Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, November 6th, 2024
the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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Green's Literal Translation

Amos 2:6

So says Jehovah: For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn back from it, for they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Bribery;   Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   Poor;   Shoe;   Thompson Chain Reference - Men;   Needy, the;   Poor, the;   Poverty-Riches;   Silver;   Traffic in Men;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Poor, the;   Presents;   Shoes;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Pledge;   Poor;   Sandals;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Amos;   Government;   Jeroboam;   Judge;   Lending;   Slave;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Amos, Theology of;   Justice;   Legalism;   Sin;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Jeroboam;   Poetry;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Sandal;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Amos;   Loan;   Monotheism;   Oracles;   Poor, Orphan, Widow;   Sex, Biblical Teaching on;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Amos;   Apocalyptic Literature;   Day of the Lord;   King;   Slave, Slavery;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Day of Judgment;   Wealth (2);   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Israel kingdom of;   Zion;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Amos (1);   Assessor;   Bribery;   Calf, Golden;   Deuteronomy;   Jeroboam;   Number;   Punishments;   Shoe;   Tax;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Joseph;   Sandals;   Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
This is what the Lord says: "I will definitely punish Israel for the many crimes they have done. They sold honest people for a little silver. They sold the poor for the price of a pair of sandals.
New American Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: "For three offenses of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke its punishment, Because they sell the righteous for money, And the needy for a pair of sandals.
New Century Version
This is what the Lord says: "For the many crimes of Israel, I will punish them. For silver, they sell people who have done nothing wrong; they sell the poor to buy a pair of sandals.
New English Translation
This is what the Lord says: "Because Israel has committed three covenant transgressions— make that four!—I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They sold the innocent for silver, the needy for a pair of sandals.
Update Bible Version
Thus says Yahweh: For three transgressions of Israel, yes, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes-
Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away [their punishment]: because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
Amplified Bible
Thus 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.
English Standard Version
Thus says the Lord : "For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals—
World English Bible
Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Israel, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; Because they have sold the righteous for silver, And the needy for a pair of shoes;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The Lord seith these thingis, On thre grete trespassis of Israel, and on foure, Y schal not conuerte hym, for that that he seelde a iust man for siluer, and a pore man for schoon.
English Revised Version
Thus saith the LORD: For three transgressions of Israel, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have sold the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of shoes:
Berean Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: "For three transgressions of Israel, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals.
Contemporary English Version
The Lord said: I will punish Israel for countless crimes, and I won't change my mind. They sell honest people for money, and the needy are sold for the price of sandals.
American Standard Version
Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Israel, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes—
Bible in Basic English
These are the words of the Lord: For three crimes of Israel, and for four, I will not let its fate be changed; because they have given the upright man for silver, and the poor for the price of two shoes;
Complete Jewish Bible
Here is what Adonai says: "For Isra'el's three crimes, no, four — I will not reverse it — because they sell the upright for silver and the poor for a pair of shoes,
Darby Translation
Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke its sentence; because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes;
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Thus saith the LORD: For three transgressions of Israel, yea, for four, I will not reverse it: because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes;
King James Version (1611)
Thus sayth the Lord, For three transgressions of Israel, and for foure, I will not turne away the punishment thereof; because they solde the righteous for siluer, and the poore for a paire of shooes:
New Living Translation
This is what the Lord says: "The people of Israel have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They sell honorable people for silver and poor people for a pair of sandals.
New Life Bible
The Lord says, "For three sins of Israel and for four, I will not hold back punishment. They sell those who are right and good for money. To get shoes, they sell people who are in need.
New Revised Standard
Thus says the Lord : For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals—
Geneva Bible (1587)
Thus sayth the Lord, For three transgressions of Israel, and for foure, I will not turne to it, because they solde the righteous for siluer and the poore for shooes.
George Lamsa Translation
Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof, because they sold a righteous man for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes, with which they tread the dust of the earth.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thus, saith Yahweh, Because of three transgressions of Israel, and because of four, will I not turn it back, - Because they have sold - for silver - the righteous, and the needy - for a pair of shoes:
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Israel, and for four I will not convert him: because he hath sold the just man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of shoes.
Revised Standard Version
Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes--
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Thus sayth the Lorde, For three wickednesses of Israel, and for foure I wil not spare hym: because they solde the righteous for siluer, and the poore for a paire of shoes.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Thus saith the Lord; for three sins of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away from him; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for sandals,
Good News Translation
The Lord says, "The people of Israel have sinned again and again, and for this I will certainly punish them. They sell into slavery honest people who cannot pay their debts, the poor who cannot repay even the price of a pair of sandals.
Christian Standard Bible®
The Lord says:
Hebrew Names Version
Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Yisra'el, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; Because they have sold the righteous for silver, And the needy for a pair of shoes;
King James Version
Thus saith the Lord ; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
Lexham English Bible
Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Israel and for four I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for money and the poor for a pair of sandals!
Young's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah: For three transgressions of Israel, And for four, I do not reverse it, Because of their selling for silver the righteous, And the needy for a pair of sandals.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thus sayeth the LORDE: For thre & foure wickednesses of Israel, I wil not spare him: because he hath solde the rightuous for money, and the poore for shues.
THE MESSAGE
God 's Message: "Because of the three great sins of Israel —make that four—I'm not putting up with them any longer. They buy and sell upstanding people. People for them are only things—ways of making money. They'd sell a poor man for a pair of shoes. They'd sell their own grandmother! They grind the penniless into the dirt, shove the luckless into the ditch. Everyone and his brother sleeps with the ‘sacred whore'— a sacrilege against my Holy Name. Stuff they've extorted from the poor is piled up at the shrine of their god, While they sit around drinking wine they've conned from their victims.
New King James Version
Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they sell the righteous for silver, And the poor for a pair of sandals.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Israel and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they sell the righteous for money And the needy for a pair of sandals.
Legacy Standard Bible
Thus says Yahweh,"For three transgressions of Israel and for fourI will not turn back its punishmentBecause they sell the righteous for moneyAnd the needy for a pair of sandals.

