Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept [them]: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
Though ye offer {H5927} me burnt offerings {H5930} and your meat offerings {H4503}, I will not accept {H7521} them: neither will I regard {H5027} the peace offerings {H8002} of your fat beasts {H4806}.
If you offer me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; nor will I consider the peace offerings of your stall-fed cattle.
Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard.
Yea, though ye offer me your burnt-offerings and meal-offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts.
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Micah 6:6
¶ Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, [and] bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? -
Micah 6:7
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, [or] with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn [for] my transgression, the fruit of my body [for] the sin of my soul? -
Amos 4:4
Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, [and] your tithes after three years: -
Amos 4:5
And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim [and] publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD. -
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. -
Leviticus 7:12
If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. -
Leviticus 7:15
And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.
Amos 5:22 delivers a stark message from God to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, condemning their hypocritical worship. Despite their diligent performance of religious rituals and offerings, God declares His outright rejection of them because their outward acts were not accompanied by genuine righteousness, justice, or a transformed heart.
Historical and Cultural Context
The prophet Amos ministered during a period of relative prosperity for Israel under King Jeroboam II (8th century BC). However, this economic well-being masked deep spiritual decay and rampant social injustice. The wealthy oppressed the poor, corruption was widespread, and idolatry flourished, even as the people continued to observe the prescribed Mosaic rituals, including various sacrifices. Amos's message throughout the book is a powerful indictment of this disconnect, particularly highlighted in Amos 5:21, where God states His hatred for their feast days.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrases "I will not accept [them]" and "neither will I regard" convey a strong, emphatic rejection. The Hebrew verbs used here denote a complete refusal to receive or take pleasure in. God is not merely displeased; He actively dismisses their offerings as utterly worthless. The problem was not the type of offering, but the disposition of the offerer. The "fat beasts" mentioned in the peace offerings suggest they were bringing their best, yet even the quality of the sacrifice could not compensate for the lack of a right heart.
Related Scriptures
This principle of God valuing righteousness and obedience over mere ritual is a consistent theme throughout Scripture. It is powerfully echoed in 1 Samuel 15:22, "To obey is better than sacrifice," and further emphasized in Isaiah 1:11-17, where God expresses weariness with their sacrifices and calls for justice and compassion. Similarly, Hosea 6:6 declares, "I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings," a verse later quoted by Jesus (e.g., Matthew 9:13). The ultimate requirement is summarized in Micah 6:8: "to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God."
Practical Application
Amos 5:22 serves as a timeless warning for all believers. It challenges us to examine whether our outward religious activities – attending church, giving offerings, engaging in spiritual disciplines – are truly rooted in a heart that seeks God's will and lives justly. True worship is not merely about ritual performance but about a life transformed by God's Spirit, reflecting His character in our daily interactions, especially in our treatment of the vulnerable. It reminds us that genuine faith is demonstrated through actions of love, justice, and compassion, not just through ceremonies.