King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Shall horses run upon the rock? will [one] plow [there] with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:
Complete Jewish Bible:
Do horses run on rock? Does one plow there with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitter wormwood.
Berean Standard Bible:
“Do horses gallop on the cliffs? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood—
American Standard Version:
Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plowtherewith oxen? that ye have turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Shall horses{H5483} run{H7323} upon the rock{H5553}? will one plow{H2790} there with oxen{H1241}? for ye have turned{H2015} judgment{H4941} into gall{H7219}, and the fruit{H6529} of righteousness{H6666} into hemlock{H3939}:
Cross-References (KJV):
Amos 5:7
- Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,
Hosea 10:4
- They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
Amos 5:11
- Forasmuch therefore as your treading [is] upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.
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].
Isaiah 59:13
- In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
Isaiah 59:14
- And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
Psalms 94:20
- Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
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Commentary for Amos 6:12
Amos 6:12 is a verse from the Book of Amos, a prophetic book in the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. Amos was a prophet who lived during the 8th century BCE and his message was primarily directed towards the northern kingdom of Israel. This was a time of economic prosperity and political stability for Israel, but also a period marked by social injustice, religious apostasy, and moral decay.
The verse uses rhetorical questions to emphasize the absurdity of certain actions, like trying to run horses on a rocky terrain or plowing rocky ground with oxen. These images serve as metaphors for the futility of expecting justice and righteousness from a people who have perverted these very principles. The latter part of the verse accuses the people of turning "judgment into gall" and "the fruit of righteousness into hemlock," which are strong symbols of bitterness and poison. In essence, the Israelites have corrupted the justice system and turned what should be sweet (righteousness) and life-giving into something bitter and deadly.
The historical context suggests that the ruling class and the wealthy were abusing their power, exploiting the poor, and neglecting the principles of justice and righteousness that were foundational to their covenant with God. Amos condemns this behavior, warning that such actions will lead to divine judgment and the downfall of the nation. The verse reflects themes of social justice, divine retribution, and the moral responsibility of the people, especially the elite, to uphold righteousness as defined by God's law. Amos's message is a call to repentance and a return to ethical living, without which the prophet foresees inevitable disaster.
*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: H5483
There are 131 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סוּס
Transliteration: çûwç
Pronunciation: soos
Description: or סֻס; from an unused root meaning to skip (properly, for joy); a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight); crane, horse (-back, -hoof). Compare פָּרָשׁ. - Strong's Number: H7323
There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רוּץ
Transliteration: rûwts
Pronunciation: roots
Description: a primitive root; to run (for whatever reason, especially to rush); break down, divide speedily, footman, guard, bring hastily, (make) run (away, through), post. - Strong's Number: H5553
There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סֶלַע
Transliteration: çelaʻ
Pronunciation: seh'-lah
Description: from an unused root meaning to be lofty; a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress); (ragged) rock, stone(-ny), strong hold. - Strong's Number: H2790
There are 66 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָרַשׁ
Transliteration: chârash
Pronunciation: khaw-rash'
Description: a primitive root; to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense); hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone; hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of dumbness); [idiom] altogether, cease, conceal, be deaf, devise, ear, graven, imagine, leave off speaking, hold peace, plow(-er, man), be quiet, rest, practise secretly, keep silence, be silent, speak not a word, be still, hold tongue, worker. - Strong's Number: H1241
There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּקָר
Transliteration: bâqâr
Pronunciation: baw-kawr'
Description: from בָּקַר; beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd; beeve, bull ([phrase] -ock), [phrase] calf, [phrase] cow, great (cattle), [phrase] heifer, herd, kine, ox. - Strong's Number: H2015
There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָפַךְ
Transliteration: hâphak
Pronunciation: haw-fak'
Description: a primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert; [idiom] become, change, come, be converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse, retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary, every way). - Strong's Number: H4941
There are 406 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִשְׁפָּט
Transliteration: mishpâṭ
Pronunciation: mish-pawt'
Description: from שָׁפַט; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style; [phrase] adversary, ceremony, charge, [idiom] crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, [idiom] worthy, [phrase] wrong. - Strong's Number: H7219
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹאשׁ
Transliteration: rôʼsh
Pronunciation: roshe
Description: or רוֹשׁ; (Deuteronomy 32:32), apparently the same as רֹאשׁ; a poisonous plant, probably the poppy (from its conspicuous head); generally poison (even of serpents); gall, hemlock, poison, venom. - Strong's Number: H6529
There are 107 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פְּרִי
Transliteration: pᵉrîy
Pronunciation: per-ee'
Description: from פָּרָה; fruit (literally or figuratively); bough, (first-)fruit(-ful), reward. - Strong's Number: H6666
There are 150 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צְדָקָה
Transliteration: tsᵉdâqâh
Pronunciation: tsed-aw-kaw'
Description: from צָדַק; rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity); justice, moderately, right(-eous) (act, -ly, -ness). - Strong's Number: H3939
There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לַעֲנָה
Transliteration: laʻănâh
Pronunciation: lah-an-aw'
Description: from an unused root supposed to mean to curse; wormwood (regarded as poisonous, and therefore accursed); hemlock, wormwood.