Contextual Overview

1 So says Jehovah: For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn back from it, for he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime. 2 But I will send a fire against Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth. And Moab shall die with uproar, with a war cry, with the sound of the ram's horn. 3 And I will cut off the judge in its midst, and I will kill all his rulers with him, says Jehovah. 4 So says Jehovah: For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn back from it; for they despised the Law of Jehovah, and they have not kept His statutes. And their lies after which their fathers walked led them astray. 5 And I shall send a fire against Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem. 6 So says Jehovah: For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn back from it, for they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals, 7 panting for the dust of the earth to be on the head of the helpless, and turning aside the way of the humble. And a man and his father will go in to the same girl, in order to profane the name of My holiness. 8 And they will stretch out beside every altar, and on garments taken in pledge. And they will drink wine of those being fined in the house of God.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Thus saith: Amos, says Abp. Newcome, first prophesies against the Syrians, Philistines, Tyrians, Edomites, Ammonites, and Moabites, who dwelt in the neighbourhood of the twelve tribes, and had occasionally become their enemies and persecutors. Having thus taught his countrymen that the providence of God extended to other nations, he briefly mentions the idolatrous practices and consequent destruction of Judah, and then passes on to his proper subject, which was to exhort and reprove the kingdom of Israel, and to denounce against it the Divine judgments.

For three: Amos 6:3-7, 2 Kings 17:7-18, 2 Kings 18:12, Ezekiel 23:5-9, Hosea 4:1, Hosea 4:2, Hosea 4:11-14, Hosea 7:7-10, Hosea 8:4-6, Hosea 13:2, Hosea 13:3, Micah 6:10-16

because: Amos 5:11, Amos 5:12, Amos 8:4-6, Isaiah 5:22, Isaiah 5:23, Isaiah 29:21, Joel 3:3, Joel 3:6, Micah 3:2, Micah 3:3

Reciprocal: Exodus 20:17 - thy neighbour's house Esther 7:4 - But if we Psalms 10:9 - when Proverbs 6:16 - six Proverbs 22:7 - rich Isaiah 3:15 - ye beat Isaiah 17:3 - fortress Isaiah 32:6 - empty Jeremiah 34:14 - At the Ezekiel 18:7 - hath not Ezekiel 22:13 - thy dishonest Amos 1:3 - For Amos 2:1 - For three Amos 4:1 - which oppress Amos 8:6 - General Acts 24:26 - hoped Romans 7:14 - sold James 2:6 - Do Revelation 18:13 - slaves

