Amos 5:9

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

Him who flasheth force on the strong, - and, force, on the fortress, alighteth!

Parallel Translations

English Standard Version
who makes destruction flash forth against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress.

Geneva Bible (1587)
He strengtheneth the destroyer against the mightie: and the destroyer shal come against the fortresse.

Christian Standard Bible®
He brings destruction on the strong,and it falls on the fortress.

Hebrew Names Version
Who brings sudden destruction on the strong, So that destruction comes on the fortress.

Darby Translation
He causeth destruction to break forth suddenly upon the strong, and bringeth destruction upon the fortress.

Amplified Bible
It is He who causes [sudden] destruction to flash forth on the strong So that destruction comes on the fortress.

American Standard Version
that bringeth sudden destruction upon the strong, so that destruction cometh upon the fortress.

Berean Standard Bible
He flashes destruction on the strong, so that fury comes upon the stronghold.

Contemporary English Version
God destroys mighty soldiers and strong fortresses.

Complete Jewish Bible
he flashes destruction on the strong, so that destruction overcomes the fortress.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
That causeth destruction to flash upon the strong, so that destruction cometh upon the fortress.

King James Version (1611)
That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong: so that the spoiled shall come against the fortresse.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
He strengthneth the destroyer against the mightie, & the destroyer shall come against the fortresse.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
who dispenses ruin to strength, and brings distress upon the fortress.

English Revised Version
that bringeth sudden destruction upon the strong, so that destruction cometh upon the fortress.

Lexham English Bible
The one who makes destruction flash upon the fierce, so that destruction comes upon the fortification.

Literal Translation
who flashes out with destruction on the strong; yea, destruction comes on the fortress.

New Century Version
He destroys the protected city; he ruins the strong, walled city.

New English Translation
He flashes destruction down upon the strong so that destruction overwhelms the fortified places.)

New King James Version
He rains ruin upon the strong, So that fury comes upon the fortress.

New Living Translation
With blinding speed and power he destroys the strong, crushing all their defenses.

New Life Bible
He destroys the strong, so that the strong city is laid waste.

New Revised Standard
who makes destruction flash out against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress.

Douay-Rheims Bible
He that with a smile bringeth destruction upon the strong, and waste upon the mighty.

George Lamsa Translation
Who makes the weak to rule over the mighty, and exalts the meek over the proud.

Good News Translation
He brings destruction on the mighty and their strongholds.

Webster's Bible Translation
That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Which scorneth distriyng on the stronge, and bringith robbyng on the myyti.

Young's Literal Translation
Who is brightening up the spoiled against the strong, And the spoiled against a fortress cometh.

World English Bible
Who brings sudden destruction on the strong, So that destruction comes on the fortress.

Revised Standard Version
who makes destruction flash forth against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress.

Update Bible Version
that brings sudden destruction on the strong, so that destruction comes on the fortress.

Bible in Basic English
Who sends sudden destruction on the strong, so that destruction comes on the walled town.

New American Standard Bible
It is He who makes destruction flash upon the strong, So that destruction comes upon the fortress.

King James Version
That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He rayseth destruccion vpon the mightie people, & bryngeth downe the stronge holde:

New American Standard Bible (1995)
It is He who flashes forth with destruction upon the strong, So that destruction comes upon the fortress.

Legacy Standard Bible
It is He who flashes forth with devastation upon the strongSo that devastation comes upon the fortification.

Contextual Overview

⁴ For, thus, saith Yahweh, to the house of Israel, - Seek me, and live; ⁵ Then do not seek Bethel, and, Gilgal, shall ye not enter, and, unto Beer-sheba, shall ye not cross over, For, Gilgal, shall, surely go into exile, and, Bethel, shall become a trouble. ⁶ Seek ye Yahweh, and live, - lest he break forth, like a fire, upon the house of Joseph, and it devour with none to quench it, for Bethel. ⁷ Ye who turn, into, wormwood, justice, and, righteousness - to the ground have let fall. ⁸ Seek him who made the Cluster and the Giant, and turneth, into morning, the shadow of death, and who, day into night, doth darken, Him who calleth to the waters of the sea, and poureth them out on the face of the land, Yahweh, is his name: ⁹ Him who flasheth force on the strong, - and, force, on the fortress, alighteth! ¹⁰ They hate the man who, in the gate, rebuketh, - and, him who speaketh truthfully, they abhor. ¹¹ Therefore - because ye have trampled on the poor, and, the gift of corn, ye would take away from him, though, houses of hewn stone, ye have built, Yet shall ye not dwell in them, - Though, delightful vineyards, ye have planted, Yet shall ye not drink the wine of them. ¹² For I know how numerous are your transgressions, and how surpassing your sins, - ye adversaries of the righteous! ye acceptors of a bribe! Even the needy in the gate, have they turned away! ¹³ Therefore, the prudent man, at that time, will be dumb, - Because an evil time, it is!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

strengtheneth: 2 Kings 13:17, 2 Kings 13:25, Jeremiah 37:10, Hebrews 11:34

spoiled: Heb. spoil

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 14:11 - nothing Psalms 8:2 - strength

Cross-References

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared:

Luke 3:37
of Methuselah, of Enoch, of Jared, - of Mahalaleel, of Cainan:

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong,.... Such as have been taken by an enemy, who have been stripped of their armour, and spoiled of all their goods and substance, and have no friends nor allies, nor anything to help themselves with; the Lord can supply them with strength, furnish them with weapons, and send them helpers, so that they shall rise up against their conquerors and spoilers, and in their turn subdue them. The Targum is,

"that strengthens the weak against the strong;''

or causes the weak to prevail over the strong. A learned man, from the use of the word in the Arabic language, chooses to render it, "who intends", or "designs, destruction to the strong" d; that is, in his secret purposes, and which he brings about in providence; though he is doubtful whether it may not have the signification of recreation and refreshment, and whether the construction and circumstances will admit of it; and some do so translate it, "who refreshes himself with destruction against the strong" e; takes delight and pleasure in it; it is a recreation to him:

so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress: lay siege to it and take it, in which the spoiler thought himself secure with the spoil and substance he had taken from the spoiled; such sudden changes and vicissitudes can God bring upon men when he pleases. Some apply this to the Romans strengthened against the Jews, and besieging their fortified city Jerusalem; but not very aptly.

d המבליג שד על עז "qui intendit destinat destructionem forti", Hottinger, Smegma Orientale, l. 1. c. 7. p. 129. e "Qui recreat se vastatione contra fortem [sive] robustum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Tarnovius. So Stockius, p. 136.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That 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. “Desolation” when God willed, would “smile at” all which they accounted “might,” and would “come against the fortress,” which, as they deemed, “cut off” all approach.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Amos 5:9. That 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.