Amos 8:14

They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.

They that swear {H7650} by the sin {H819} of Samaria {H8111}, and say {H559}, Thy god {H430}, O Dan {H1835}, liveth {H2416}; and, The manner {H1870} of Beersheba {H884} liveth {H2416}; even they shall fall {H5307}, and never rise up {H6965} again.

Those who swear by the sin of Shomron, who say, 'As your god, Dan, lives,' and, 'As the way of Be'er-Sheva lives' - they will fall and never get up again."

Those who swear by the guilt of Samaria and say, ‘As surely as your god lives, O Dan,’ or, ‘As surely as the way of Beersheba lives’— they will fall, never to rise again.”

They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, As thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, As the way of Beer-sheba liveth; they shall fall, and never rise up again.

Amos 8:14 delivers a stark warning against the pervasive idolatry and spiritual compromise rampant in ancient Israel, particularly in the Northern Kingdom.

Context

This verse comes from the prophet Amos, who ministered to the Northern Kingdom (Israel) during a period of relative peace and prosperity under King Jeroboam II. Despite outward success, the nation was spiritually corrupt, marked by social injustice and widespread idolatry. Amos's message is primarily one of impending judgment for their rebellion against God's covenant. Here, he specifically calls out the centers of false worship and the objects of their misplaced devotion.

Key Themes

  • Idolatry and Syncretism: The verse highlights the core problem: the people's abandonment of the true God for false deities and practices. "The sin of Samaria" refers to the deep-seated idolatry prevalent in the capital, including Baal worship and the cult of the golden calves.
  • False Oaths and Misplaced Trust: Swearing by these false gods ("Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth") signifies a complete allegiance to them, a rejection of the Lord God of Israel. Dan, in the far north, was one of two sites where King Jeroboam I set up a golden calf to prevent people from going to Jerusalem to worship. Beersheba, in the south, though within Judah, also became a pilgrimage site for unauthorized or syncretistic worship, rivaling Jerusalem.
  • Certainty of Judgment: The chilling declaration, "even they shall fall, and never rise up again," underscores the severe and irreversible consequences of their spiritual rebellion. It speaks to a permanent ruin and utter destruction for those who persist in such idolatry.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the sin of Samaria" (Hebrew: ashmath Shomron) emphasizes that the very essence of Samaria's spiritual state was rooted in its idolatrous practices. It wasn't merely a minor transgression but a foundational sin. "The manner of Beersheba" (Hebrew: derek Beersheba) refers to the "way" or religious practices associated with that location, indicating a corrupt form of worship or a local deity worshipped there.

Significance and Application

Amos 8:14 serves as a powerful and timeless warning against divided loyalties. For ancient Israel, it foretold their coming downfall and exile due to their spiritual unfaithfulness. For believers today, this verse emphasizes the critical importance of exclusive devotion to God alone. It challenges us to examine where our ultimate trust and allegiance lie. Are we truly dedicated to the Lord, or do we allow modern "idols" like wealth, status, entertainment, or even our own desires to subtly corrupt our worship and lead us astray? The consequences of spiritual compromise, though perhaps not immediately visible, can be severe and lasting, ultimately leading to a spiritual "fall" from which it is difficult to recover.

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.

  • Amos 5:5

    But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.

  • 1 Kings 12:28

    Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves [of] gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

  • 1 Kings 12:29

    And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.

  • Deuteronomy 9:21

    And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, [and] ground [it] very small, [even] until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.

  • Acts 9:2

    And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

  • 1 Kings 12:32

    And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that [is] in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.

  • Psalms 36:12

    There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

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