Amos 4 4

Amos 4:4 kjv

Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years:

Amos 4:4 nkjv

"Come to Bethel and transgress, At Gilgal multiply transgression; Bring your sacrifices every morning, Your tithes every three days.

Amos 4:4 niv

"Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years.

Amos 4:4 esv

"Come to Bethel, and transgress; to Gilgal, and multiply transgression; bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days;

Amos 4:4 nlt

"Go ahead and offer sacrifices to the idols at Bethel.
Keep on disobeying at Gilgal.
Offer sacrifices each morning,
and bring your tithes every three days.

Amos 4 verses

Amos 4 4 Meaning

This verse calls for zealous participation in religious festivals at specific locations mentioned: Bethel, Gilgal, and Bethaven (though some identify this with Beth-el). It is a sarcastic and ironic invitation to continue their religious practices, which God finds detestable because of their impure hearts and actions. Despite their outward observance, their devotion is hollow, marked by sin and a rejection of true righteousness. The phrase "offer your sacrifices every morning" highlights the ritualistic yet meaningless nature of their worship, estranged from genuine repentance and obedience.

Amos 4 4 Context

Amos 4:4 is part of a prophetic oracle denouncing the corruptions of Israel, specifically targeting their religious hypocrisy and apostasy. The Northern Kingdom of Israel, under the house of Jeroboam II, was experiencing a period of political stability and material prosperity, which paradoxically led to increased moral and religious decay. The people were outwardly observing their religious festivals and rituals at sanctuaries like Bethel and Gilgal, but these acts were divorced from genuine faith, justice, and righteousness. They were mixing Yahwistic worship with Canaanite practices, thus multiplying their transgressions. God, through Amos, sarcastically invites them to continue their perverted worship, forewarning them of the imminent judgment that will inevitably follow their persistent disobedience and corruption. The message highlights that God values sincere hearts and righteous living over empty rituals.

Amos 4 4 Word Analysis

• “Come”: (Hebrew: לְכוּ – ləḵû) A command, imperative plural, directing people to go to a specific place. It sets a tone of invitation, though ironic in this context.
• “to Bethel”: (Hebrew: בֵּית־אֵל – bêṯ-ʾêl) Literally "House of God." This was a significant sanctuary, established in earlier times, but now associated with idolatrous worship initiated by Jeroboam I.
• “and transgress”: (Hebrew: וּפְשָׁעוּ – ūp̄əšā‘û) From the root פשע (pāša‘), meaning "to rebel," "to transgress," or "to sin." Here, it directly links coming to Bethel with the act of sinning, implying Bethel itself was a place where sin was committed or sanctioned.
• “go”: (Hebrew: לְכוּ – ləḵû) Another imperative, reinforcing the call to journey.
• “to Gilgal”: (Hebrew: גִּלְגָּל – gilgāl) Another important religious site, historically significant for Israel (e.g., crossing the Jordan, covenant renewal), but now also a center of corrupted worship.
• “and multiply transgressions”: (Hebrew: וְהוֹסִיפוּ – wəhōśīp̄û) From the root יסף (yāsap̄), meaning "to add," "to increase," or "to multiply." The command to "multiply transgressions" is starkly ironic, telling them to increase the very thing that will bring judgment.
• “and offer your sacrifices”: (Hebrew: וְהַקְרִיבוּ – wəhaqərîḇû) From the root קרב (qāraḇ), meaning "to draw near" or "to offer (sacrifice)." This refers to the prescribed sacrificial system.
• “every morning”: (Hebrew: בַּבֹּקֶר – bab·bō·qer) Indicates the regularity and ritualistic frequency of their worship, continuing daily despite its impurity.
• “your tithes”: (Hebrew: מַעְשְׂרֹתֵיכֶם – ma‘əsərōṯêḵem) The tenth part given to God. Even their giving is tainted and associated with sin.
• “three days”: (Hebrew: שְׁלֹשֶׁת יְמֵי – šəlošeṯ yəméi) Specifies the timing of their tithes, likely referring to a cycle or festival period.
• “with the leaven”: (Hebrew: מִמַּצּוֹת – mim·māṣ·ṣōṯ) "From the leavened things." This phrase is challenging. Some understand it as offerings made with leaven (which was often forbidden in peace offerings, Lev 7:13, though allowed in others), or perhaps "with the portion of leaven." The point is that their offerings are impure. Another view links it to the "tenth of unleavened things" - suggesting their tithes were of a certain type of offering. The implication is the contamination of their offerings.
• “proclaim”: (Hebrew: הַגִּידוּ – hag·gî·dû) From the root נגד (nāgaḏ), meaning "to tell," "to declare," or "to announce." Here, it's an ironic command to announce their proud "gifts" and "thank offerings."
• “offer”: (Hebrew: הַקְרִיבוּ – haq·rî·ḇû) Again, to offer a sacrifice.
• “praise”: (Hebrew: תּוֹדֹת – tō·ḏōṯ) Thanksgiving offerings, intended to express gratitude to God, yet now they are offerings of pride.
• “for what you love”: (Hebrew: אֹהֲבִים – ’ō·hă·ḇîm) Connects their offerings directly to their own desires and affections, which God finds abominable because their love is misdirected.
• “declares the LORD God”: (Hebrew: נְאֻם־יהוה אֱלֹהִים – nə’um-YHWH ‘ĕ·lō·hîm) A strong prophetic declaration by God Himself, emphasizing the authority and seriousness of His message.

