Amos 3:10

For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

For they know {H3045} not to do {H6213} right {H5229}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}, who store {H686} up violence {H2555} and robbery {H7701} in their palaces {H759}.

For they don't know how to do right," says ADONAI. "They store up violence and robbery in their palaces."

“For they know not how to do right,” declares the LORD. “They store up violence and destruction in their citadels.”

For they know not to do right, saith Jehovah, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

Amos 3:10 stands as a powerful indictment against the moral decay and systemic injustice prevalent in ancient Israel, particularly among its elite. This verse, delivered by the prophet Amos, reveals the Lord's profound disappointment and impending judgment upon a people who had lost their way.

Context

The book of Amos is a prophetic warning delivered to the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) during a period of relative prosperity but deep spiritual and moral decline. Chapter 3 begins with a direct address to the "children of Israel," reminding them of their unique covenant relationship with God (Amos 3:2). The preceding verses emphasize that God's judgment is not arbitrary but a direct consequence of their actions, just as cause precedes effect in nature. Amos 3:9 calls upon pagan nations, Ashdod and Egypt, to witness the rampant oppression and disorder within Israel's capital, Samaria, underscoring the severity of Israel's sin in the eyes of even non-believers.

Key Themes

  • Systemic Injustice and Oppression: The core accusation is that they "store up violence and robbery in their palaces." This vividly portrays the accumulation of wealth through illicit means – exploitation, fraud, and brute force. It wasn't merely individual acts but a deep-seated corruption affecting the very structures of society, particularly among those in power.
  • Moral Blindness and Willful Ignorance: The phrase "they know not to do right, saith the LORD" is striking. It suggests a profound ethical disorientation, not just a failure to act justly, but an inability to even discern what is right. This indicates a hardened heart and a complete detachment from God's righteous standards.
  • Corruption of the Elite: The mention of "palaces" clearly points to the wealthy and powerful, the leaders and nobles, who benefited from and perpetuated this injustice. Their luxurious dwellings were built upon the suffering of the poor and vulnerable, a stark contrast to God's call for justice and righteousness (Amos 5:24).
  • Divine Accountability: The declaration "saith the LORD" affirms that this is God's direct assessment and a divine indictment against their actions. It highlights His unwavering commitment to justice and His intention to hold His people accountable for their moral failings.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "know not to do right" uses the verb yada' (יָדַע), which implies more than just intellectual knowledge; it signifies experiential knowledge, intimate acquaintance, and a deep understanding that should lead to action. Their failure was not merely intellectual but a fundamental disconnect from the practical outworking of righteousness. The terms "violence" (hamas - חָמָס) and "robbery" (shod - שֹׁד) are strong words indicating active wrongdoing, oppression, and devastating plunder. The act of "storing up" ('atsar - אָצַר) suggests a deliberate, accumulated wealth derived from these unjust practices, not accidental gain.

Practical Application

Amos 3:10 serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of prosperity divorced from righteousness. It challenges us to examine our own lives and societies for any signs of injustice, especially where wealth and power are accumulated at the expense of others. We are called to be people who not only know what is right but actively strive to "do right," advocating for justice and compassion. This verse reminds us that true prosperity is not measured by material accumulation but by adherence to God's moral law and care for the vulnerable, echoing the call to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Zephaniah 1:9

    In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit.

  • Jeremiah 4:22

    For my people [is] foolish, they have not known me; they [are] sottish children, and they have none understanding: they [are] wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

  • Zechariah 5:3

    Then said he unto me, This [is] the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off [as] on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off [as] on that side according to it.

  • Zechariah 5:4

    I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.

  • Psalms 14:4

    ¶ Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people [as] they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.

  • James 5:3

    Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

  • James 5:4

    Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

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