Amplified Bible
Amos 8:6
6So that we may buy the poor [as slaves] for silver [since they are unable to support themselves] And the needy for a pair of sandals, And that we may sell the leftovers of the wheat [as if it were a good grade of grain]?”
Amos 8:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?
- New International Version (NIV)buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat.
- English Standard Version (ESV)that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals and sell the chaff of the wheat?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)That we may buy the poor for silver, And the needy for a pair of sandals— Even sell the bad wheat?”
Context of Amos 8:6
4Hear this, you who trample down the needy, and do away with the poor of the land, 5saying, “When will the New Moon [festival] be over So that we may sell grain, And the Sabbath ended so that we may open the wheat market, Making the ephah [measure] smaller and the shekel bigger [that is, selling less for a higher price] And to cheat by falsifying the scales, So that we may buy the poor [as slaves] for silver [since they are unable to support themselves] And the needy for a pair of sandals, And that we may sell the leftovers of the wheat [as if it were a good grade of grain]?” 7The Lord has sworn [an oath] by the pride of Jacob, “Surely I shall never forget [nor leave unpunished] any of their [rebellious] acts. 8Because of this [coming judgment] will the land not quake And everyone mourn who dwells in it? Indeed, all of it shall rise up like the Nile, And it will be tossed around [from the impact of judgment] And [afterward] subside again like the Nile of Egypt.
Read all of Amos 8Amos 8:6 word by word
לִקְנ֤וֹת בַּכֶּ֙סֶף֙ דַּלִּ֔ים וְאֶבְי֖וֹן בַּעֲב֣וּר נַעֲלָ֑יִם וּמַפַּ֥ל בַּ֖ר נַשְׁבִּֽיר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- That we may buyקָנָהqânâh · to buyH7069
- the poorדַּלdal · poorH1800
- for silverכֶּ֫סֶףkeseph · silver: moneyH3701
- and the needyאֶבְיוֹן'ebyôn · needyH34
- for a pair of shoesנַ֫עַלna‛al na‛ălâh · sandalH5275
- and sellשָׁבַרshâbar · to buy grainH7666
- the refuseמַפָּלmappâl · refuseH4651
- of the wheatבַּרbâr bar · grainH1250
Cross-references for Amos 8:6
- Amos 8:4Hear this, you who trample down the needy, and do away with the poor of the land,
- Amos 2:6Thus says the Lord, “For three transgressions of Israel and for four (multiplied delinquencies) I will not reverse its punishment or revoke My word concerning it, Because they sell the righteous and innocent for silver And the needy for the price of a pair of sandals.
- Leviticus 25:39‘And if your fellow countryman becomes so poor [in his dealings] with you that he sells himself to you [as payment for a debt], you shall not let him do the work of a slave [who is ineligible for redemption],
- Nehemiah 5:1Now there was a great outcry of the [poorer] people and their wives against their Jewish brothers [to whom they were deeply in debt].
- Joel 3:3They have also cast lots for My people, And have traded a boy for a prostitute And have sold a girl for wine that they may drink.
Commentaries on Amos 8:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6That we may buy the poor for silver - Buying their services for such a time, with just money enough to clear them from other creditors. And the needy for a pair of shoes - See Amos 2:6. And sell the refuse of the wheat! - Selling bad wheat and damaged flour to poor people as good, knowing that such cannot afford to prosecute them.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6That we may buy - Or, indignantly, “To buy the poor!” literally, “the afflicted,” those in “low” estate. First, by dishonesty and oppression they gained their lands and goods. Then the poor were obliged to sell themselves. The slight price, for which a man was sold, showed the more contempt for “the image of God.” Before, he said, “the needy” were “sold for a pair of sandals” Amos 2:6; here, that they were bought for them. It seems then the more likely…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-10Verses 4-10 The rich and powerful of the land were the most guilty of oppression, as well as the foremost in idolatry. They were weary of the restraints of the sabbaths and the new moons, and wished them over, because no common work might be done therein. This is the character of many who are called Christians. The sabbath day and sabbath work are a burden to carnal hearts. It will either be profaned or be accounted a dull day. But can we spend our time…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-14This section provides more details on the accusations and decisions mentioned earlier (read with Amos 2:6–6:14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. buy ... poor for silver ... pair of shoes--that is, that we may compel the needy for money, or any other thing of however little worth, to sell themselves to us as bondmen, in defiance of Le 25:39; the very thing which brings down God's judgment (Am 2:6). sell the refuse of ... wheat--which contains no nutriment, but which the poor eat at a low price, being unable to pay for flour.Read the comment
Topics related to Amos 8:6
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Amos 8
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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