And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that [is] by the sides of the house, [Is there] yet [any] with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.
And a man's uncle {H1730} shall take him up {H5375}, and he that burneth {H5635} him, to bring out {H3318} the bones {H6106} out of the house {H1004}, and shall say {H559} unto him that is by the sides {H3411} of the house {H1004}, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say {H559}, No {H657}. Then shall he say {H559}, Hold thy tongue {H2013}: for we may not make mention {H2142} of the name {H8034} of the LORD {H3068}.
And if a [dead] man's uncle, coming to bring the corpse out of the house and burn it, finds a survivor hidden in the inmost recesses of the house and asks, "Is anyone else there with you?" - then, when he receives the answer, "No," he will say, "Don't say any more, because we mustn't mention the name of ADONAI."
And when the relative who is to burn the bodies picks them up to remove them from the house, he will call to one inside, “Is anyone else with you?” “None,” that person will answer. “Silence,” the relative will retort, “for the name of the LORD must not be invoked.”
And when a man’s uncle shall take him up, even he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is in the innermost parts of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No; then shall he say, Hold thy peace; for we may not make mention of the name of Jehovah.
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1 Samuel 31:12
All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. -
Amos 8:3
And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord GOD: [there shall be] many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast [them] forth with silence. -
Amos 5:13
Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it [is] an evil time. -
Numbers 17:12
And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish. -
Ezekiel 24:21
Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword. -
Ezekiel 20:39
As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter [also], if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols. -
Jeremiah 16:6
Both the great and the small shall die in this land: they shall not be buried, neither shall [men] lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them:
Amos 6:10 vividly portrays a scene of dire judgment and widespread death, illustrating the devastating consequences of Israel's spiritual complacency and moral decay. This verse is part of a larger oracle of woe delivered by the prophet Amos against the Northern Kingdom of Israel, particularly its elite, who were living in luxurious ease while ignoring God's commands and perpetrating injustice.
Context
The book of Amos delivers stern warnings to Israel for their social injustice, religious hypocrisy, and false sense of security. Chapter 6 specifically targets those "at ease in Zion" (Amos 6:1), who indulged in luxury and ignored the impending divine wrath. Verse 10 describes a future scenario so catastrophic that it disrupts normal life and even religious customs. The scene depicts a plague or pestilence so severe that it leads to mass casualties, forcing desperate measures for handling the dead.
The mention of an "uncle" (or kinsman) and "he that burneth him" suggests a grim task. While traditional Israelite practice was burial, the reference to burning and bringing out bones may indicate a hurried, desperate measure to prevent the spread of disease or simply to clear the dead from homes. The conversation highlights extreme fear: the question "Is there yet any with thee?" implies a desperate search for survivors, and the instruction "Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD" reveals a profound superstitious dread, perhaps believing that invoking God's name would attract more judgment, or simply a deep despair where God's name is not sought or honored.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "uncle" (דּוֹד, dod) can also refer more generally to a "kinsman" or "loved one," emphasizing that even close family members are involved in this macabre task. The phrase "he that burneth him" (וּמַשְׂרְפוֹ, u'masrepo) is unusual, as cremation was not the standard Israelite burial practice. It could refer to someone who prepares the body for a hasty disposal, perhaps by burning spices or items with the body, or even a desperate form of cremation due to the sheer volume of deaths. The core of the verse lies in the command, "Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD," which powerfully conveys the depth of their terror or spiritual alienation from God.
Practical Application
Amos 6:10 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths:
The stark imagery of Amos 6:10 compels us to examine our own spiritual state, ensuring we are not among those who are "at ease" while drifting away from God's righteous path.