Amos 3:15 kjv
And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.
Amos 3:15 nkjv
I will destroy the winter house along with the summer house; The houses of ivory shall perish, And the great houses shall have an end," Says the LORD.
Amos 3:15 niv
I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed and the mansions will be demolished," declares the LORD.
Amos 3:15 esv
I will strike the winter house along with the summer house, and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall come to an end," declares the LORD.
Amos 3:15 nlt
And I will destroy the beautiful homes of the wealthy ?
their winter mansions and their summer houses, too ?
all their palaces filled with ivory,"
says the LORD.
Amos 3 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 5:8-9 | Woe to those who add house to house... many houses shall be desolate. | Condemns acquisition of property/judgment on houses |
| Mic 2:1-3 | Woe to those who devise mischief... they covet fields and seize them, and houses... from which they will not remove their necks. | Judgment on greedy, oppressive land/house acquisition |
| Hab 2:9-11 | Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house... The stone will cry out from the wall. | Houses built on dishonest gain face condemnation |
| Zeph 1:13 | Their wealth shall be a spoil, and their houses a desolation; they shall build houses, but not inhabit them. | Confirms destruction and dispossession of property |
| Jer 22:13-17 | Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness... but your eyes and heart are set only on dishonest gain. | Denounces unrighteous building and oppressive wealth |
| Jas 5:1-6 | Come now, you rich, weep and howl... Your riches have rotted... stored up treasure for the last days. | Denunciation of unjust rich, their rotting wealth |
| Lk 12:13-21 | Parable of the Rich Fool who tore down his barns to build bigger ones... "You fool! This night your soul is required of you." | Folly of worldly riches without spiritual preparation |
| Matt 6:19-21 | Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth... where moths and rust destroy. | Contrast between earthly perishable wealth and heavenly treasures |
| Prov 28:8 | Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor. | Illegotten gain eventually passes to the righteous |
| Ps 49:10-14 | For he sees that even the wise die... they leave their wealth to others... though they called lands by their own names. | Impermanence of human wealth and possessions |
| Isa 2:7,16-17 | His land is full of silver and gold... full of chariots... full of idols... The haughtiness of man shall be humbled. | Judgment on material wealth and human pride |
| Eze 7:24 | I will bring the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses. | Foreign invasion resulting in dispossession of houses |
| Jer 35:7 | That you may live many days in the land where you sojourn. | Simplicity and no permanent homes associated with righteousness (Rechabites) |
| Isa 3:16-24 | Because the daughters of Zion are haughty... the Lord will strike them with a scab... Instead of perfume there will be rottenness. | Judgment extends to luxurious personal adornments too |
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. | Assures the certainty of God's pronouncements |
| Isa 40:8 | The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. | Reinforces the permanence and reliability of God's word |
| Eze 24:14 | I am the LORD; I have spoken; it shall come to pass. I will act; I will not relent, I will not pity, I will not comfort. | Emphasizes the unyielding nature of God's decreed judgment |
| 1 Kgs 22:39 | Now the rest of the acts of Ahab... and the ivory house which he built... are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles? | Historical example of an "ivory house" and judgment on its owner |
| Dan 4:30 | The king answered and said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?" | Nebuchadnezzar's pride in his buildings led to his fall |
| Hag 1:6 | You earn wages to put them into a bag with holes. | Futility of labor when God's favor is withdrawn |
| Lk 9:58 | And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." | Christ's simple living contrasts with worldly pursuit of luxury |
Amos 3 verses
Amos 3 15 Meaning
Amos 3:15 declares the certainty and comprehensiveness of God's judgment against the opulent and luxurious dwellings of the wealthy in Israel. It signifies the destruction of homes built and furnished through unrighteous gain and pride, highlighting that no level of material security, status, or extravagance can escape divine retribution for social injustice and spiritual apostasy.
Amos 3 15 Context
Amos 3:15 is part of a prophetic indictment against the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a period of outward prosperity under King Jeroboam II (approx. 793-753 BC). Chapter 3 specifically opens with "Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel." It reminds them of their unique covenant relationship with God (Amos 3:2), implying a greater responsibility and thus a more severe judgment for their unfaithfulness. The preceding verses (Amos 3:9-10) accuse Samaria, the capital, of violence, robbery, and storing up lawlessness in their palaces. Amos 3:11-14 predict the destruction of their fortresses and the altars of Bethel, a center of idolatrous worship. Verse 15 extends this judgment to their luxurious residential architecture, directly targeting the symbols of their accumulated, often ill-gotten, wealth and indulgent lifestyles. The prophet demonstrates that divine judgment will penetrate every sphere of their self-reliant and idolatrous existence, sparing neither their false religion nor their earthly comfort.
