Amos 5:23 kjv
Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
Amos 5:23 nkjv
Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.
Amos 5:23 niv
Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
Amos 5:23 esv
Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
Amos 5:23 nlt
Away with your noisy hymns of praise!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
Amos 5 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Amos 5:21 | "I hate, I despise your religious feasts..." | O.T. condemnation of empty ritual |
| Isaiah 1:11 | "What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?" | O.T. condemnation of empty ritual |
| Psalm 51:17 | "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit..." | True worship valued |
| Micah 6:8 | "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you? But to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." | Emphasis on righteousness |
| Matthew 23:23 | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. It is these you ought to have done without neglecting the others." | Jesus rebukes hypocrisy |
| 1 Samuel 15:22 | "Has the LORD as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obedience to the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice..." | Obedience over sacrifice |
| Amos 8:4 | "Hear this, you who trample on the needy..." | God's concern for the poor |
| Amos 5:15 | "Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate..." | Call for righteousness |
| Psalm 89:14 | "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne..." | God's character |
| Hosea 6:6 | "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." | God desires true devotion |
| Hebrews 10:4 | "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." | Inadequacy of animal sacrifice |
| 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..." | Living sacrifice explained |
| Matthew 9:13 | "Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” | Jesus' application of Hosea 6:6 |
| James 1:27 | "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit fatherless and widows in their affliction..." | Practical piety defined |
| Amos 5:24 | "But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." | The desired outcome |
| Amos 6:10 | "...none remembers them." | Consequences of forgetting God |
| Isaiah 6:3 | "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts..." | God's holiness |
| Jeremiah 7:23 | "But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people.'" | Covenant obedience |
| Acts 7:42 | "Then God turned and gave them up to serve the host of heaven..." | Turning away from God |
| Romans 2:29 | "...but a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit..." | Inner transformation |
Amos 5 verses
Amos 5 23 Meaning
This verse declares God's rejection of the Israelites' religious practices – their songs, music, and offerings. He desires righteousness and justice, not merely external rituals performed without an underlying ethical commitment. True worship involves a transformed heart that leads to godly actions.
Amos 5 23 Context
Chapter 5 of Amos culminates in this strong indictment. Israel, specifically the northern kingdom of Israel (also referred to as Samaria or Ephraim), is condemned for its spiritual corruption and social injustice. Despite performing outward religious rites, their hearts were far from God, and they were oppressing the poor and needy. Amos had previously proclaimed God's judgment against their idolatry and unfaithfulness. This verse serves as a pronouncement of God's absolute rejection of their polluted worship due to the pervasive sin in their lives. The message is for a people who claim to worship God but actively disregard His commands for justice and mercy.
Amos 5 23 Word Analysis
- wəˈqōwla (וְקֹל): And "qol" – a voice, sound, noise. Here it refers to the sounds of their music, hymns, and celebratory songs.
- mɪšʾamēˈrēḵim (מִשִּׁירַ֥יִךְ): From your songs. Implies a rejection of the specific songs sung, not just the general sound.
- wəˈneˈɡɛp lɔ zimmirēˈy ḇiḇəlīnəˈḵā (וּנְגִינֹ֥ת נִבְלֶ֛יךָ): And from the melody of your stringed instruments (lyres/harps). "Nĕḇel" refers to a stringed instrument, often translated as lyre or harp, implying rejection of their instrumental music.
- yɪštēqəph (יִשְּׁטֹ֥ף): Let it flow, inundate, wash away. A strong verb indicating an overwhelming cessation or rejection.
- mɪʃ ˈqɔlə (מִקּ): From the voice. Refers to any sound emanating from their religious activities.
- ˈmīmi dā ˈḵā (מִימִיךְ): from you.
- nō ˈṯəqa (נֹ()<<<<><<<<>>>>>>): with trumpet. Refers to the sound of the trumpet, an instrument used in religious and civil announcements.
- lɔ zaˈzəra (לֹ <<<>>>>>): at my.
- ʕî (עִ >>): the Lord.
- ’əˈḵōla ˈḇi dōˈwi (אֹ ___ __). unto me. Implies that their offerings and worship are not acceptable "unto me," the Lord.
Word Group Analysis
- "wəqōla mǐššîrêỹ wənĕɡînat nĕbělêỹ yɪššētōph miqqôl mîmêỹ lɔ za ʕî ’ăḵōla wədōwî": This entire phrase encompasses the rejection of their music, songs, and instrumental sounds, culminating in the pronouncement that God will not "have pleasure" in these offerings. It highlights that the source of the music and songs (their religious gatherings) is what God is turning away from because it is detached from justice and righteousness.
Amos 5 23 Bonus Section
The Hebrew word translated as "take pleasure" or "have delight" (rṣh) often implies accepting or being pleased with an offering or a person. God’s refusal here signifies a complete rejection, not just of the sounds, but of the very context and sincerity of their worship. The imagery of the sounds being "washed away" or "inundated" suggests a forceful removal, indicating that these were not merely unwelcome but actively offensive. The prophets frequently reminded Israel that God’s primary concern was not ritual perfection, but the moral condition of His people, particularly how they treated the marginalized and afflicted. This verse is a foundational text for understanding the prophetic critique of empty religiosity and a precursor to Jesus' emphasis on the law of love and mercy.
Amos 5 23 Commentary
This verse is a stark pronouncement of God's rejection of superficial religious observance. The Israelites were deeply engaged in outward displays of piety – their temple services, religious festivals, songs, and instrumental music. However, their lives were characterized by social injustice, oppression of the vulnerable, and a general disregard for God's moral law. God emphatically states that these activities are meaningless, even offensive, to Him when they are not accompanied by a heart devoted to justice and righteousness. He desires their worship to be a genuine expression of their inward disposition, not a performance to cover their sins or to appear pious while exploiting others. This passage underscores the principle that authentic worship is inextricably linked to obedience and a life that reflects God's character of love, justice, and mercy.