Amos 5:21

KJV

¶ I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.

KJV (with Strong's)

I hate {H8130}, I despise {H3988} your feast days {H2282}, and I will not smell {H7306} in your solemn assemblies {H6116}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"I hate, I utterly loathe your festivals; I take no pleasure in your solemn assemblies.

Berean Standard Bible

“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.

American Standard Version

I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Amos 5:21 presents a stark and unequivocal declaration from God, expressing His profound disdain for the religious practices of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Far from accepting their elaborate "feast days" and "solemn assemblies," God declares His utter rejection, stating He "hates" and "despises" them and "will not smell" their offerings. This condemnation is not aimed at the divine institutions themselves, but at the hypocrisy of a people who meticulously observed religious rituals while simultaneously engaging in rampant social injustice, oppression, and idolatry, demonstrating a heart far removed from true devotion and covenant faithfulness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Amos 5:21 is situated within a series of divine pronouncements against Israel's spiritual and moral decay, following a lament over Israel's impending fall ([Amos 5:1-3](/amos/5-1-3 "Amos 5:1-3 - A Lament for Israel")). The preceding verses contain urgent calls to "seek the Lord and live" ([Amos 5:4](/amos/5-4 "Amos 5:4 - Seek the Lord and Live")) and condemn their perversion of justice, highlighting their oppression of the poor and their bribery ([Amos 5:7-13](/amos/5-7-13 "Amos 5:7-13 - Israel's Injustice")). The declaration in [Amos 5:21](/amos/5-21 "Amos 5:21 - God Rejects Hypocritical Worship") serves as a climactic indictment of their religious hypocrisy, immediately preceding the famous demand for justice to "roll down like waters" ([Amos 5:24](/amos/5-24 "Amos 5:24 - Justice Rolls Down Like Waters")) and a subsequent warning of exile ([Amos 5:27](/amos/5-27 "Amos 5:27 - Exile to Damascus")). This verse underscores the deep chasm between Israel's outward religious observance and their inward moral corruption, setting the stage for the severe judgments to follow.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophet Amos delivered his message during the reign of Jeroboam II in the Northern Kingdom of Israel (c. 760-750 BC), a period characterized by remarkable economic prosperity and political stability. This affluence, however, led to widespread social stratification, with the wealthy exploiting the poor, and a pervasive moral decline. Despite their material success, the Israelites maintained their traditional religious practices, including the observance of annual pilgrimage festivals (`chaggim`) and sacred gatherings (`ʻătsârâh`). These were ordained by the Mosaic Law, such as Passover, Weeks (Pentecost), and Tabernacles ([Deuteronomy 16:16](/deuteronomy/16-16 "Deuteronomy 16:16 - Three Annual Feasts")). However, their worship was often syncretistic, blending Yahwism with Canaanite idolatry, and critically, it lacked genuine righteousness and justice. The cultural expectation was that sacrifices and festivals would appease God, but Amos reveals God's profound rejection of such empty rituals when unaccompanied by ethical living and sincere devotion.
* **Key Themes:** Amos 5:21 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Amos and biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights the **Divine Rejection of Hypocritical Worship**, emphasizing that God sees beyond outward religious performance to the true state of the heart. He despises rituals performed without sincerity, justice, or genuine love for Him and neighbor. Secondly, the verse underscores the **Prioritization of Justice and Righteousness** over mere ritual. For God, ethical conduct, fairness, and compassion for the vulnerable are paramount, rendering empty religious acts an abomination when social injustice prevails. This theme is famously encapsulated in [Amos 5:24](/amos/5-24 "Amos 5:24 - Justice Like a River"). Finally, it speaks to the **Nature of True Worship**, which is not merely ceremonial but holistic, encompassing a life of obedience, ethical living, and a transformed heart. This aligns with the broader prophetic message that "to obey is better than sacrifice" ([1 Samuel 15:22](/1_samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience Better Than Sacrifice")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **hate (Hebrew, _sânêʼ'_):** From H8130, this primitive root signifies intense personal aversion, detestation, and profound dislike. When God uses this term, it conveys His absolute and visceral rejection of Israel's religious practices, indicating that His feelings are not mere disapproval but deep animosity toward their hypocrisy.
* **despise (Hebrew, _mâʼaç'_):** From H3988, this primitive root means to spurn, cast away, abhor, or reject with disdain. It implies a strong act of repudiation. Coupled with "hate," it intensifies the divine sentiment, showing that God finds their religious activities utterly worthless and repugnant, something He actively pushes away.
* **smell (Hebrew, _rûwach'_):** From H7306, this primitive root literally means "to blow" or "breathe," and by implication, "to smell" or "perceive." In the context of ancient sacrifices, the "smell" or "pleasing aroma" (e.g., [Genesis 8:21](/genesis/8-21 "Genesis 8:21 - Noah's Acceptable Sacrifice")) was a sign of divine acceptance. Here, God's declaration "I will not smell" is a powerful anthropomorphic statement signifying His complete refusal to accept or find any pleasure in their offerings, prayers, or assemblies. It indicates His utter rejection of their worship as an unacceptable stench rather than a pleasing aroma.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I hate, I despise your feast days":** God opens with a double declaration of intense negative emotion, using two strong verbs to emphasize His profound aversion. The "feast days" (Hebrew: _chaggim_) refer to the divinely ordained annual pilgrimage festivals (e.g., Passover, Weeks, Tabernacles) which were meant to be joyous occasions of worship and remembrance of God's covenant faithfulness. However, because Israel observed these rituals without genuine heart devotion, justice, or obedience, they became an object of God's hatred and contempt.
* **"and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies":** This clause reinforces and expands upon the previous one. "Solemn assemblies" (Hebrew: _ʻătsârâh_) refers to the sacred gatherings or convocations associated with these festivals. The phrase "I will not smell" is a powerful idiom rooted in the ancient practice of offering sacrifices whose "pleasing aroma" was believed to ascend to God, signifying His acceptance. By declaring He will not "smell" their offerings, God communicates His utter rejection of their worship, implying that their rituals, far from being a pleasing aroma, are an offensive stench due to their hypocrisy and injustice.

