Amos 5 11

Amos 5:11 kjv

Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.

Amos 5:11 nkjv

Therefore, because you tread down the poor And take grain taxes from him, Though you have built houses of hewn stone, Yet you shall not dwell in them; You have planted pleasant vineyards, But you shall not drink wine from them.

Amos 5:11 niv

You levy a straw tax on the poor and impose a tax on their grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine.

Amos 5:11 esv

Therefore because you trample on the poor and you exact taxes of grain from him, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.

Amos 5:11 nlt

You trample the poor,
stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent.
Therefore, though you build beautiful stone houses,
you will never live in them.
Though you plant lush vineyards,
you will never drink wine from them.

Amos 5 verses

Amos 5 11 Meaning

Amos 5:11 declares a direct and severe divine consequence for the unjust practices of the people of Israel. Because they cruelly exploit the poor by trampling them and excessively taxing their essential grain, God pronounces a judgment: the luxurious houses built from meticulously cut stones will not be inhabited by those who constructed them, and the fine, desirable vineyards they meticulously planted will not yield wine for their enjoyment. This verse highlights God's unyielding commitment to justice and His condemnation of prosperity gained through oppression, stating that the fruit of wickedness will ultimately be withheld from the oppressor.

Amos 5 11 Context

Amos chapter 5 is a profound indictment against the Northern Kingdom of Israel. It opens with a lament for Israel's impending downfall, presenting it as a fallen virgin who will not rise (v. 1-3). The prophet then issues urgent calls to "seek the Lord and live" (v. 4, 6, 14), urging true repentance over empty ritual. This call is sharply contrasted with their actual behavior. Verse 7 specifically charges them with turning "justice to wormwood" and casting "righteousness to the ground." Verse 10 identifies their hatred for those who speak truth and righteousness in public.Within this immediate context, verse 11 provides a concrete illustration of their perverted sense of justice: the oppressors exploit the poor to amass personal wealth, building lavish homes and planting fine vineyards. Historically, Amos prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II (mid-8th century BC), a period of great material prosperity and political stability for Israel. However, this wealth was largely concentrated in the hands of an elite class in Samaria, the capital, and was built upon severe social and economic exploitation of the vulnerable, particularly small farmers. The rich bought up land, foreclosed on debts, imposed crushing levies on necessities like grain, and perverted the legal system to their advantage. Their lavish lifestyle stood in stark contrast to the suffering masses. This verse, therefore, directly attacks their ostentatious display of ill-gotten wealth and declares its imminent forfeiture as divine judgment.

