English Standard Version
Amos 6:5
5who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,
Amos 6:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;
- New International Version (NIV)You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, And invent for yourselves musical instruments like David;
- New Living Translation (NLT)You sing trivial songs to the sound of the harp and fancy yourselves to be great musicians like David.
Context of Amos 6:5
3O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence? 4"Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, 6who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! 7Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away."
Read all of Amos 6Amos 6:5 word by word
הַפֹּרְטִ֖ים עַל־פִּ֣י הַנָּ֑בֶל כְּדָוִ֕יד חָשְׁב֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם כְּלֵי־שִֽׁיר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Amos 6:5
- Genesis 31:27Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre?
- Job 21:11They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance.
- Ecclesiastes 2:8I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.
- Isaiah 5:12They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord, or see the work of his hands.
- 1 Peter 4:3For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.
- Revelation 18:22and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more,
- Amos 5:23Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
- Amos 8:3The songs of the temple shall become wailings in that day," declares the Lord God. "So many dead bodies!" "They are thrown everywhere!" "Silence!"
- 1 Chronicles 23:54,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 shall offer praises to the Lord with the instruments that I have made for praise."
Commentaries on Amos 6:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5And invent to themselves instruments of music, like David - See the note on 1 Chronicles 23:5; and see especially the note on 2 Chronicles 29:25; (note). I believe that David was not authorized by the Lord to introduce that multitude of musical instruments into the Divine worship of which we read, and I am satisfied that his conduct in this respect is most solemnly reprehended by this prophet; and I farther believe that the use of such instruments of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5That chant to the voice of the lyre - Accompanying “the voice of the lyre” with the human voice; giving vocal expression and utterance to what the instrumental music spoke without words. The word, which Amos alone uses in this one place, describes probably a hurried flow of unmeaning, unconsidered words, in which the rhythm of words and music was everything, the sense, nothing; much like most glees. The English margin “quaver” has also some foundation in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-6These verses describe people celebrating with excessive drinking and loud behavior.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. chant--literally, "mark distinct sounds and tones." viol--the lyre, or lute. invent ... instruments ... like David--They fancy they equal David in musical skill (1Ch 23:5; Ne 12:36). They defend their luxurious passion for music by his example: forgetting that he pursued this study when at peace and free from danger, and that for the praise of God; but they pursue for their own self-gratification, and that when God is angry and ruin is imminent.Read the comment
Topics related to Amos 6:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Amos 6
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries