New English Translation
Amos 6:4
4They lie around on beds decorated with ivory, and sprawl out on their couches. They eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the middle of the pen.
Amos 6:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;
- New International Version (NIV)You lie on beds adorned with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"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,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Who lie on beds of ivory, Stretch out on your couches, Eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall;
Context of Amos 6:4
2They say to the people: “Journey over to Calneh and look at it! Then go from there to Hamath-Rabbah! Then go down to Gath of the Philistines! Are they superior to our two kingdoms? Is their territory larger than yours?” 3You refuse to believe a day of disaster will come, but you establish a reign of violence. They lie around on beds decorated with ivory, and sprawl out on their couches. They eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the middle of the pen. 5They sing to the tune of stringed instruments; like David they invent musical instruments. 6They drink wine from sacrificial bowls, and pour the very best oils on themselves. Yet they are not concerned over the ruin of Joseph.
Read all of Amos 6Amos 6:4 word by word
הַשֹּֽׁכְבִים֙ עַל־מִטּ֣וֹת שֵׁ֔ן וּסְרֻחִ֖ים עַל־עַרְשׂוֹתָ֑ם וְאֹכְלִ֤ים כָּרִים֙ מִצֹּ֔אן וַעֲגָלִ֖ים מִתּ֥וֹךְ מַרְבֵּֽק׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- That lieשָׁכַבshâkab · to lie down: lay downH7901
- upon bedsמִטָּהmiţţâh · bedH4296
- of ivoryשֵׁןshên · tooth: ivoryH8127
- and stretchסָרַחsârach · to overrunH5628
- themselves upon their couchesעֶ֫רֶשׂ‛ereώ · bedH6210
- and eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- the lambsכַּרkar · ramH3733
- out of the flockצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629
- and the calvesעֵ֫גֶל‛êgel · calfH5695
- out of the midstתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
- of the stallמַרְבֵּקmarbêq · stallH4770
Cross-references for Amos 6:4
- Isaiah 5:11Those who get up early to drink beer are as good as dead, those who keep drinking long after dark until they are intoxicated with wine.
- Isaiah 22:13But look, there is outright celebration! You say, “Kill the ox and slaughter the sheep, eat meat and drink wine. Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
- Luke 16:19“There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
- Romans 13:13Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy.
- James 5:5You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
- 1 Samuel 25:36When Abigail went back to Nabal, he was holding a banquet in his house like that of the king. Nabal was having a good time and was very intoxicated. She told him absolutely nothing until morning’s light.
- Psalms 73:7Their prosperity causes them to do wrong; their thoughts are sinful.
- Luke 12:19And I will say to myself, “You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’
Commentaries on Amos 6:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4That lie upon beds of ivory - The word הוי hoi, wo, is understood at the beginning of each of the first, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth verses. The beds mentioned here may be either sofas to recline on at table, or beds to sleep on; and these among the ancients were ornamented with ivory inlaid. They were called lectos eburatos by Plautus, lectos eburnos by Horace, "ivory beds." Probably those ornamented with shells, or mother-of-pearl, may be intended…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4That lie upon beds (that is, sofas) of ivory - that is, probably inlaid with ivory. The word might, in itself, express either the bed, in which they slept by night, or the divan, on which the Easterns lay at their meals; “and stretch themselves,” literally, “are poured” out, stretching their listless length, dissolved, unnerved, in luxury and sloth, “upon their couches,” perhaps under an awning: “and eat the lambs,” probably “fatted lambs (as in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4People often served meat to honor important guests. Common foods included bread, fruit, vegetables, and dairy products. Wealthy people ate meat regularly, showing their wealth.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. (See Am 2:8). beds of ivory--that is, adorned, or inlaid, with ivory (Am 3:15). stretch themselves--in luxurious self-indulgence. lambs out of the flock--picked out as the choicest, for their owners' selfish gratification.Read the comment
Topics related to Amos 6:4
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
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