Amos 6:11 kjv
For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts.
Amos 6:11 nkjv
For behold, the LORD gives a command: He will break the great house into bits, And the little house into pieces.
Amos 6:11 niv
For the LORD has given the command, and he will smash the great house into pieces and the small house into bits.
Amos 6:11 esv
For behold, the LORD commands, and the great house shall be struck down into fragments, and the little house into bits.
Amos 6:11 nlt
When the LORD gives the command,
homes both great and small will be smashed to pieces.
Amos 6 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Amos 6:11 | The LORD’s decree against the house of the oppressor. | Amos 6:11 (The core message) |
| Psalm 72:4 | Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the afflicted and the needy. | Psalm 72:4 (Contrast of righteousness) |
| Proverbs 21:13 | Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered. | Proverbs 21:13 (Consequences of indifference) |
| Isaiah 5:8 | Woe to you who add house to house and field to field until no space is left and you live alone in the land. | Isaiah 5:8 (Warning against greed) |
| Isaiah 10:1-2 | Woe to those who make unjust laws, for the pen they have recorded. To turn aside the needy from justice and to deprive the poor of their rights… | Isaiah 10:1-2 (Injustice against the poor) |
| Jeremiah 22:3 | This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who is robbed, and do not mistreat or do violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place. | Jeremiah 22:3 (Exhortation to justice) |
| Micah 3:2-3 | You hate good and love evil; you flay the people from off their bones. You devour the flesh of my people; you strip their skin from off them, and break their bones into pieces. | Micah 3:2-3 (Similar denunciation) |
| Matthew 7:2 | For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. | Matthew 7:2 (Principle of retribution) |
| Luke 6:38 | Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. | Luke 6:38 (Principle of sowing and reaping) |
| Romans 2:8 | but for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. | Romans 2:8 (Wrath for wrongdoing) |
| James 5:1-3 | Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your riches have corroded, and your moth-eaten clothes are a testimony against you. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. | James 5:1-3 (Echoes judgment on the rich) |
| 1 Peter 4:5 | But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. | 1 Peter 4:5 (Accountability) |
| Genesis 19:24 | Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. | Genesis 19:24 (Divine destruction) |
| Exodus 22:23-24 | If you afflict them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry. And my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless. | Exodus 22:23-24 (God hears the oppressed) |
| Deuteronomy 28:20 | The LORD will send on you curses, confusion, and rebuke in all that you undertake, until you are destroyed and perish quickly, because of the evil of your doings in that you have forsaken me. | Deuteronomy 28:20 (Consequences of forsaking God) |
| Psalm 11:5 | The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. | Psalm 11:5 (God's opposition to wickedness) |
| Proverbs 15:25 | The LORD builds up the house of the proud, but he breaks down the house of the widow. | Proverbs 15:25 (God's care for the vulnerable) |
| Zephaniah 1:12-13 | At that time I will search thoroughly through Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, “The LORD neither does good nor does evil.” Their goods will be trampled underfoot and their treasures will become plunder. Their houses will be looted and their palaces destroyed. They will build houses but not live in them; they will plant vineyards but not drink their wine. | Zephaniah 1:12-13 (Similar judgment on complacency) |
| Matthew 23:25-26 | Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside of the cup and of the plate, that the outside also may be clean. | Matthew 23:25-26 (Hypocrisy and inner corruption) |
| Luke 12:15 | For not even when one is overflowing with a person’s possessions does his life result from the things he possesses. | Luke 12:15 (Warning against materialism) |
Amos 6 verses
Amos 6 11 Meaning
The Lord will strike a blow against the house of the oppressor, bringing ruin upon all that they possess. This judgment stems from their greed, their lavish lifestyle built on injustice, and their utter disregard for the well-being of the vulnerable. Their luxury is a symptom of their sin, and their impending destruction is a consequence of their unrighteousness.
Amos 6 11 Context
This verse occurs in Amos chapter 6, which is a strong denunciation of the affluent and complacent leaders of Israel, particularly in the Northern Kingdom. They are portrayed as indulging in luxury, feasting, and self-security, oblivious to the impending doom brought by their sin and injustice towards the poor and needy. This particular verse is a direct consequence and declaration of judgment against them for their oppressive actions and their arrogant disregard for God's law and the suffering of others. The historical context is one of relative prosperity for the elite, which masked deep social and spiritual decay.
Amos 6 11 Word Analysis
- וְהִכָּה (wehikkah): "And he struck." The prefix 'waw' (וְ) denotes continuation or sequence ("and"). The root Hakah (כה) means "to strike," "to smite," "to beat." It signifies a direct and forceful action of judgment. This verb suggests a punitive blow.
- בֵּית (beit): "House," "household," "family," "dynasty." It refers to the dwelling place but extends to the entire lineage or entity associated with the oppressor. It signifies more than just a building; it implies the total existence and legacy of the offending party.
- הָעֹשֶׁק (ha'osheq): "The oppressor." The definite article "ha" (הָ) marks "the." The noun
osheq (עֹשֶׁק) derives from the rootashaq (עשׁק), meaning "to oppress," "to extort," "to defraud," "to wrong." This refers to one who exercises unjust power or uses coercion and deceit to gain advantage. It directly names the sin of exploitation. - וְאֵת (weth): "And it," "and unto." The 'waw' is "and," and 'eth' (אֵת) is a direct object marker, indicating what is struck.
- כָּל־ (kol-): "All," "every." It emphasizes completeness.
- אֲשֶׁר־ (asher-): "Which," "that." A relative pronoun.
- לוֹ (lo): "To him," "belonging to him." Indicates possession.
- וְכָפַר (wekhafar): "And his shelter," "and his hiding place," "and his fortress." The 'waw' is "and." Kafara (כפר) can refer to covering or atonement, but here, in conjunction with "house," and the context of destruction, it likely refers to the protection or security they built or relied upon, their refuge. It represents their sense of security and their places of trust which are now being breached.
Amos 6 11 Bonus Section
The concept of "striking" the "house of the oppressor" encapsulates God’s judgment on entire systems and dynasties that foster injustice. This echoes the destruction of Pharaoh's house in the Exodus narrative, where the oppressive system was systematically dismantled. The wealth and security ('kefar') that oppressors rely on are ultimately exposed and rendered useless before divine judgment, much like ancient fortifications falling to an enemy. The prophetic message in Amos, including this verse, underscores God’s unwavering commitment to justice and his preferential option for the poor and oppressed, a theme consistently woven throughout the Scriptures.
Amos 6 11 Commentary
Amos 6:11 is a stark pronouncement of divine retribution upon those who perpetuate injustice and exploit others for personal gain. The verse assures that God's justice will ultimately strike the "house of the oppressor," leaving nothing of their ill-gotten gains and false security untouched. The use of "strike" indicates a powerful and decisive divine intervention. This isn't merely a setback; it's a comprehensive destruction that affects the oppressor's entire domain and reliance. The verse serves as a timeless warning against greed, exploitation, and the arrogance that comes with accumulating wealth through unrighteous means, emphasizing that God hears the cries of the oppressed and will act decisively on their behalf.