Amos 8:4 kjv
Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,
Amos 8:4 nkjv
Hear this, you who swallow up the needy, And make the poor of the land fail,
Amos 8:4 niv
Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land,
Amos 8:4 esv
Hear this, you who trample on the needy and bring the poor of the land to an end,
Amos 8:4 nlt
Listen to this, you who rob the poor
and trample down the needy!
Amos 8 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Amos 8:4 | Hear this, you who trample on the needy and oppress the poor of the land! | Judgment on economic injustice |
| Psalm 14 | The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one. | General wickedness |
| Psalm 72:2-4 | May he rule the people with righteousness, and the needy with justice. May the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills in righteousness. May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor! | Divine justice for the poor |
| Isaiah 3:14-15 | The LORD has entered into judgment with the elders and leaders of his people: "It is you who have eaten up the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people by your inflictions and grinding the faces of the needy?" declares the LORD, the LORD of hosts. | Accusation of oppression |
| Isaiah 10:1-2 | Woe to those who make iniquitous decrees, to the writers who keep writing oppression, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey! | Iniquitous decrees, plunder |
| Jeremiah 5:26-28 | "Among my people are found wicked men who lie in wait like fowlers laying snares; they set a trap; they catch men. Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and enriched. They have become fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they defend not the cause of the fatherless, to make it succeed, and, without justice, they defend the rights of the needy." | Deceit and neglect of justice |
| Ezekiel 18:12 | If a man oppresses the poor and robs, if he withholds his pledge, casts his lot among the plunder, lifts his eyes to any abominations, eats no unclean food, listens to no temptation to sin, lifts his hand to the needy, does not increase his usury to them, nor put his gain in the plate, but withdraws his hand from iniquity, executes true justice between man and man, walks in my statutes, and keeps my ordinances and practices them—he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord GOD. | Specific acts of oppression |
| 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? | Doing justice, loving kindness |
| Matthew 5:3 | "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. | Blessedness of the poor |
| Matthew 5:6 | "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. | Pursuit of righteousness |
| Matthew 25:40 | "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." | Service to the needy |
| James 2:5-7 | Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who do you violence by dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the good name by which you were called? | Favor towards the poor |
| Luke 1:52 | He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. | God scatters the proud |
| Proverbs 22:22 | Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the needy in the gate. | Command against oppression |
| Psalm 10:17 | O LORD, you hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and to the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. | God hears the oppressed |
| Amos 2:6-7 | Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals, even the small dust of the earth they sell on top of the heap. | Selling the righteous/needy |
| Amos 5:11-12 | Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from him exactions of wheat, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. For I know how many are your transgressions, and how mighty are your sins—you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and who turn aside the needy in the courts." | Trampling the poor, bribery |
| Amos 4:1 | Hear this word, you kine of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the weak, who crush the needy, who say to their husbands, "Bring us some drink!" | Similar imagery of oppression |
| Amos 6:12 | For shall horses run on the rocks? Will one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness— | Perversion of justice |
| Amos 7:10 | Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is unable to bear all his words. | Opposition to prophecy |
Amos 8 verses
Amos 8 4 Meaning
"Hear this, you who trample on the needy and oppress the poor of the land." This verse declares God's pronouncement against those who exploit and abuse the vulnerable. It highlights the sin of economic injustice and the judgment that awaits the oppressors.
Amos 8 4 Context
Chapter 8 of Amos continues the prophet's severe pronouncements of judgment against Israel. Following the vision of the plumb line (7:7-9) and Amaziah's confrontation with Amos (7:10-17), this chapter details the reasons for God's impending wrath. The specific sin addressed here is the rampant economic injustice and exploitation prevalent in Israel. The people, particularly the wealthy and powerful, are depicted as callously disregarding the needs of the poor, trampling on them for personal gain. This highlights a core theme in Amos's prophecy: God's unwavering concern for justice and His judgment against those who abuse their power and disregard the welfare of the vulnerable. The historical context is the prosperous but spiritually corrupt Northern Kingdom of Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II.
Amos 8 4 Word analysis
- "Hear" (Sh'ma): Imperative, a call to attention, demanding that the recipients listen to the grave pronouncement.
- "this" (zōt): Refers to the following declaration of judgment and the underlying sin being addressed.
- "you" (atem): Plural, directly addressing the oppressors, likely the wealthy elite and corrupt leaders.
- "who trample" (hanimbusim): The Hebrew verb implies a deliberate, forceful, and disdainful crushing or grinding. It suggests a complete disregard for the dignity and rights of others. This action signifies the harsh and cruel way the poor are treated, as if they are mere dirt or obstacles to be crushed underfoot.
- "on the needy" (al-dalim): The Hebrew word "dal" (דַּל) refers to the weak, the feeble, the afflicted, and the poor. It emphasizes their vulnerability and dependent state.
- "and oppress" (v'v'otsrim): The Hebrew verb "atsar" (עָצַר) means to shut up, to restrain, to prevent, or to oppress. In this context, it signifies the active withholding of rights, opportunities, and justice from the poor. It implies a forceful imposition of hardship and constraint.
- "the poor" (vi'vyoni): The Hebrew word "evyon" (רִוּיוֹן) also denotes the poor, the needy, those in want. It is a strong term emphasizing destitution and reliance on others.
- "of the land" (ha'aretz): Signifies the indigenous population, the rightful inhabitants of the nation of Israel, emphasizing that the exploitation is happening within their own society and against their own people.
Words Group Analysis:
- "trample on the needy and oppress the poor": This phrase forms a powerful unit describing the dual sin of economic injustice. The "trampling" represents the violent, disdainful treatment, while "oppress" signifies the active systemic deprivation and restriction of rights. Together, they paint a vivid picture of exploitation that crushes the spirit and opportunities of the vulnerable.
Amos 8 4 Bonus section
The phrase "trample on the needy and oppress the poor" encapsulates a profound concern in biblical justice. It highlights that exploitation is not merely a societal problem but a violation of divine order. The consistent emphasis on the poor and needy throughout scripture underscores God's preferential option for the marginalized. This verse, therefore, carries implications for believers today, calling them to actively advocate for the poor and challenge systems that perpetuate injustice, reflecting God's own heart for the downtrodden.
Amos 8 4 Commentary
Amos's message here is a stark indictment of social and economic injustice. God sees and hears the cries of the oppressed, and He will not tolerate the mistreatment of the vulnerable for the sake of personal wealth or status. The "needy" and "poor" are not abstract categories but vulnerable individuals whose rights and livelihoods are being systematically violated by those in power. This verse serves as a timeless reminder of God's demand for righteousness and justice within human society. The emphasis is on actions that harm the weak, whether through overt violence or more insidious means like unfair laws or practices that disenfranchise the poor. The prosperity of the oppressors is built on a foundation of suffering for others, a foundation that God will dismantle.