God’s Word Translation
Amos 5:9
9He destroys strongholds and ruins fortresses.
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
7You, Israel, turn justice into poison and throw righteousness on the ground. 8God made the ⌞constellations⌟ Pleiades and Orion. He turns deep darkness into dawn. He turns day into night. He calls for water from the sea to pour it over the face of the earth. His name is the Lord. He destroys strongholds and ruins fortresses. 10Israel, you hate anyone who speaks out against injustice. You are disgusted by anyone who speaks the truth. 11You trample on the poor and take their wheat from them for taxes. That is why you build houses from hand-cut stones, but you will not live in them. You plant beautiful vineyards, but you will not drink their wine.
Read all of Amos 5Amos 5:9 word by word
הַמַּבְלִ֥יג שֹׁ֖ד עַל־עָ֑ז וְשֹׁ֖ד עַל־מִבְצָ֥ר יָבֽוֹא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Amos 5:9
- 2 Kings 13:17Elisha said, “Open the window that faces east.” So the king opened it. “Shoot,” Elisha said, and the king shot. Then Elisha said, “That is the arrow of the Lord’s victory, the arrow of victory against Aram. You will completely defeat the Arameans at Aphek.”
- Jeremiah 37:10Even if you would defeat the entire Babylonian army so that they had only a few badly wounded men left in their tents, they would get up and burn down this city.’ ”
- Hebrews 11:34put out raging fires, and escaped death. They found strength when they were weak. They were powerful in battle and defeated other armies.
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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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