Amos 5:9

Amos 5:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.
• New International Version (NIV)With a blinding flash he destroys the stronghold and brings the fortified city to ruin.
• English Standard Version (ESV)who makes destruction flash forth against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He rains ruin upon the strong, So that fury comes upon the fortress.

Context of Amos 5:9

7For those [shall be consumed] who turn justice into wormwood (bitterness) And cast righteousness down to the earth.” 8He who made the [cluster of stars called] Pleiades and [the constellation] Orion, Who turns deep darkness into the morning And darkens the day into night, Who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The Lord is His name. It is He who causes [sudden] destruction to flash forth on the strong So that destruction comes on the fortress. 10They hate the one who reprimands [the unrighteous] in the [court held at the city] gate [regarding him as unreasonable and rejecting his reprimand], And they detest him who speaks [the truth] with integrity and honesty. 11Therefore, because you impose heavy rent on the poor And demand a tribute (food-tax) of grain from them, Though you have built [luxurious] houses of square stone, You will not live in them; You have planted beautiful vineyards, but you will not drink their wine.

Amos 5:9 word by word

הַמַּבְלִ֥יג שֹׁ֖ד עַל־עָ֑ז וְשֹׁ֖ד עַל־מִבְצָ֥ר יָבֽוֹא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• That strengthenethבָּלַגbâlag · be cheerfulH1082
• the spoiledשֹׁדshôd shôd · violenceH7701
• against the strongעַז‛az · strongH5794
• shall comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• against the fortressמִבְצָרmibtsâr mibtsârâh · fortificationH4013

Cross-references for Amos 5:9

• 2 Kings 13:17And he said, “Open the window to the east,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” And he shot. And Elisha said, “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram (Syria); for you will strike the Arameans in Aphek until you have destroyed them.”
• Jeremiah 37:10For even if you had defeated the whole army of the Chaldeans who fight against you, and there remained only the wounded men among them, yet they would rise up, every man confined in his tent, and burn down this city with fire.’ ”
• Hebrews 11:34extinguished the power of [raging] fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty and unbeatable in battle, putting enemy forces to flight.

Commentaries on Amos 5:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9That strengtheneth the spoiled - Who takes the part of the poor and oppressed against the oppressor; and, in the course of his providence, sets up the former, and depresses the latter.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9That strengtheneth the spoiled - (Literally, “spoil” English margin) probably That “maketh devastation to smile on the strong.”. The “smile,” in anger, attests both the extremity of anger, and the consciousness of the ease, wherewith the offence can be punished. They were strong in their own strength; strong, as they deemed, in their “fortress”; “strong with an evil strength, like one phrensied against his physician.” But their strength would be weakness…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-17Verses 7-17 The same almighty power can, for repenting sinners, easily turn affliction and sorrow into prosperity and joy, and as easily turn the prosperity of daring sinners into utter darkness. Evil times will not bear plain dealing; that is, evil men will not. And these men were evil men indeed, when wise and good men thought it in vain even to speak to them. Those who will seek and love that which is good, may help to save the land from ruin. It…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-9Amos quotes another hymn fragment (see Amos 4:13; 9:5–6). The prophet highlights the difference between the cosmic God and local gods. Stars, celestial bodies, and constellations like Pleiades and Orion were seen as gods in ancient times. Amos says this is not true; the Lord created them and placed them in the sky. waters: People in ancient times observed a process they did not understand, such as evaporation and condensation (when water turns into vapor…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. strengtheneth the spoiled--literally, "spoil" or "devastation": hence the "person spoiled." Winer, Maurer, and the best modern critics translate, "maketh devastation (or destruction) suddenly to arise," literally, "maketh it to gleam forth like the dawn." Ancient versions support English Version. The Hebrew is elsewhere used, to make, to shine, to make glad: and as English Version here (Psa 39:13), "recover strength." the spoiled shall…Read the comment

Topics related to Amos 5:9

• War

In the dictionaries

• Manifold
• Seek
• Amos (1)
• Omnipotence

Commentaries on Amos 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings