Amos 6 11

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 verses

Amos 6 11 meaning

Amos 6:11 declares God's solemn decree of judgment, stating that He Himself will command the utter destruction of all houses in Israel, from the lavish mansions of the wealthy to the humble dwellings of the poor. This signifies a comprehensive and impartial dismantling of their society, affecting all strata, leaving no social class untouched by the divine consequence of their sin and injustice. The physical damage to the houses symbolizes the total collapse of their socio-economic structures and security.

Amos 6 11 Context

Amos chapter 6 delivers a "Woe" to those who are at ease in Zion and confident in Samaria—the complacent elite of both Judah and Israel. These individuals, residing in luxury and self-indulgence (vv. 1-6), live without concern for the "ruin of Joseph," meaning the spiritual and moral decay and the coming destruction of their nation. They mock justice, pervert righteousness, and disregard the covenant while enjoying extravagant lifestyles. Verse 11, therefore, serves as the divine pronouncement of how this judgment will physically manifest. God Himself will directly command the dismantling of their entire societal structure, symbolized by the universal destruction of all their houses, whether grand or modest. Historically, this prophecy was made during a period of outward prosperity and military strength under Jeroboam II in the Northern Kingdom (Israel). However, beneath this façade of success, social injustice, idolatry, and moral corruption were rampant, leading Amos to declare God's certain and devastating judgment on this unrighteous nation. The destruction of their homes highlights the loss of security, identity, and the very fabric of their complacent existence.

Amos 6 11 Word analysis

• For behold (כִּ֣י הִנֵּ֤ה - kî hinnēh): This is a solemn introductory phrase emphasizing the certainty and urgency of the following declaration, commanding attention to an unalterable truth. It signifies a divine pronouncement about to unfold.
• the Lord (יְהוָה - Yahweh): The personal, covenantal name of God. This highlights that it is the sovereign God of Israel, the one with whom they had a relationship (though broken by their sin), who is initiating this judgment. His personal involvement makes the judgment both authoritative and deeply consequential.
• commands (יְצַוֶּה - yĕtsawweh): From the root צָוָה (tsavah), meaning to command, appoint, or order. It signifies an authoritative, direct, and unalterable divine decree. This is not a passive event, but an active, deliberate act of God's will.
• and He will strike (וְהִכָּה - vĕhikkāh): From the root נָכָה (nakah), meaning to strike, smite, beat down, or destroy. This verb is strong and suggests a forceful, decisive, and destructive impact, leaving no doubt about the severity of the action.
• the great house (בַּבַּ֣יִת הַגָּד֗וֹל - babbáyith haggādōl): Refers to the dwellings of the wealthy, the influential, and the powerful. It symbolizes their prosperity, social status, and presumed security, often built on oppression and injustice.
• with breaches (בִּקְעִ֤ים - biqeʿîm): From the root בָּקַע (baqaʿ), meaning to cleave, tear open, or burst through. It signifies deep, violent ruptures, gaping fissures, or splits in structures. It implies catastrophic and widespread destruction, an unmaking.
• and the little house (וְהַבַּ֖יִת הַקָּטֹ֣ן - vĕhabbáyith haqqāṭōn): Refers to the more modest homes of the common people. Its inclusion alongside the great house emphasizes the universality and impartiality of the coming judgment. No one, regardless of social standing, will escape.
• with fissures (סְדָקִֽים - sĕdāqîm): From the root סָדַק (sadaq), meaning to crack or split. It refers to smaller cracks, crevices, or splitting. This word complements "breaches," suggesting that all parts of all structures, from major collapses to minor damage, will be affected, indicating comprehensive structural integrity failure.

• "the Lord commands, and He will strike": This phrase highlights God's absolute sovereignty and direct agency in the judgment. The destruction is not a random catastrophe but a divinely ordained and executed punishment, initiated by His direct command. It signifies the unstoppable nature of His decree.
• "the great house... and the little house": This pairing underscores the comprehensive and indiscriminate nature of God's judgment across all societal levels. It directly addresses the socio-economic divisions prevalent in Amos's time, showing that no one—neither the opulent oppressors nor the more modest complicit—will be exempt from the impending desolation.
• "with breaches and... with fissures": This vivid imagery emphasizes the totality and thoroughness of the destruction. "Breaches" suggests severe, gaping structural failures (major walls collapsing), while "fissures" denotes smaller cracks and decay throughout, indicating a complete loss of structural integrity from foundational ruptures to surface decay. This paints a picture of irreversible and pervasive ruin, leaving nothing intact.

Amos 6 11 Bonus section

The destruction described in Amos 6:11 extends beyond mere property damage; it represents the shattering of the very sense of security and identity for the people of Israel. Their houses, particularly the grand ones, were not just shelters but symbols of their prosperity, status, and the perceived divine favor they believed they enjoyed. The prophecy refutes their complacent belief that God's blessings were tied solely to their national existence or ceremonial rituals, without regard for their ethical conduct. The Hebrew parallelism here is significant, employing synonymous destruction (breaches and fissures) to convey complete desolation rather than distinguishing between types of destruction for each house. This emphasizes that no house will stand, and the integrity of all is lost. This divine command marks an unalterable future, signifying the full force of covenant curses (Deut 28) unleashed upon a people who had long departed from their covenant obligations. The destruction of the house is often linked biblically to the ending of a family line, a dynasty, or even a nation's existence, making this a metaphor for ultimate ruin.

Amos 6 11 Commentary

Amos 6:11 vividly declares God's decisive and comprehensive judgment against Israel. Far from being a mere warning, it is a statement of God's direct action: He "commands" and "will strike." This underscores divine sovereignty and the certainty of the impending doom. The specific target – "the great house" and "the little house" – highlights the absolute impartiality and totality of this judgment. No social class or structure is safe; the symbols of power and prosperity (great houses built often on unjust gain, cf. Hab 2:9-11) and the dwellings of common folk alike will suffer complete structural collapse, denoted by "breaches" (large ruptures) and "fissures" (smaller cracks). This physical devastation of homes, representing security, identity, and the fabric of life, powerfully symbolizes the utter dismantling of Israel's corrupted social, economic, and moral order. The message is clear: sin, especially social injustice and complacent security, will lead to complete national ruin directly initiated by God.

Examples:

• A nation's economic structures, built on exploitation, collapsing under internal strife.
• The breakdown of social trust and order in a society that prioritizes wealth over justice.
• Individual lives where seemingly secure foundations crumble due to neglect of spiritual and ethical principles.