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Thus saith the Lord, for three transgressions of Israel,.... The ten tribes rent from the house of David in the times of Rehoboam, and who departed from the true worship of God, and set up calves at Dan and Bethel:

and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; the following part of this prophecy is taken up in pointing at the sins and punishment of Israel; now the prophet is come to the main business he was sent to do:

because they sold the righteous for silver; meaning not any particular person, as Joseph sold by his brethren, for in that they were all concerned, Judah as well as the rest; nor Christ, as others q, sold for thirty pieces of silver; since the persons here charged with it, and the times in which it was done, will not agree with that case; but the sense is, that the judges of Israel were so corrupt, that for a piece of money they would give a cause against a righteous man, and in favour of an unjust man that bribed them:

and the poor for a pair of shoes; that is, for a mere trifle they would pervert justice; if two men came before them with a cause, and both poor; yet if one could but give a pair of shoes, or anything he could part with, though he could not give money; so mean and sordid were they, they would take it, and give the cause for him, however unjust it was.

q Vid. Galatin. Cathol. Ver. Arcan. l. 4. c. 24.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For three transgressions of Israel, and for four - In Israel, on whom the divine sentence henceforth rests, the prophet numbers four classes of sins, running into one another, as all sins do, since all grievous sins contain many in one, yet in some degree distinct:

(1) Perversion of justice;

(2) oppression of the poor;

(3) uncleanness;

(4) luxury with idolatry.

They sold the righteous for silver - It is clear from the opposite statement, “that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of shoes,” that the prophet is not speaking of judicial iniquity, but of actual buying and selling. The law allowed a Hebrew who was poor to sell himself , and a Hebrew to buy him until the year of release; yet this too with the express reserve, that the purchaser was forbidden to “serve himself with him with the service of a slave, but as a hired servant and a sojourner stroll he be with thee” Leviticus 25:39-40. The thief who could not repay what he stole, was to “be sold for his theft” Exodus 22:2-3. But the law gave no power to sell an insolvent debtor. It grew up in practice. The sons and daughters of the debtor Nehemiah 5:5, or “his wife and children” Matthew 18:25, nay even the sons of a deceased debtor 2 Kings 4:1, were sold. Nehemiah rebuked this sharply. In that case, the hardness was aggravated by the fact that the distress had been fomented by usury. But the aggravation did not constitute the sin. It seems to be this merciless selling by the creditor, with Amos rebukes. The “righteous” is probably one who, without any blame, became insolvent. The “pair of shoes,” that is, sandals, express the trivial price, or the luxury for which he was sold. They had him sold “for the sake of a pair of sandals,” that is, in order to procure them. Trivial in themselves, as being a mere sole, the sandals of the Hebrew women were, at times, costly and beautiful (Song of Solomon 7:1; Ezra 10:0; Judith 16:9). Such a sale expressed contempt for man, made in the image of God, that he was sold either for some worthless price, or for some needless adornment.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Amos 2:6-8. For three transgressions of Israel, c. — To be satisfied of the exceeding delinquency of this people, we have only to open the historical and prophetic books in any part for the whole history of the Israelites is one tissue of transgression against God. Their crimes are enumerated under the following heads: -

1. Their judges were mercenary and corrupt. They took bribes to condemn the righteous; and even for articles of clothing, such as a pair of shoes, they condemned the poor man, and delivered him into the hands of his adversary.

2. They were unmerciful to the poor generally. They pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor; or, to put it on the head of the poor; or, they bruise the head of the poor against the dust of the earth. Howsoever the clause is understood, it shows them to have been general oppressors of the poor, showing them neither justice nor mercy.

3. They turn aside the way of the meek. They are peculiarly oppressive to the weak and afflicted.

4. They were licentious to the uttermost abomination; for in their idol feasts, where young women prostituted themselves publicly in honour of Astarte, the father and son entered into impure connections with the same female.

5. They were cruel in their oppressions of the poor; for the garments or beds which the poor had pledged they retained contrary to the law, Exodus 22:7-26, which required that such things should be restored before the setting of the sun.

6. They punished the people by unjust and oppressive fines, and served their tables with wine bought by such fines. Or it may be understood of their appropriating to themselves that wine which was allowed to criminals to mitigate their sufferings in the article of death; which was the excess of inhumanity and cruelty.


 
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