Amos 6 10

Amos 6:10 kjv

And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.

Amos 6:10 nkjv

And when a relative of the dead, with one who will burn the bodies, picks up the bodies to take them out of the house, he will say to one inside the house, "Are there any more with you?" Then someone will say, "None." And he will say, "Hold your tongue! For we dare not mention the name of the LORD."

Amos 6:10 niv

And if the relative who comes to carry the bodies out of the house to burn them asks anyone who might be hiding there, "Is anyone else with you?" and he says, "No," then he will go on to say, "Hush! We must not mention the name of the LORD."

Amos 6:10 esv

And when one's relative, the one who anoints him for burial, shall take him up to bring the bones out of the house, and shall say to him who is in the innermost parts of the house, "Is there still anyone with you?" he shall say, "No"; and he shall say, "Silence! We must not mention the name of the LORD."

Amos 6:10 nlt

And when a relative who is responsible to dispose of the dead goes into the house to carry out the bodies, he will ask the last survivor, "Is anyone else with you?" When the person begins to swear, "No, by . . . ," he will interrupt and say, "Stop! Don't even mention the name of the LORD.")

Amos 6 verses

Amos 6 10 meaning

Amos 6:10 portrays a scene of profound and widespread devastation, likely a severe plague or siege-induced calamity. It depicts a kinsman or designated person collecting bodies (possibly cremated remains, "bones") from a house, and during this grim task, cautioning another hidden survivor against speaking the Lord’s name. This eerie silence and refusal to invoke YHWH's name signifies the ultimate extent of Israel's spiritual decline and the terror brought by divine judgment, where God's name evokes fear and superstition rather than hope or repentance. It highlights their spiritual estrangement, where they desperately seek to avoid further divine attention or blasphemy amidst overwhelming destruction.

Amos 6 10 Context

Amos chapter 6 delivers a powerful indictment against the complacency and arrogance of the privileged elite in both Samaria (Israel) and Jerusalem (Judah). The chapter begins with a "Woe" pronounced upon those who feel secure in Zion and Samaria, luxuriating in comfort, luxury, and debauchery while ignoring the impending divine judgment and the suffering of the poor. They feast, anoint themselves, and create music, but they do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph (Israel). The judgment described escalates, with exile promised as the inevitable consequence. Verse 10 comes amidst this warning of impending doom, painting a grim picture of the physical effects of this judgment. It signifies a state of profound desperation where death is so pervasive that traditional mourning and burial rites are abandoned, and the very name of the Lord becomes a taboo, feared rather than invoked for help, highlighting Israel's utter spiritual desolation and their complete departure from their covenant relationship with God.

Amos 6 10 Word analysis

• Then a man's kinsman: (וּנְשָׂא֗וֹ דּוֹדוֹ u-nəśāʾô dôḏô - "and his uncle/kinsman will carry him").
  • דוֹדוֹ (dôdô): Means 'his uncle' or a close 'kinsman/relative'. It indicates someone deeply connected by blood, highlighting the intimate and personal nature of the tragedy. This kinsman is forced to undertake a dreadful task, often the sacred duty of burial, now distorted by catastrophe.
  • וּנְשָׂא֗וֹ (u-nəśāʾô): "And he will carry him/lift him up." Implies carrying out a corpse, an act traditionally associated with respectful burial preparation.
• he who burns him: (וּמְשַׂרְפ֔וֹ u-məśarp̄ô - "and his burner").
  • וּמְשַׂרְפ֔וֹ (u-məśarp̄ô): A participle, meaning "the one who burns him." Cremation was largely foreign to Israelite burial practice, typically reserved for extreme circumstances (like mass plague to prevent spread) or as a sign of disgrace (Am 2:1), or emergency (1 Sam 31:11-12). Its presence here points to an unimaginable crisis. It might also mean gathering after cremation, suggesting handling cremated bones.
• shall take him up, with him who brings out the bones from the house: (הַמּוֹצִא֙ אֶת־הָ֣עֲצָמִ֔ים מִן־הַבָּֽיִת֙ ha-môṣiʾ ʾeṯ-hāʿăṣāmîm min-hab-bāyiṯ - "the one bringing out the bones from the house").
  • This describes a cooperative, though grim, effort to clear the dead. "Bones" specifically points to the remains after a body has decomposed or been burned. The meticulous act of gathering bones suggests an effort to properly dispose of remains, even in horrific circumstances.
• and say to him who is in the innermost parts of the house: (וְאָמַר֙ לַאֲשֶׁר֙ בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַבָּ֔יִת wəʾāmar laʾăšer bə-yarkəṯê hab-bāyiṯ - "and he will say to the one in the sides/innermost parts of the house").
  • בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַבָּ֔יִת (bə-yarkəṯê hab-bāyiṯ): "In the remote/innermost parts of the house." This signifies someone in deep hiding or isolated from the main calamity, yet not untouched by it. The house is presumably full of death, forcing people into hidden corners. This detail underscores the widespread and overwhelming nature of the catastrophe, invading even the most private spaces.
• 'Is anyone else with you?': (הֲעוֹד֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ hăʿôḏ ʿimmāḵ - "Is there still with you?").
  • A chilling question. It's a quick, whispered check to see if anyone else has survived, a morbid census of the living. It highlights the desperation to locate any remaining survivors and also the deep silence needed to avoid attracting further negative attention or calamity.
• And he will say, 'No one.': (וְאָמַ֖ר אָ֑פֶס wəʾāmar ʾāp̄es - "And he will say, 'None/Ceased'").
  • אָ֑פֶס (ʾāp̄es): "None," "no more," "finished." A stark, one-word response confirming the near-total devastation. It conveys utter loss and hopelessness.
• Then he will say, 'Keep silent': (וְאָמַ֣ר הָ֔ס wəʾāmar hās - "And he will say, 'Be silent!'").
  • הָ֔ס (hās): An imperative meaning "be silent!" or "hush!" This command underscores the extreme need for quietness and secrecy, fearing perhaps the wrath of God, the attention of enemies, or the spread of plague through communication. It’s an almost ritualistic, desperate hush.
• for we may not mention the name of the Lord.': (כִּ֣י לֹ֤א נַזְכִּיר֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֔ה ki loʾ nazkir bə-šēm YHWH - "for we will not mention in the name of the Lord").
  • לֹ֤א נַזְכִּיר֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֔ה (loʾ nazkir bə-šēm YHWH): "We may not (or dare not) invoke/mention the name of YHWH." This is the most shocking and central phrase. In dire times, Israelites typically invoked the Lord's name for help (Joel 2:32, Ps 116:4). Here, it's explicitly forbidden. This reflects either: 1) Superstitious fear of provoking God further; 2) A desperate attempt to avoid blasphemy by connecting their depraved state and actions (e.g., desecrating dead by burning) with the Holy Name; 3) Utter despair, feeling God has completely abandoned them; 4) A profound rejection, where God's name is a source of dread rather than hope, marking the climax of spiritual apostasy and terror. They don't want God's attention, as it brings only judgment.

