King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the [same] maid, to profane my holy name:
Complete Jewish Bible:
grinding the heads of the poor in the dust and pushing the lowly out of the way; father and son sleep with the same girl, profaning my holy name;
Berean Standard Bible:
They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the earth; they push the needy out of their way. A man and his father have relations with the same girl and so profane My holy name.
American Standard Version:
they that pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father go unto the same maiden, to profane my holy name:
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
That pant{H7602} after the dust{H6083} of the earth{H776} on the head{H7218} of the poor{H1800}, and turn aside{H5186} the way{H1870} of the meek{H6035}: and a man{H376} and his father{H1} will go{H3212} in unto the same maid{H5291}, to profane{H2490} my holy{H6944} name{H8034}:
Cross-References (KJV):
Amos 5:12
- For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate [from their right].
Ezekiel 22:11
- And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter.
Isaiah 10:2
- To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and [that] they may rob the fatherless!
Micah 2:9
- The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.
Micah 2:2
- And they covet fields, and take [them] by violence; and houses, and take [them] away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
1 Corinthians 5:1
- ¶ It is reported commonly [that there is] fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
1 Kings 21:4
- And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
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Commentary for Amos 2:7
Amos 2:7 is part of a prophetic oracle delivered by Amos, a shepherd and fig farmer from Tekoa in Judah, who was called by God to prophesy to the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II (around the mid-8th century BCE). The book of Amos is set within a context of economic prosperity and religious complacency, but also social injustice and idolatry.
In this verse, Amos condemns the social injustices perpetrated by the wealthy and powerful against the poor and powerless. The imagery of "panting after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor" suggests the ruthless oppression of the impoverished, with the oppressors being so eager to exploit the poor that they are likened to hunters chasing their prey. The phrase "turn aside the way of the meek" indicates that the powerful are altering the course of justice to the detriment of the humble and powerless.
Furthermore, the verse alludes to sexual immorality, as "a man and his father will go in unto the [same] maid," which likely refers to a form of incestuous relationship that was prohibited under Mosaic Law. This act is said to profane God's holy name, highlighting the depth of moral decay and the violation of both social and religious norms. The reference to profaning God's name suggests that these sins not only affect the community but also desecrate the sanctity of God's covenant with Israel.
Amos 2:7 thus encapsulates the themes of social injustice, exploitation of the vulnerable, sexual impropriety, and religious apostasy. These actions are not only seen as socially corrupt but are also understood to be an affront to the moral and religious integrity that God requires of His people. The verse serves as a stark warning against the corruption that can arise within a society, particularly when those with power abuse their position, and it underscores the prophetic call for justice and righteousness as integral to the worship and service of God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7602
There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁאַף
Transliteration: shâʼaph
Pronunciation: shaw-af'
Description: a primitive root; to inhale eagerly; figuratively, to cover; by implication, to be angry; also to hasten; desire (earnestly), devour, haste, pant, snuff up, swallow up. - Strong's Number: H6083
There are 103 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָפָר
Transliteration: ʻâphâr
Pronunciation: aw-fawr'
Description: from עָפַר; dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud; ashes, dust, earth, ground, morter, powder, rubbish. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H7218
There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹאשׁ
Transliteration: rôʼsh
Pronunciation: roshe
Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top. - Strong's Number: H1800
There are 46 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דַּל
Transliteration: dal
Pronunciation: dal
Description: from דָּלַל; properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or thin; lean, needy, poor (man), weaker. - Strong's Number: H5186
There are 207 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָטָה
Transliteration: nâṭâh
Pronunciation: naw-taw'
Description: a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application; [phrase] afternoon, apply, bow (down, -ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down, be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched, overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread (out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away), wrest, cause to yield. - Strong's Number: H1870
There are 627 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דֶּרֶךְ
Transliteration: derek
Pronunciation: deh'-rek
Description: from דָּרַךְ; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb; along, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever). - Strong's Number: H6035
There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָנָו
Transliteration: ʻânâv
Pronunciation: aw-nawv'
Description: or (by intermixture with עָנִי) עָנָיו; from עָנָה; depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances (needy, especially saintly); humble, lowly, meek, poor. Compare עָנִי. - Strong's Number: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H1
There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָב
Transliteration: ʼâb
Pronunciation: awb
Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. - Strong's Number: H3212
There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַךְ
Transliteration: yâlak
Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak. - Strong's Number: H5291
There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נַעֲרָה
Transliteration: naʻărâh
Pronunciation: nah-ar-aw'
Description: feminine of נַעַר; a girl (from infancy to adolescence); damsel, maid(-en), young (woman). - Strong's Number: H2490
There are 131 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָלַל
Transliteration: châlal
Pronunciation: khaw-lal'
Description: a primitive root (compare חָלָה); also denominative (from חָלִיל); properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an 'opening wedge'); to play (the flute); begin ([idiom] men began), defile, [idiom] break, defile, [idiom] eat (as common things), [idiom] first, [idiom] gather the grape thereof, [idiom] take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound. - Strong's Number: H6944
There are 382 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֹדֶשׁ
Transliteration: qôdesh
Pronunciation: ko'-desh
Description: from קָדַשׁ; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity; consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, ([idiom] most) holy ([idiom] day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary. - Strong's Number: H8034
There are 771 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁם
Transliteration: shêm
Pronunciation: shame
Description: a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שָׁמַיִם); an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.