authority. Israel's actions, particularly these egregious sins, directly reflect on God, making His name and His covenant with Israel appear impure, common, or even evil to the surrounding nations, thus diminishing His glory and holiness.

Amos 2 7 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of social injustice (oppression of the poor) with sexual depravity (father and son with the same girl) demonstrates that for Amos, holiness is holistic. It encompasses both vertical faithfulness to God and horizontal righteousness in human relationships. The spiritual sickness of Israel manifested in both societal exploitation and personal immorality. The passage highlights that breaking covenant laws, whether against a neighbor or regarding purity, equally "profanes God's name," showing the interconnectedness of ethical behavior and reverence for God. This escalating list of transgressions against Israel within Amos chapter 2 shows that their sin was more severe than that of the surrounding nations, demanding greater judgment due to their unique relationship with YHWH.

Amos 2 7 Commentary

Amos 2:7 presents a chilling indictment of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness through concrete examples of moral depravity and social injustice. The ruthless exploitation of the poor, characterized by an insatiable greed that pushes the vulnerable to the brink of survival, underscores a total disregard for the vulnerable and for God's explicit commands regarding compassion and justice. This systemic perversion of justice, where the meek are denied their rights, highlights the corruption of leadership and legal systems. Moreover, the shocking detail of a father and son sharing a "maid" speaks to the utter collapse of moral boundaries and family integrity, potentially reflecting rampant sexual immorality tied to pagan practices or simple unchecked depravity. The profound consequence of these actions, stated explicitly by God, is the desecration of His holy name. This is not merely a violation of commands but an assault on God's character itself, disgracing Him before a watching world and exposing the hypocrisy of a people claiming to be His while living in opposition to all He represents.