• A man's kinsman, he who burns him: This pairing is significant. A kinsman traditionally handled proper burials. The addition of "he who burns him" implies that the crisis (likely plague) necessitates emergency measures like cremation, going against common Israelite practice for deceased kin. This emphasizes the sheer horror and abnormality of the situation, overriding normal social and religious norms.
• Bringing out the bones from the house: This task signifies the removal of the dead on a mass scale. The mention of "bones" rather than bodies suggests either that they are clearing decayed or partially consumed bodies, or cremated remains. This mass clean-up operation from a "house" implies not just isolated deaths but an entire dwelling (and by extension, city) overwhelmed by fatalities.
• Say to him who is in the innermost parts of the house... 'Keep silent, for we may not mention the name of the Lord': This entire exchange paints a picture of hushed dread and profound spiritual abandonment. The desperate query for survivors and the immediate command for silence reveal the terror pervading the land. The ultimate reason for silence – to avoid mentioning the Lord's name – is a poignant commentary on their alienated relationship with God. His name, meant to be a refuge and a blessing, has become a fearful taboo, signaling a complete inversion of covenantal trust. It demonstrates that the nation has lost the desire and the perceived right to invoke God's presence, understanding that His presence now means only judgment for their persistent sin.

Amos 6 10 Bonus section

The avoidance of YHWH's name in this verse is an extreme form of spiritual distancing, deeply ironic given Israel's historical relationship as God's chosen people who should, in all circumstances, turn to Him. It may also imply that to call upon the Lord would be to blaspheme Him, considering their actions and the current context of judgment. Their deeds have made God's name, holy and distinct, inaccessible to their lips in a posture of faith. This illustrates that divine judgment, when severe, can lead to such fear and desolation that even the remembrance of God is shunned. This is a powerful counterpoint to the frequent biblical call to "call on the name of the Lord" for salvation (Joel 2:32, Rom 10:13). In Amos, it represents the absolute failure of Israel's covenant responsibility and their profound spiritual bankruptcy.

Amos 6 10 Commentary

Amos 6:10 provides a stark and terrifying snapshot of the ultimate consequence of Israel's unrepentant sin and complacent apostasy. It's a grim depiction of a society overwhelmed by divine judgment, likely a widespread plague or mass death, so catastrophic that traditional funerary rites are abandoned for desperate expediency like cremation or mass removal of remains. The chilling dialogue underscores the utter desolation: a quick, hushed query for survivors met with the bleak affirmation of "No one." The pinnacle of despair, however, is the command for silence regarding God's name. This isn't reverence but rather a deep, superstitious dread or an ultimate act of defiance/estrangement. In moments of crisis, the covenant people should call upon YHWH; here, they actively suppress His name. This portrays a nation so deeply alienated from its God that His very name is associated solely with overwhelming judgment, signifying a spiritual void where hope and faith in YHWH have been utterly extinguished. This verse highlights the destructive end of religious hypocrisy and moral decay when faced with God's just retribution.