Amos 5 11 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן - lākēn): This adverb, repeated for emphasis at the beginning of the judgment clause, signifies a strong, logical consequence. It powerfully connects their actions (oppression) directly to the divine reaction (judgment). It indicates that what follows is an inescapable outcome, a direct repayment for their sin.
• because you trample (בּוּסְכֶם - būskem): The verb būs means to "trample upon," "trod down," or "crush." It conveys not just oppression but violent and contemptuous treatment, like an enemy crushing the conquered or dirt underfoot. This signifies a deliberate, aggressive subjugation and dehumanization of the poor.
• on the poor (עַל־דָּל - ‘al-dāl): Dal refers to the economically disadvantaged, weak, and powerless. It underscores the vulnerability of those being oppressed, highlighting the injustice of the strong exploiting the helpless rather than protecting them as required by God's Law.
• and exact taxes of grain (וְאֵל מַשְׂאַת בָּר - wə’ēl mas’at bār): Mas’at refers to a tribute, a levy, or an imposition, often with the connotation of a burden or oppressive charge. Bar means "grain." This specifies the exploitation as an unjust, perhaps exorbitant, levy on their most basic produce, indicating a seizing of their means of sustenance. This wasn't just ordinary taxation but an oppressive system that impoverished those who barely had enough.
• from him (מִמֶּנּוּ תִקְחוּ - mimmennū tiqḥû): Further clarifies the personal nature of the exploitation, taking directly from the individual poor person, further impoverishing them.
• therefore (לָכֵן - lākēn): The second repetition of lākēn forcefully underlines the certainty and proportionality of the impending judgment. It acts as a divine verdict.
• you have built houses (בָּתֵּי בְנֵיתֶם - bāttê bənêṯem): The act of building represents investment in permanence and luxury, a testament to their acquired wealth.
• of hewn stone (גָזִית - gāzîṯ): This specifies the type of stone used. Gazit means "cut stone," stones that are carefully dressed, smoothed, and shaped. This contrasts sharply with common fieldstones and implies superior craftsmanship, expense, durability, and a grand, ostentatious display of wealth—fit for palaces, not ordinary dwellings.
• but you shall not dwell in them (וְלֹא־תֵשְׁבוּ בָם - wəlō’-tēšəbû bām): Teshebu implies to inhabit, to settle, to remain. The judgment is that their elaborate, expensive houses, built through unrighteous means, will not become their secure homes. They will be dispossessed, either by exile, invasion, or destruction, preventing them from enjoying the comfort and permanence they sought.
• you have planted pleasant vineyards (כַּרְמֵי חֶמֶד נְטַעְתֶּם - karmê ḥemed nəṭa‘tem): Karmê ḥemed translates to "vineyards of delight" or "desirable vineyards." This signifies not just any vineyard, but the finest ones, promising the best and most sought-after produce (wine). Like the houses, they represent long-term investment, anticipated enjoyment, and luxurious living.
• but you shall not drink their wine (וְלֹא תִשְׁתּוּ אֶת־יֵינָם - wəlō’ tišttû ’eṯ-yênām): This completes the irony of the judgment. Despite all their effort and ill-gotten gains, they will be denied the ultimate enjoyment of their coveted produce. This judgment is a direct reversal of the blessing of the covenant, which promised to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Therefore, because you trample on the poor and exact taxes of grain from him, therefore...": This phrase clearly establishes a divine cause-and-effect relationship. The initial "therefore" introduces the pronouncement of judgment, and the subsequent "because" clause precisely states the specific sins that necessitate it—the oppressive and exploitative treatment of the impoverished, even stripping them of their most basic food source. The second "therefore" reinforces the certainty and inevitability of the impending punishment, underscoring God's direct response to their wickedness.
• "...you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.": This section highlights the tragic irony and futility of prosperity gained through injustice. It portrays the objects of their greedy ambition—lavish homes and prized vineyards—as precisely what will be denied to them. The "hewn stone" houses symbolize durable luxury, while "pleasant vineyards" signify enduring delight. Yet, the divine pronouncement of "you shall not dwell" and "you shall not drink" perfectly matches the punishment to the crime, demonstrating that God will not allow them to find lasting satisfaction or security in wealth built upon the suffering of others. This outcome is a direct fulfillment of covenant curses (e.g., Deut 28) and a powerful illustration of divine justice.

Amos 5 11 Bonus section

• The dual "therefore" (lākēn) in the Hebrew serves as a dramatic rhetorical device, emphasizing the absolute certainty and direct causal link between their unrighteous actions and the subsequent judgment from God.
• The specific judgment of not enjoying their houses and vineyards echoes the ancient Near Eastern covenant curses and the "negative enjoyment clause" common in treaties, where the benefits of peace or harvest are stripped away as punishment for breach of contract.
• This verse is a prime example of Amos's emphasis on mishpat (justice) and tsedakah (righteousness) as core requirements of the covenant, far outweighing elaborate sacrifices or religious festivals. Their social crimes invalidated their spiritual rituals.
• The "houses of hewn stone" highlight the luxury that contrasted sharply with the flimsy dwellings of the poor they exploited, accentuating the social stratification and the blatant disregard for communal well-being.

Amos 5 11 Commentary

Amos 5:11 powerfully condemns the egregious social injustice rampant in Israel during its time of apparent prosperity. The verse functions as a divinely declared legal verdict, clearly stating the crime and its commensurate punishment. The crime is specific: the powerful elite oppress the poor by metaphorically "trampling" on them and by economically devastating them through "taxes of grain," taking away their most basic sustenance. This was not mere burden but exploitative crushing, revealing a contemptuous disregard for the vulnerable. Their wealth, manifested in luxurious "houses of hewn stone" and "pleasant vineyards," was amassed through this very exploitation.God's judgment is a direct, ironic reversal of their aspirations. The grand houses they meticulously built for their comfort and status will never be truly inhabited or provide them lasting security. The exquisite vineyards they cultivated for delight will yield no wine for their pleasure. This divine judgment mirrors the very sin, ensuring that what was selfishly gained through oppression will not bring them enjoyment. It underscores a fundamental biblical principle: prosperity attained through injustice is fleeting and ultimately hollow. This judgment also reflects the covenant curses (like in Deuteronomy 28), emphasizing that a disregard for God's righteous demands inevitably leads to the forfeiture of anticipated blessings. Amos reveals that true worship is inseparable from righteous living and that God demands justice over external religious observance.