Amos 3 15 Word analysis
And I will strike (וְהִכֵּיתִי - vehikkêthî): From the root nakah (נָכָה), meaning to smite, strike, or destroy. This signifies a decisive and powerful divine action, not merely a weakening but an active demolition. It emphasizes God's direct involvement in bringing about the judgment. The use of "I" refers explicitly to the Lord, affirming His personal agency in executing justice.
the winter house (בֵּית־הַחֹרֶף - bêth-haḥōreph): Literally, "house of the winter." In ancient Israel, prosperous individuals, especially the elite in Samaria, often owned two distinct residences: one for the hot summer months and another designed for the colder, rainier winter season. This indicates extreme luxury and the indulgence of not just wealth, but leisure and comfort that the common Israelite would not possess.
with the summer house (עַל־בֵּית־הַקַּיִץ - ‘al-bêth-haqqayiṣ): Literally, "upon the house of the summer." This phrase emphasizes the complete and utter destruction. It suggests that judgment will be pervasive, striking all manifestations of their opulent living, irrespective of purpose or season. This pair symbolizes a life of self-indulgent comfort and excess that stands in stark contrast to the poverty and oppression faced by many others.
and the houses of ivory (וְאָבְדוּ בָּתֵּי הַשֵּׁן - ve'āvĕdû bāttê haššēn): Literally, "and perish the houses of the tooth/ivory." This refers to luxurious houses extensively decorated with costly ivory inlays and carvings. Archaeological discoveries in Samaria have confirmed the existence of such opulent ivory objects from this period. This detail points to extravagant spending and flaunting of wealth, often accumulated through unjust means like bribery, usury, and land seizures. "Perish" (אָבְדוּ - 'āvaḏû) signifies total destruction or being completely lost.
shall perish: Implies total ruin, no recovery. These structures will not merely be damaged but will cease to exist as a symbol of their past glory and wealth.
and the great houses (וּבָתִּים גְּדֹלִים - uvāttîm gedōlîm): These are simply large, stately homes or mansions. The term encapsulates all other forms of their grand and imposing residences, including those not necessarily adorned with ivory, reinforcing the comprehensive nature of the judgment against their entire affluent lifestyle.
shall have an end (נִקְצוּ - niqtsû): From the root qatsah (קָצָה), meaning to cut off, cease, or come to an end. It denotes a definite, abrupt cessation and utter termination, leaving nothing remaining of their grandeur. This signifies the finality of the judgment against all forms of their prideful, material possessions.
declares the Lord (נְאֻם־יְהוָה - ne'um-YHWH): This is a classic prophetic formula, common throughout the Hebrew Bible, that authenticates the message as a direct divine utterance. It underscores the certainty, authority, and unchangeable nature of the prophecy. It is not Amos's opinion, but God's absolute declaration, ensuring its fulfillment.
"winter house with the summer house": This phrase functions as a merism, a rhetorical device where two contrasting parts represent the whole. It signifies all types of residences, illustrating the utter and pervasive nature of the destruction. It underlines the extent of their luxurious living and the divine condemnation upon it, showing that no comfort, regardless of the season or purpose, would be spared. This indulgence spoke of extreme wealth detached from a covenant conscience.
"houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end": This pairing further reinforces the totality of the destruction. "Houses of ivory" point to extravagant, specific displays of wealth, while "great houses" encompass all large, stately dwellings. Both are destined for a complete cessation. The parallelism here amplifies the message of unavoidable and thorough judgment against all their material security and status symbols, highlighting that their foundation was rooted in unrighteousness and would therefore crumble.
Amos 3 15 Bonus section
The prophet Amos, being a shepherd and fig dresser (Amos 7:14), came from a simpler, rural background. His prophecies frequently contrast the stark realities of the wealthy elite with the struggles of the common people, enhancing the moral force of his condemnation of injustice. The lavish "houses of ivory" would have been particularly scandalous in an agricultural society where basic shelter was often sufficient. These dwellings not only reflected opulence but also served as a physical embodiment of their owners' social indifference and spiritual rebellion. The judgment on houses in Amos 3:15 parallels later biblical themes where the 'house' (both literally and metaphorically as a dynasty or family) stands accountable for its actions before God. The specificity of 'winter' and 'summer' houses suggests that the luxury was not just an occasional indulgence but an integrated part of their established yearly cycle of comfortable living.
Amos 3 15 Commentary
Amos 3:15 stands as a potent divine judgment against the luxurious lifestyle prevalent among the wealthy elite of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. In a society grappling with stark economic inequality, where the poor were oppressed and justice perverted, these extravagant dwellings became monuments to the injustice from which their riches were derived. The mention of "winter house" and "summer house" depicts an unholy indulgence in comfort and leisure, reflecting a spiritual detachment from the Mosaic covenant which prioritized justice, compassion, and concern for the vulnerable. The "houses of ivory," emblematic of extreme affluence, were not merely symbols of wealth but represented wealth amassed through fraud, exploitation, and unrighteousness (Amos 2:6-7, 4:1). God’s promise to "strike" these houses and ensure they "perish" and "have an end" signifies a comprehensive and irreversible divine intervention. The judgment is precise, targeting the very places where their covetousness and pride manifested. It reveals that no earthly security, regardless of its material robustness, can withstand the holy judgment of the God of justice. The concluding "declares the Lord" confirms the pronouncement's divine origin and its inevitable fulfillment, leaving no doubt that this is the unchanging purpose of Yahweh. The destruction of these material symbols is a direct consequence and an undeniable sign of the spiritual rot within Israel.