Amos 6:8 kjv
The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.
Amos 6:8 nkjv
The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself, The LORD God of hosts says: "I abhor the pride of Jacob, And hate his palaces; Therefore I will deliver up the city And all that is in it."
Amos 6:8 niv
The Sovereign LORD has sworn by himself?the LORD God Almighty declares: "I abhor the pride of Jacob and detest his fortresses; I will deliver up the city and everything in it."
Amos 6:8 esv
The Lord GOD has sworn by himself, declares the LORD, the God of hosts: "I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds, and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it."
Amos 6:8 nlt
The Sovereign LORD has sworn by his own name, and this is what he, the LORD God of Heaven's Armies, says: "I despise the arrogance of Israel,
and I hate their fortresses.
I will give this city
and everything in it to their enemies."
Amos 6 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Amos 6:8 | The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with the fullness thereof. | This is the target verse. |
| Psalm 31:23 | O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and rewardeth the proud doer plentifully. | God's hatred for pride aligns with His preservation of the faithful. |
| Psalm 138:6 | Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but knoweth he the proud afar off. | Reinforces God's attention to the lowly and His distancing from the proud. |
| Proverbs 6:16-19 | These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. | Directly lists "a proud look" as something God hates. |
| Proverbs 16:18 | Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. | Explains the consequence of pride. |
| Isaiah 2:11-12 | The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: | Predicts the humbling of the proud on the day of the Lord. |
| Isaiah 10:33 | And behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be abased. | Similar imagery of cutting down the proud and haughty. |
| Isaiah 14:13-14 | For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. | Demonstrates extreme pride, the sin God abhors. |
| Jeremiah 48:29 | I have heard of the pride of Moab, (he hath very proudly behaved himself) he hath high looks, and with his arrogance, and his pride, and his high-mindedness: but his excellencies shall be found to be nought. | Moab's pride is also condemned, mirroring Jacob's. |
| Jeremiah 50:31-32 | Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time of thine visitation. And the proud shall stumble and his fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him. | God declares His opposition to the proud. |
| Micah 2:1-2 | Woe unto them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance. | Connects oppressive actions to their luxurious lifestyle. |
| Zephaniah 2:10 | This shall be their recompence for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts. | Directly links pride to reproaching and magnifying against God's people. |
| Luke 1:51-53 | He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. | Mary's Magnificat reflects God's attitude towards the proud and the humble. |
| Romans 12:3 | For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. | New Testament principle of humility and self-assessment. |
| James 4:6 | But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. | Explicit statement of God's resistance to the proud. |
| 1 Peter 5:5 | Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. | Similar teaching on humility and God's opposition to pride. |
| Jude 1:16 | These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling things, and they flatterers for advantage. | Describes the proud as murmurers with great swelling words. |
| Revelation 3:17 | Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: | The Laodicean church exemplifies self-sufficiency and pride, similar to Israel's state. |
| Amos 5:11 | Forasmuch therefore as ye tread upon the poor, and take from him burdens of wheat, ye have built ye fine houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink the wine thereof. | Shows the direct link between oppressing the poor and building luxurious houses. |
| Amos 3:13-14 | Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the LORD God, the God of hosts, That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also visit the transgressions of Bethel: and the altars of Bethel shall be destroyed, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. | Foretells destruction upon Bethel, a place of their luxury. |
| Leviticus 26:11-12 | And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. | Contrasts God's dwelling among a humble people with His abhorrence of the proud. |
Amos 6 verses
Amos 6 8 Meaning
The Lord Jehovah has sworn by Himself. This is a powerful oath, signifying divine certainty and unwavering resolve. God's assertion is that He detests the arrogance of Jacob. He loathes the grandeur and pride exhibited by the people of Israel. God abhors their luxurious lifestyle, which stems from their deceit and exploitation of others.
Amos 6 8 Context
Amos, a prophet from the southern kingdom of Judah, is delivering a strong condemnation against the northern kingdom of Israel during a period of apparent prosperity and peace under Jeroboam II. This verse is part of a broader oracle against Israel's unrepentant sins. Israel's economic boom has led to social injustice, idolatry, and excessive luxury among the elite. They have oppressed the poor, amassed wealth through unjust means, and indulged in lavish lifestyles, symbolized by their fine houses and palaces. This prosperity has bred a spirit of arrogance and self-sufficiency, leading them to believe they are secure and favored by God, despite their outward religious practices.
Amos is highlighting God's intense displeasure with this hypocrisy and pride. The prophet's message is not merely about material possessions but about the moral decay that accompanies them when obtained and enjoyed without regard for divine principles or the well-being of others. The impending judgment is a consequence of their spiritual and social corruption, directly tied to their arrogance and the oppressive systems that sustain their luxury.
