Amos 5:22 kjv
Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
Amos 5:22 nkjv
Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings.
Amos 5:22 niv
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.
Amos 5:22 esv
Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them.
Amos 5:22 nlt
I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.
I won't even notice all your choice peace offerings.
Amos 5 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Amos 5:22 | Though you offer burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them. | Rejection of superficial worship |
| Isaiah 1:11 | "What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?" says the Lord. | Emphasis on true devotion |
| Psalm 50:13 | "Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?" | God's sovereignty over offerings |
| Jeremiah 7:22 | For I did not speak to your fathers or command them on the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. | Covenant stipulations emphasized |
| Matthew 9:13 | Go and learn what this means: “‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’" | Jesus quotes Hosea |
| Mark 12:33 | And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. | The greater commandments |
| Hebrews 10:4 | For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. | Inadequacy of animal sacrifices |
| Romans 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. | Call to living sacrifice |
| Amos 5:21 | "I hate; I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies." | Direct expression of God's displeasure |
| Isaiah 66:3 | "He who kills an ox is like one who strikes down a man; he who sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog's neck; he who presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig's blood..." | Condemnation of impurity |
| Micah 6:6-8 | "With what shall I come before the Lord...?" | True worship requires justice & mercy |
| Leviticus 1:1 | "If anyone among you brings an offering to the Lord..." | Conditions for acceptable offerings |
| Deuteronomy 12:11 | Then to the place that the Lord your God will choose to make his name dwell there, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices... | God designates acceptable worship |
| Jeremiah 6:20 | "For what purpose to me comes frankincense from Sheba, or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me." | Similar denunciation |
| Hosea 6:6 | "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." | Parallel condemnation |
| Amos 4:4 | "Come to Bethel, and transgress; to Gilgal, and multiply transgression; bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days;" | Hypocritical worship practices |
| Psalm 40:6 | "You have given me this promise: Sacrifices and offerings you do not want, but you have given me an open ear." | Fulfillment in Christ's obedience |
| Amos 8:4-6 | Accusations against oppression and corrupt dealings | Related themes of social injustice |
| Amos 5:10 | "They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks truthfully." | Rejection of truth |
| Proverbs 21:3 | "To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." | Prioritizing justice |
| 1 Samuel 15:22 | "Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?" | Obedience is better than sacrifice |
Amos 5 verses
Amos 5 22 Meaning
This verse strongly condemns the Israelites' practice of bringing unacceptable sacrifices and offerings to God. It highlights that God desires genuine repentance and obedience over outward rituals performed with impure hearts. The rejection of their offerings signifies their spiritual alienation from God due to their persistent sin and rebellion.
Amos 5 22 Context
Amos delivered his prophecy during a time of great prosperity for the Northern Kingdom of Israel, but this outward success masked deep-seated spiritual and social corruption. The people were outwardly religious, engaging in elaborate sacrificial practices and temple rituals, particularly at Bethel and Gilgal, yet their hearts were far from God. They oppressed the poor, exploited the vulnerable, and lived lives of luxury at the expense of justice and righteousness. God, through Amos, was issuing a severe judgment against this hypocrisy. He rejected their sacrifices because their lives did not align with the covenant faithfulness that the sacrifices were meant to signify. This verse specifically addresses their offerings, declaring them unacceptable due to their unrepentant hearts and sinful lifestyles.
Amos 5 22 Word Analysis
- אַתֶּם (at-tem): "You" (plural). Refers to the entire nation of Israel addressed by Amos.
- תִּזְבְּחוּ (tiz-be-chu): "offer sacrifices" (Qal imperfect, 2nd person plural from זָבַח - zavach). This verb signifies the act of slaughtering animals for sacrifice.
- לִי (li): "to me." Direct address to God.
- עֹלֹת (o-lot): "burnt offerings" (plural of עֹלָה - olah). A whole burnt offering, entirely consumed on the altar, symbolizing complete devotion and atonement.
- וּמִנְחֹתֵיכֶם (u-min-cho-tey-chem): "and your grain offerings" (and-minchah-té-chem). Minchah was a gift offering, typically of flour, oil, and incense, often presented alongside animal sacrifices.
- לֹא (lo): "not." A strong negative.
- אַרְצֶה (ar-tzeh): "will I accept" or "will I be pleased with" (Qal imperfect, 1st person singular from רָצָה - ratzah). Implies approval or favor. The lack of acceptance is a rejection.
- בָּהֶם (ba-hem): "in them" or "with them." Referring back to the sacrifices and offerings.
Words Group Analysis:
- "burnt offerings and your grain offerings": This pairing represents the primary categories of sacrificial worship prescribed in the Levitical system. Amos contrasts the physical act of offering these with God's desire for an internal transformation.
- "I will not accept them": This phrase succinctly conveys God's rejection. It's not that the prescribed rituals were wrong in themselves, but they were offered in a state that rendered them unacceptable to God because of the disconnect between outward worship and inward reality.
Amos 5 22 Bonus Section
This verse reflects a consistent theme throughout the prophetic books, where outward religious acts are contrasted with the internal disposition and ethical conduct of the worshipper. Prophets like Isaiah, Micah, and Hosea echo Amos's message, emphasizing that God values justice, mercy, and a humble heart over mere ritualistic performance. Jesus Himself quotes Hosea 6:6 ("I desire mercy, and not sacrifice") in Matthew 9:13, extending this principle to His followers, highlighting that genuine relationship with God involves compassion and obedience in everyday life, not just in designated religious settings. The offerings were to be an expression of a heart already in right relationship with God and with others, not a means to mask ongoing sin or a substitute for true obedience.
Amos 5 22 Commentary
The essence of Amos 5:22 lies in God's indictment of empty religious ritualism. While Israel was meticulously performing sacrifices as mandated by the Law, their hearts were filled with injustice and their lives were marked by oppression. God declares these actions void because they are disconnected from the core principles of His covenant: love for Him and love for one's neighbor, expressed through righteous living. True worship is not merely the performance of religious duties but a transformation of the heart that results in holy living. God desires sincere obedience and ethical behavior far more than a superficial presentation of ritual sacrifices by those who disregard His commands in their daily lives. This verse serves as a timeless warning against hypocrisy in worship.