Amos 3 10

Amos 3:10 kjv

For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

Amos 3:10 nkjv

For they do not know to do right,' Says the LORD, 'Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.' "

Amos 3:10 niv

"They do not know how to do right," declares the LORD, "who store up in their fortresses what they have plundered and looted."

Amos 3:10 esv

"They do not know how to do right," declares the LORD, "those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds."

Amos 3:10 nlt

"My people have forgotten how to do right,"
says the LORD.
"Their fortresses are filled with wealth
taken by theft and violence.

Amos 3 verses

Amos 3 10 Meaning

Amos 3:10 exposes the deep moral corruption of Israel's elite, particularly those in Samaria. It states that they utterly lack the practical understanding and inclination to do what is right, just, and upright. Instead of seeking justice, their fortified palaces, symbols of power and wealth, are filled with the proceeds of violence, injustice, and plunder, accumulated through systematic oppression and illicit gain. This verse underscores God's indictment against a people who, despite their unique covenant with Him, have turned away from righteous living, building their society on ethical depravity rather than divine truth.

Amos 3 10 Context

Amos 3:10 stands as a grave accusation within God's covenant lawsuit against Israel. In Amos 3, the prophet underscores Israel's unique relationship with the LORD ("You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities," v.2). This special privilege makes their rebellion all the more reprehensible. Preceding this verse, God summons the Philistines and Egyptians (heathen nations often seen as adversaries) to bear witness to the extensive disarray and oppression within Samaria, Israel's capital. These foreign observers are challenged to see that which is "not straight" and "disorder" in the land, leading directly to the indictment in verse 10. The verse specifically targets the ruling class and wealthy elites whose luxurious "fortresses" are built on, and filled with, their corrupt practices. The chapter continues by detailing the certain judgment that will follow this injustice, including the destruction of their lavish homes and their strongholds.

Amos 3 10 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - kî): A causal conjunction, indicating the reason for the previously described "disorder" and "oppression" in Samaria (v.9). It connects Israel's outward condition directly to their internal moral failure.

• they do not know (לֹא יָדְעוּ - lōʼ yādĕʿū):

  • lōʼ: "not."
  • yādĕʿū (root יָדַע - yada'): "they know," implying more than mere intellectual knowledge. It signifies experiential, practical, or ethical understanding and application. This is a profound statement; it's not that they couldn't do right, but that they don't know how in a moral sense, meaning they are morally blind, unwilling to discern or act on righteous principles. Their hearts and minds are bent away from truth.

• how to do (עֲשׂוֹת - ʿaśôt): From the root עָשָׂה (asah), "to do" or "to make." This emphasizes practical action. It's not about theoretical knowledge of right and wrong, but the practical ability or willingness to enact righteousness.

• right (נְכֹחָה - nᵊḵōḥāh): From the root נָכַח (nakhaḥ), meaning "to be straight," "to be right," "to be just," "to be upright." It refers to that which is morally correct, fair, equitable, and in line with God's standards. This is the opposite of the "disorder" and "oppression" seen in verse 9.

• declares the LORD (נְאֻם יְהוָה - nĕʼum YHVH): A standard prophetic formula affirming the divine authority and origin of the message. It signifies that these are not Amos's words, but God's unassailable decree.

• who store up (הָאֹצְרִים - hāʾoṣərîm): Active participle of אָצַר (atsar), meaning "to gather," "to lay up," "to amass," "to hoard," "to treasure." This implies a systematic and intentional accumulation. It paints a picture of deliberate action to consolidate wealth, indicating these ill-gotten gains are not accidental but part of an entrenched system of oppression.

• in their fortresses (בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֵיהֶם - bəʾarmĕnôtêhem):

  • bə: "in."
  • armĕnôtêhem (אַרְמוֹן - armon): "fortresses," "citadels," "palaces." These refer to the magnificent, secure dwellings of the wealthy and powerful in Samaria. They represent their perceived security, status, and luxury. Ironically, what they store within these walls are the very sins that will lead to their destruction.

• violence (חָמָס - ḥāmās): Refers to a wide range of actions including physical violence, injustice, oppression, and cruelty. It's often used for unrighteous, ruthless behavior that violates others' rights and welfare. It points to abuses of power.

• and robbery (וָשֹׁד - vāšod):

  • vā: "and."
  • shōd (שֹׁד): "robbery," "plunder," "destruction," "spoliation." This word denotes illicit acquisition, the forceful taking of property, and ruin caused by such actions. Together with ḥāmās, it describes comprehensive exploitation and lawlessness.

• "For they do not know how to do right," declares the LORD, "who store up in their fortresses violence and robbery." This phrase highlights a fundamental moral disconnect. The inability to "know how to do right" (a failure of moral will and practice) is directly manifested in their active "storing up" of "violence and robbery" within their secure places. Their very lives and wealth are built on a foundation of ethical depravity, contrasting sharply with the divine standard of "right."

Amos 3 10 Bonus section

• The Problem of Yada: The Hebrew term yada (to know) here implies an ethical, relational knowledge—to truly know something means to align one's actions with it. Therefore, "they do not know how to do right" is an indictment of their moral character and practice, not just intellectual deficiency. It signifies a profound moral depravity and an active suppression of righteousness.
• The Witness of Pagans: The preceding invitation to Philistia and Egypt (Amos 3:9) to witness Israel's internal corruption serves a polemical purpose. It suggests that Israel's moral failures are so egregious that even the ungodly nations, often considered less righteous, can perceive and attest to the injustice, highlighting Israel's deeper culpability due to their covenant relationship with God.
• Divine Sovereignty and Accountability: The prophetic formula "declares the LORD" emphasizes that this accusation is not merely human opinion but the absolute, authoritative verdict of the sovereign God, whose justice will ultimately prevail over all human fortresses and ill-gotten gains.

Amos 3 10 Commentary

Amos 3:10 cuts to the heart of Israel's spiritual malady: a profound and willful moral ignorance. It's not a mere lack of information, but a practical incapacity to implement justice, rooted in a choice to disregard God's law. The wealthy and powerful of Samaria, who should have been guardians of righteousness, have instead filled their grand estates not with honorable acquisitions but with the spoils of oppression—systematic violence and plundering. Their security is built on insecurity for others, a facade that God Himself declares an abomination. This verse serves as a chilling indictment of those who rationalize or ignore ethical failings in the pursuit of wealth and power, revealing that God sees through every facade of prosperity built on injustice. For us today, it’s a potent reminder that material blessings acquired through exploitation or unrighteous means are spiritual burdens that incur divine displeasure, and true prosperity is found only in alignment with God’s justice.