Amos 2:4

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:

Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}; For three {H7969} transgressions {H6588} of Judah {H3063}, and for four {H702}, I will not turn away {H7725} the punishment thereof; because they have despised {H3988} the law {H8451} of the LORD {H3068}, and have not kept {H8104} his commandments {H2706}, and their lies {H3577} caused them to err {H8582}, after {H310} the which their fathers {H1} have walked {H1980}:

Here is what ADONAI says: "For Y'hudah's three crimes, no, four - I will not reverse it because they rejected ADONAI's Torah and haven't observed his laws, and their lies caused them to fall into error and live the way their ancestors did;

This is what the LORD says: โ€œFor three transgressions of Judah, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they reject the Law of the LORD and fail to keep His statutes; they are led astray by the lies in which their fathers walked.

Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Judah, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have rejected the law of Jehovah, and have not kept his statutes, and their lies have caused them to err, after which their fathers did walk.

Commentary

Context

Amos 2:4 is part of a series of prophetic oracles delivered by the prophet Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa, who was called by God to prophesy primarily to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. However, before addressing Israel directly, Amos pronounces judgment against several surrounding nations (Syria, Philistia, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab) to establish God's universal sovereignty and justice. This particular verse marks a significant turning point, as Amos shifts his focus to the Southern Kingdom of Judah, God's covenant people. The phrase "For three transgressions... and for four" is a poetic idiom, indicating not merely a count of sins, but a complete and overflowing measure of rebellion, making divine judgment inevitable and fully deserved.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment on Judah: Unlike the surrounding nations whose sins were against humanity or general morality, Judah's judgment stems from a direct violation of their covenant relationship with God. Their privileged position as God's chosen people meant a higher accountability.
  • Despising God's Law: The core accusation against Judah is their deliberate rejection and contempt for God's revealed will. It wasn't just ignorance, but an active disdain for the very foundation of their national identity and relationship with the LORD. This echoes the warning found in Deuteronomy 6:5 to love the LORD with all heart, soul, and might, which underpins the keeping of His commandments.
  • Failure to Keep Commandments: Beyond despising the law, Judah actively failed to obey its precepts. This indicates a consistent pattern of spiritual and moral decay.
  • Deception and Error: "Their lies caused them to err" suggests that Judah was led astray by falsehoods. This could refer to idolatry (worshipping false gods), false prophets, or the widespread acceptance of deceptive practices and beliefs that pulled them away from the truth of God. This highlights the danger of embracing untruth, as seen in warnings against false prophets in Jeremiah 14:14.
  • Generational Sin: The phrase "after the which their fathers have walked" points to a long-standing pattern of disobedience, indicating that Judah's apostasy was not a new phenomenon but a continuation of deep-rooted ancestral rebellion.

Linguistic Insights

The term "law of the LORD" is from the Hebrew Torah (ืชึผื•ึนืจึธื”), which encompasses not just a set of rules, but God's divine instruction, teaching, and revelation given through Moses. To "despise" (ืžึธืึทืก, ma'as) this Torah signifies a profound rejection and abhorrence, not merely a casual disregard. The "lies" (ื›ึผึธื–ึธื‘, kazav) that led them astray can refer to anything false or deceptive, often used in contexts of idolatry or false prophecy.

Practical Application

Amos 2:4 serves as a timeless warning. For believers today, it underscores the critical importance of not only knowing God's Word but also revering and obeying it. Spiritual complacency or outright contempt for biblical truth can lead to severe spiritual consequences. We are called to discern truth from falsehood, lest "lies" lead us astray from God's path. Furthermore, it reminds us to break cycles of generational sin and to actively pursue righteousness, rather than passively following the errors of previous generations.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 20:24

    Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.

  • Ezekiel 20:13

    But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

  • Ezekiel 20:16

    Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

  • Habakkuk 2:18

    What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?

  • Isaiah 28:15

    Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

  • Jeremiah 16:19

    O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and [things] wherein [there is] no profit.

  • Jeremiah 16:20

    Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they [are] no gods?
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