Amos 2:8 kjv
And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.
Amos 2:8 nkjv
They lie down by every altar on clothes taken in pledge, And drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.
Amos 2:8 niv
They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines.
Amos 2:8 esv
they lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge, and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.
Amos 2:8 nlt
At their religious festivals,
they lounge in clothing their debtors put up as security.
In the house of their gods,
they drink wine bought with unjust fines.
Amos 2 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Amos 2:8 | "They lie beside all their altars on garments taken in pledge from the poor. In the house of their God they drink wine—wine of those fined." | Amos 2:8 |
| Exodus 22:26 | "If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you must return it to him before the sun goes down..." | Pledge laws, restoration |
| Deuteronomy 24:17 | "You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless..." | Justice for vulnerable |
| Deuteronomy 24:6 | "No one shall be allowed to take a millstone or even the upper millstone into pledge..." | Limits on pledging |
| Isaiah 3:14-15 | "The Lord enters into judgment with the elders of his people and their officials: 'It is you who have devoured the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.'" | Exploitation of poor |
| Isaiah 10:1-2 | "Woe to those who make iniquitous decrees, and to the writers who write oppression, to turn aside the needy from justice..." | Oppressive decrees |
| Micah 3:2-3 | "You who hate the good and love the evil, who flay them from their skin, and tear their flesh from their bones..." | Cruelty to the needy |
| Psalm 94:4 | "They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are boasts." | Boasting in wickedness |
| Proverbs 22:16 | "Whoever oppresses the poor adds to his riches, but whoever gives to the needy will be put to shame." | Oppressing the poor |
| Amos 4:1 | "Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the weak, who crush the needy..." | Similar accusation |
| Amos 5:11-12 | "Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from him forced labor, you have built houses of stone..." | Trampling the poor |
| Amos 8:4-6 | "Hear this, you who trample on the needy, and who would do the poor of the land. 'When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell our grain? And the Sabbath, that we may open our storehouses..." | Sabbath exploitation |
| Matthew 23:14 | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers..." | Devouring widows' houses |
| Luke 1:52 | "He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and exalted the humble;" | Divine justice reversal |
| James 2:1-4 | "My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory..." | Partiality condemned |
| James 5:1-6 | "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you..." | Woes to the rich |
| 1 Timothy 6:10 | "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils..." | Love of money |
| Romans 2:5-11 | "But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath..." | Wrath for wickedness |
| Revelation 18:5 | "for her sins are piled up as high as the sky, and God has remembered her iniquities." | Accumulated sin |
| Ezekiel 18:12-13 | "if he oppresses the poor and needy, then he is robbing, and he shall not live..." | Consequences of oppression |
Amos 2 verses
Amos 2 8 Meaning
Amos 2:8 describes the sin of injustice and oppression, specifically targeting the wealthy who exploit the vulnerable. They lie on collateral taken from the poor, demonstrating a complete disregard for basic human dignity and justice. This act highlights their moral bankruptcy and their pursuit of material gain at the expense of the needy.
Amos 2 8 Context
Amos 2:8 is part of a broader prophetic message addressed to Israel, particularly the Northern Kingdom (also known as Ephraim or Samaria), which is under judgment. The chapter begins with God's indictment against Judah and then shifts focus to Israel. This verse specifically condemns a particular sin prevalent among the affluent and powerful in Israelite society: their cruel exploitation of the poor and vulnerable. The prophet Amos, known for his strong condemnation of social injustice and religious hypocrisy, highlights how these individuals, under the guise of religious practice (lying beside their altars, drinking wine in the house of their God), were committing severe moral transgressions. The context is one where covenantal blessings were being perverted, and God's laws concerning the poor were deliberately ignored by those in positions of power.
Amos 2 8 Word Analysis
וַיִּשְׁכְּבוּ (vayishkavu): "And they lay down." This verb in the waw-consecutive imperfect tense denotes continuity and describes a habitual action. It suggests a posture of rest or repose, but in this context, it implies a sinful, complacent rest taken upon stolen or unjustly acquired possessions.
עַל־בָּגָ֖ד (al-bagad): "upon garments." The preposition "al" means "upon" or "on." "Bagad" refers to a garment or cloak. In ancient Israel, a pledge (a cloak taken as security for a debt) was meant to be returned by sunset to prevent the poor from suffering through the night (Exodus 22:26). These garments were essential for warmth.
חֲבָלִ֑ים (chavalim): "pledges" or "security." This noun signifies something taken as assurance for a debt. The plural form emphasizes the multiple instances of such illegal seizure.
וְיֵ֤ין (veyayin): "and wine." Wine was a significant part of Israelite culture, often used in religious celebrations and sacrifices.
עֲנוּשִׁים (anushim): "fined" or "those penalized." This word comes from a root related to punishment or being penalized.
בֵּ֣ית (beit): "house."
אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶ֑ם (eloheyhem): "their God." The plural possessive suffix "hem" refers back to the oppressors. This phrase highlights the perversion of religious life. They were present in the house of God, participating in religious acts, yet their hearts and actions were far from Him.
יִשְׁתּוּ (yishtu): "they drink." This is the yod initial imperfect form, indicating a continuous action. They habitually drank wine.
הֶ֚עָשִׁ֣ירוּ (he'ashiru): "they profaned" or "they made sacred/rich," or possibly implying "they acted proudly/richly." The verb "ashar" can mean to be rich, but also, in certain contexts, to make sacred or even to deal treacherously. The primary interpretation here leans towards a ritual profanation: they made the wine, obtained through unjustly fining or seizing property from the poor, a part of their religious gatherings. It is wine obtained from penalties unjustly levied upon the poor.
Words-group analysis:
- "lay beside all their altars on garments taken in pledge": This powerful image juxtaposes sacred space ("altars") with illicit gain ("garments taken in pledge"). It illustrates how their worship was defiled by their unjust treatment of the poor, whom they stripped of essential coverings for security, and then reclined, possibly during sacred meals or rest, upon these very stolen garments.
- "In the house of their God they drink wine—wine of those fined.": This phrase exposes the hypocrisy of their religious practices. They partook in the Lord's house and consumed wine, but this wine was not innocent. It was obtained from fines unjustly imposed on the poor, symbolizing their complicity in a system that crushed the needy, turning sacred occasions into celebrations of illicit wealth gained through oppression.
Amos 2 8 Bonus Section
The phrase "wine of those fined" (יין ענושים, yayin anushim) suggests that the people were being unjustly taxed or fined by the authorities, and the oppressors were literally drinking the "wine" – enjoying the proceeds and profits derived from these unrighteous penalties against the poor. It points to a systematic abuse of power where financial burdens were disproportionately placed on the most vulnerable, and the perpetrators prospered from it. This highlights a gross violation of the Mosaic Law, which was designed to protect the poor and ensure fair economic practices within the community. The prophetic voice of Amos exposes this as a grave offense against God Himself, who is the ultimate dispenser of justice.
Amos 2 8 Commentary
Amos 2:8 reveals a deep-seated corruption within Israelite society, particularly among its elite. They perverted religious rituals and even the concept of justice for personal gain. The practice of lying upon pledged garments, especially "at their altars," signifies that their supposed devotion was superficial and corrupted by their oppressive actions. They profited from the misery of the poor, using illegally acquired wealth, represented by the wine of those unjustly fined, to fuel their ostentatious lifestyles and religious celebrations. This verse serves as a stark reminder that true worship cannot be separated from righteous conduct and justice for the oppressed. God demands integrity in all aspects of life, including financial dealings and social interactions.