God’s Word Translation
Amos 8:6
6We can buy the poor with money and the needy for a pair of sandals. We can sell the husks mixed in with the wheat.”
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
4Listen to this, those who trample on the needy and ruin those who are oppressed in the world. 5You say to yourselves, “When will the New Moon Festival be over so that we can sell more grain? When will the day of rest—a holy day, be over so that we can sell more wheat? We can shrink the size of the bushel baskets, increase the cost, and cheat with dishonest scales. We can buy the poor with money and the needy for a pair of sandals. We can sell the husks mixed in with the wheat.” 7The Lord has sworn an oath by Jacob’s pride: “I will never forget anything that they have done.” 8The land will tremble because of this. Everyone who lives in it will mourn. The entire land will rise like the Nile, be tossed about, and then sink like Egypt’s river.
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 8:4Listen to this, those who trample on the needy and ruin those who are oppressed in the world.
- Amos 2:6This is what the Lord says: Because Israel has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime, I will not change my plans. The people of Israel sell the righteous for money and the needy for a pair of sandals.
- Leviticus 25:39“If an Israelite becomes poor and sells himself to you, don’t work him like a slave.
- Nehemiah 5:1Then some of the people, the men and their wives, complained publicly about their Jewish relatives.
- Joel 3:3They threw dice for my people. They traded boys for prostitutes. They sold girls so that they could buy wine to 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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