Word Groups Analysis:

• “Come to Bethel and transgress; to Gilgal and multiply transgressions!”: This paired structure highlights the pervasive sin found at their established places of worship. The irony is in calling them to a place and commanding them to transgress there, implying these are sin centers.
• “offer your sacrifices every morning, your tithes three days”: Emphasizes the routine and outward appearance of their religious life, contrasted with the internal corruption and God's rejection of such rituals. The specific mention of "three days" could relate to a festival observance or a particular offering cycle, highlighting the structured yet flawed nature of their worship.
• “offer with leaven the thank offering, and proclaim that you did it gladly”: This phrase satirizes their actions. Offerings made with leaven were often associated with celebrations and sometimes with pagan festivals. The emphasis on proclaiming it "gladly" highlights their boastful and proud participation in sin, their "love" of these actions, and the hypocrisy of giving thanks for things God abhors.

Amos 4 4 Bonus Section

The specific mention of "Bethaven" as an alternative sanctuary (though not in verse 4, but in Hosea 4:15 where a similar critique appears, identifying "Beth-aven" – "house of wickedness" or "house of shame" – as the corruption of Beth-el) underscores how Israel corrupted even the sacred names and places of worship. Amos, by directing them to these already corrupted sites, mocks their persistence in sin and prophesies judgment upon the very sanctuaries that were supposed to draw them closer to God but had become instruments of their apostasy. The structure of the invitation—"Come and transgress, go and multiply transgressions"—is a form of divine sarcasm, emphasizing that their worship would not avert judgment but hasten it.

Amos 4 4 Commentary

Amos 4:4 is a powerful indictment of religious hypocrisy. God sarcastically tells Israel to continue their corrupted worship at Bethel and Gilgal. These were places meant for genuine worship, but Israel had turned them into centers of idolatry and sin. Their sacrifices offered "every morning" and tithes given on specific days were merely outward performances. What God found most detestable was the attitude behind their worship: they brought "thank offerings" made with "leaven," which signifies pride and sin. They proudly announced these offerings, showing they "loved" to do these things. This verse exposes that God does not delight in rituals performed by hearts that are far from Him. True worship is rooted in obedience, love for God, and a desire for justice, not in proud adherence to perverted religious customs. The invitation is an ironic summons to their judgment, highlighting that their continued sin in the name of worship seals their fate.