#### Literary Devices
Amos 5:21 employs several potent **Literary Devices** to convey its message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where "I hate, I despise" and "your feast days... your solemn assemblies" express similar ideas in successive clauses, intensifying the divine rejection. The use of **Anthropomorphism** is evident in God stating, "I will not smell," attributing a human sensory experience to the divine to make His rejection vividly comprehensible to the audience. This also functions as **Irony**, as the very rituals intended to produce a "pleasing aroma" to God are declared to be repulsive to Him. The strong, emotive verbs "hate" and "despise" also contribute to the **Emotive Language**, designed to shock the audience and underscore the severity of their spiritual condition and God's absolute displeasure.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Amos 5:21 stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of true worship, challenging the superficiality of ritualism divorced from righteousness. It asserts that God's primary concern is not merely outward religious observance, but the condition of the human heart and the ethical integrity of one's life. The verse fundamentally argues that religious acts become an abomination to God when they are performed by those who simultaneously engage in injustice, oppression, and idolatry. This principle underscores the indivisibility of theology and ethics: genuine love for God must manifest in love for neighbor and a commitment to justice. It serves as a timeless warning against spiritual hypocrisy, reminding believers that God desires sincerity, obedience, and a life transformed by His values more than any ceremonial performance.

* [Isaiah 1:11-17](/isaiah/1-11-17 "Isaiah 1:11-17 - God Rejects Empty Rituals")
* [Micah 6:6-8](/micah/6-6-8 "Micah 6:6-8 - What the Lord Requires")
* [Matthew 23:23](/matthew/23-23 "Matthew 23:23 - Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Amos 5:21 serves as a piercing mirror for contemporary believers, challenging us to scrutinize the authenticity of our worship and spiritual practices. It compels us to ask whether our religious activities—attending services, participating in rituals, or engaging in acts of devotion—are truly expressions of a heart submitted to God, or if they are merely outward performances that mask a disconnect between our faith and our daily lives. This verse calls us to move beyond superficial religiosity to a deep, transformative encounter with God that impacts our ethics, our relationships, and our commitment to justice in the world. True worship, as revealed here, is not confined to sacred spaces or specific times but permeates every aspect of our existence, demanding integrity, compassion, and a genuine pursuit of righteousness. We are invited to reflect on whether our lives produce a "pleasing aroma" to God, not through ritualistic perfection, but through heartfelt obedience and a consistent demonstration of His love and justice to those around us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might my own religious practices become "feast days" or "solemn assemblies" that God might "hate" or "despise" if my heart is not truly engaged or my life lacks integrity?**
* **How does my commitment to justice and compassion for others reflect the authenticity of my worship and devotion to God?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure that my faith is not merely an outward show, but a genuine, transformative relationship with God that influences every area of my life?**

### FAQ

**Does Amos 5:21 mean God hates all religious festivals and assemblies?**

Answer: No, Amos 5:21 does not mean God inherently hates all religious festivals or assemblies. The festivals and solemn assemblies were originally ordained by God in the Mosaic Law (e.g., [Leviticus 23](/leviticus/23 "Leviticus 23 - The Feasts of the Lord")) as times for His people to remember His faithfulness, express gratitude, and worship Him. God's condemnation in Amos 5:21 is directed at the *hypocrisy* and *emptiness* with which the Israelites were observing these practices. They were meticulously performing the rituals while simultaneously engaging in widespread social injustice, oppression of the poor, and idolatry. Their hearts were far from God, and their actions contradicted the very essence of the covenant. Therefore, God's "hate" and "despise" are for the *corrupted, insincere, and ethically divorced* worship, not the divine institutions themselves. He rejects the form without the substance, the ritual without righteousness.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Amos 5:21, with its stark rejection of hypocritical worship, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Testament's emphasis on inward transformation over outward ritual, and the ultimate embodiment of true worship in Jesus Christ. Jesus consistently critiqued the religious leaders of His day for their external piety divorced from genuine heart righteousness, echoing Amos's condemnation of "feast days" and "solemn assemblies" that lacked integrity. He denounced those who honored God with their lips but whose hearts were far from Him ([Matthew 15:8-9](/matthew/15-8-9 "Matthew 15:8-9 - Vain Worship")), just as God rejected Israel's empty rituals. Christ Himself became the ultimate "living sacrifice" ([Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Romans 12:1 - A Living Sacrifice")), fulfilling the sacrificial system and establishing a new covenant where worship is no longer bound to specific places or rituals, but is to be offered "in spirit and truth" ([John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "John 4:23-24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth")). Through His atoning work, Jesus provides the means for humanity to offer acceptable worship, not through the blood of bulls and goats, but through a transformed heart, empowered by the Holy Spirit, that lives out justice, mercy, and faithfulness, thereby producing a truly "pleasing aroma" to God ([Ephesians 5:2](/ephesians/5-2 "Ephesians 5:2 - Christ's Sacrifice")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 1:11

To what purpose [is] the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

Isaiah 1:16

¶ Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

Leviticus 26:31

And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.

Proverbs 28:9

¶ He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] abomination.

Isaiah 66:3

He that killeth an ox [is as if] he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, [as if] he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, [as if he offered] swine's blood; he that burneth incense, [as if] he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

Jeremiah 6:20

To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings [are] not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.

Proverbs 15:8

¶ The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright [is] his delight.