Amos 6 8 Word Analysis
- "The Lord": Hebrew: YHWH (Yahweh) - The self-existent, covenant God of Israel.
- "GOD": Hebrew: Adonai - Lord, Master. Used together, YHWH Adonai emphasizes God's supreme sovereignty and His relationship as Master over His people.
- "hath sworn": Hebrew: shava - To swear, to take an oath. A solemn affirmation or promise, invoking God's own name and nature as confirmation.
- "by himself": Hebrew: bimechâ, literally "by His soul" or "by His being." This indicates the ultimate oath, swearing by His own essential being, the highest possible guarantee of truth and immutability.
- "saith": Hebrew: ne'um - A declaration, an utterance.
- "the LORD": Hebrew: YHWH (Yahweh) - Again, emphasizing the divine speaker.
- "the God of hosts": Hebrew: Elohey ha-ts'ba'ot - God of armies or heavenly hosts. This title highlights God's omnipotence, His supreme power as the commander of all forces, both earthly and heavenly, emphasizing His ability to execute judgment.
- "I abhor": Hebrew: sâ'atî - From sû' meaning to detest, to loathe, to feel disgust for. This is a strong expression of extreme aversion and repulsion.
- "the excellency": Hebrew: g'ôn - Pride, arrogance, haughtiness, loftiness, or indeed, supremacy. In this context, it refers to the arrogance and proud demeanor that stems from their wealth and perceived superiority.
- "of Jacob": Refers to the people of Israel, descendants of Jacob.
- "and hate": Hebrew: sânê'tî - A strong word for hate or detest. Parallel to "abhor" to emphasize the intensity of God's feeling.
- "his palaces": Hebrew: 'armênôth - Palaces, strongholds, or fortresses. Refers to their grand and luxurious residences, symbols of their power, wealth, and indulgence.
- "therefore": Hebrew: vâchên - Indicating a consequence or result.
- "will I deliver up": Hebrew: m'sôra - To deliver up, to hand over, to betray. God will allow their city to be taken and their possessions forfeited.
- "the city": Refers to their cities, specifically the centers of their luxurious lifestyle, like Samaria.
- "with the fullness thereof": Hebrew: m'lô'ah - Its fullness, its produce, its wealth, its inhabitants. This signifies complete destruction and abandonment; everything within the city will be taken or destroyed.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself": This tripartite statement establishes absolute divine authority and certainty behind the coming judgment. The oath is absolute because it is sworn by God's own being.
- "I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces": This is the core declaration of God's displeasure. "Excellency" here refers not to God-given strengths but to man's proud self-exaltation and arrogant boasting, often displayed through material wealth and lavish lifestyles. The hatred extends to the very symbols and abodes of this pride – their palaces.
- "therefore will I deliver up the city with the fullness thereof": This clause directly links the divine hatred for Israel's pride and luxury to the impending judgment of complete destruction and loss. The "fullness" includes all that they so proudly possessed.
Amos 6 8 Bonus Section
The expression "The Lord GOD of hosts" (YHWH Elohey ha-ts'ba'ot) is crucial here. It identifies God as the powerful sovereign, the ultimate commander, emphasizing that no earthly army or fortification can withstand His judgment. When God declares "I abhor" (sû'), the Hebrew implies a physical, visceral revulsion. It is a feeling of intense disgust. The "excellency of Jacob" (g'ôn Yaaqov) signifies their boastful pride, their arrogance rooted in their prosperity and the strength of their nation, which blinded them to their spiritual poverty and moral decay. This verse is a profound theological statement, highlighting that God’s standards are not those of worldly success but of righteousness, humility, and justice. Their reliance on their own achievements and their oppressive practices are the direct opposite of the humility God seeks and are the catalysts for the announced judgment. The "fullness" implies not just the structures but all that fills them – their wealth, their people, their legacy.
Amos 6 8 Commentary
Amos 6:8 declares the Lord's solemn oath, sworn by His own eternal nature, signifying the absolute certainty of His judgment. He unequivocally states His loathing for the "excellency" of Jacob—meaning their arrogant pride, self-importance, and haughty demeanor—which is often displayed and sustained by their oppressive exploitation and resultant luxury. Their opulent palaces are seen as mere outward manifestations of this inner corruption and a mockery of God's favor when gained through sin. Because of this deep-seated spiritual rebellion and the social injustice it breeds, God vows to deliver up their cities and all that they contain to destruction and ruin. This verse underscores a core theological principle: God detests pride, especially when it is coupled with oppression and a disregard for His commands, and will bring severe judgment upon those who embody these characteristics, regardless of their outward prosperity or perceived spiritual status. This message is a stark warning against mistaking material wealth and worldly status for divine approval, a warning echoed throughout scripture.