Amos 6:13

Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?

Ye which rejoice {H8056} in a thing {H1697} of nought {H3808}, which say {H559}, Have we not taken {H3947} to us horns {H7161} by our own strength {H2392}?

You take pleasure in worthless things. You think your power comes from your own strength.

you who rejoice in Lo-debar and say, โ€˜Did we not take Karnaim by our own strength?โ€™

ye that rejoice in a thing of nought, that say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?

Commentary

Amos 6:13 delivers a sharp rebuke to the complacent and arrogant people of Israel, particularly the elite in the Northern Kingdom. The prophet Amos condemns their misguided pride and false sense of security, revealing the spiritual bankruptcy beneath their outward prosperity.

Context

This verse is part of a larger prophecy in Amos chapter 6, which pronounces a "woe" upon those who are "at ease in Zion" and "secure in the mountain of Samaria" (Amos 6:1). At a time of relative peace and economic prosperity, the people, especially the leaders, had become spiritually dull, indulging in luxury and injustice while ignoring God's covenant and the cries of the poor. They believed their strength and achievements were their own doing, forgetting the Lord's hand in their blessings and impending judgment.

Key Themes

  • Misplaced Pride and Arrogance: The phrase "Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought" highlights their celebration of worthless accomplishments. They boast of minor victories or insignificant gains as if they were grand triumphs. Their self-congratulation is rooted in a fundamental misunderstanding of true power and divine sovereignty.
  • False Security and Self-Reliance: "Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?" is a powerful rhetorical question revealing their reliance on human might rather than God. In biblical imagery, "horns" symbolize strength, power, and victory (as seen in animals like bulls or rams). By claiming to have "taken horns" by their "own strength," they attribute their perceived success and security solely to themselves, rejecting any dependence on God. This attitude directly opposes the principle that some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
  • Spiritual Blindness: Despite the impending judgment, they remain oblivious, celebrating fleeting successes while ignoring their moral decay and God's warnings. This spiritual complacency leads them to boast about "nothing" (lo-debar, which literally means "no word" or "nothing," possibly a play on a place name mentioned elsewhere) and to claim strength where there is none truly lasting.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "a thing of nought" translates from the Hebrew lo-debar (ืœึนื ื“ึธื‘ึธืจ), which literally means "no word" or "nothing." This is often seen as a subtle pun on the city of Lo-debar, mentioned in 2 Samuel 9:4 as a desolate or barren place. For the Israelites to "rejoice in Lo-debar" would be to celebrate emptiness or a worthless gain. Similarly, "horns" (qeren, ืงึถืจึถืŸ) are a common biblical metaphor for power, dignity, and might, often associated with kings and nations. Their boast of taking "horns by our own strength" underscores their profound self-exaltation.

Practical Application

Amos 6:13 serves as a timeless warning against human pride and self-sufficiency. It challenges us to examine where we place our trust and derive our confidence. Do we attribute our successes and security to our own abilities, wealth, or influence, or do we acknowledge God as the ultimate source of all strength and blessing? The verse reminds us that true strength and lasting peace come from reliance on God, not from fleeting earthly achievements or self-congratulatory boasting. It calls for humility, recognizing that pride goes before destruction, and a shift from self-exaltation to glorifying God.

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

  • Isaiah 28:14

    ยถ Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which [is] in Jerusalem.

  • 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:

  • Luke 12:19

    And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.

  • Luke 12:20

    But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

  • 2 Kings 14:25

    He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which [was] of Gathhepher.

  • James 4:16

    But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

  • Jeremiah 50:11

    Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;
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