Amos 8:5

KJV

Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?

KJV (with Strong's)

Saying {H559}, When will the new moon {H2320} be gone {H5674}, that we may sell {H7666} corn {H7668}? and the sabbath {H7676}, that we may set forth {H6605} wheat {H1250}, making the ephah {H374} small {H6994}, and the shekel {H8255} great {H1431}, and falsifying {H5791} the balances {H3976} by deceit {H4820}?

Complete Jewish Bible

You say, "When will Rosh-Hodesh be over, so we can market our grain? and Shabbat, so we can sell wheat?" You measure the grain in a small eifah, but the silver in heavy shekels, fixing the scales, so that you can cheat,

Berean Standard Bible

asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales.

American Standard Version

saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell grain? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and dealing falsely with balances of deceit;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Amos 8:5 powerfully exposes the profound moral and spiritual decay within ancient Israel, particularly among its merchants. This verse unveils a chilling eagerness to bypass sacred days like the New Moon festival and the Sabbath, not out of spiritual devotion, but solely to resume exploitative business practices, including manipulating measures and weights to defraud the vulnerable and maximize illicit profits. It encapsulates a society where religious observance was a mere facade for rampant greed and injustice.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Amos 8 marks a pivotal shift in the prophet's message, moving from a series of visions to a direct pronouncement of Israel's impending judgment. Following the vision of the basket of summer fruit in [Amos 8:1-3](/amos/8-1-3 "Amos 8:1-3 - Basket of Summer Fruit"), which symbolizes Israel's ripeness for destruction, Amos immediately launches into a scathing indictment of specific social injustices. The preceding verses (Amos 8:4) condemn those who "trample the needy" and "destroy the poor of the land," setting the stage for the detailed exposé of the merchants' fraudulent activities in verse 5. This verse serves as a concrete illustration of the systemic oppression Amos has been decrying throughout the book, demonstrating how economic exploitation was intertwined with religious hypocrisy.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The 8th century BCE, during the reign of Jeroboam II in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was a period of unprecedented economic prosperity and territorial expansion. However, this affluence was unequally distributed, leading to a widening gap between the rich and the poor. Religious festivals like the New Moon and the Sabbath were divinely ordained times for rest, worship, and communal gathering, meant to foster a just and equitable society. Yet, as Amos reveals, these sacred times were viewed by the greedy elite as inconvenient interruptions to their pursuit of wealth. The use of ephahs (dry measures for grain) and shekels (units of weight for currency or goods) highlights the common commercial practices of the day, where honesty in transactions was a cornerstone of Mosaic law, frequently violated by those driven by avarice.
* **Key Themes:** Amos 8:5 profoundly contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Amos. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Hypocrisy and False Piety**, revealing that outward religious observance without inward transformation and ethical conduct is an abomination to God. The merchants' impatience with sacred days demonstrates their prioritization of material gain over genuine worship and obedience, echoing the Lord's disdain for empty rituals found in [Amos 5:21-24](/amos/5-21-24 "Amos 5:21-24 - God's Rejection of Empty Worship"). Secondly, the verse vividly illustrates the pervasive theme of **Social Injustice and Exploitation**, a central concern for Amos. By detailing the specific methods of fraud—making the ephah small and the shekel great, and falsifying balances—it exposes the systemic oppression of the poor and vulnerable, who were dependent on fair trade for their survival. This directly aligns with Amos's consistent call for justice to "roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" as articulated in [Amos 5:24](/amos/5-24 "Amos 5:24 - Let Justice Roll Down").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **New moon (Hebrew, _chôdesh'_):** This term refers to the first day of each lunar month, which was observed as a special religious festival in ancient Israel, marked by sacrifices and a cessation of work (Numbers 28:11-15; 1 Samuel 20:5-6). The merchants' eagerness for it to be "gone" highlights their disdain for sacred time and their prioritization of commerce over divine command and communal worship.
* **Ephah (Hebrew, _ʼêyphâh'_):** An ancient Hebrew dry measure, typically used for grain, equivalent to about half a bushel or 22 liters. To "make the ephah small" meant deliberately shortchanging customers by providing less than the standard, agreed-upon quantity of grain, thereby increasing the merchant's profit unfairly. This was a direct violation of Mosaic law which commanded honest weights and measures (Leviticus 19:36; Deuteronomy 25:13-16).
* **Deceit (Hebrew, _mirmâh'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to deceive," this word signifies fraud, guile, or treachery. Its inclusion emphasizes that the merchants' actions were not accidental errors but deliberate, calculated acts of dishonesty intended to exploit their customers. This term encapsulates the moral corruption underlying their business practices, revealing a heart devoid of integrity and justice.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn?"**: This opening clause immediately reveals the merchants' impatient and covetous mindset. The New Moon festival, a time of religious observance and rest, is viewed not as an opportunity for worship or community, but as an impediment to their commercial ventures. Their primary concern is the resumption of trade, specifically the selling of "corn" (grain), indicating their focus on basic commodities essential for daily life.
* **"and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat,"**: In parallel with the New Moon, the Sabbath, a divinely mandated day of rest and holiness, is similarly seen as an obstacle. The phrase "set forth wheat" implies preparing it for sale, underscoring their eagerness to resume business activities immediately after the sacred period ends. This highlights their profound disrespect for God's commands and their prioritization of profit over piety.
* **"making the ephah small, and the shekel great,"**: This clause details the specific methods of their fraud. "Making the ephah small" refers to reducing the quantity of grain sold, while "making the shekel great" indicates demanding an inflated payment (in weight of silver or gold) for the goods. Both actions are designed to cheat the customer, either by giving less product for the same price or demanding more payment for the same product, thereby maximizing the merchant's profit at the expense of the buyer.
* **"and falsifying the balances by deceit?"**: This final phrase encapsulates the overarching dishonesty. "Falsifying the balances" means tampering with the scales themselves, or using inaccurate weights, to ensure the transaction always favored the merchant. The addition of "by deceit" underscores the intentional and fraudulent nature of their actions, revealing a deliberate perversion of justice for personal gain.

#### Literary Devices
Amos 8:5 employs several potent **Literary Devices** to convey its message of condemnation. **Irony** is prominent, as the merchants, ostensibly observing religious holidays, are simultaneously planning to violate fundamental ethical principles immediately afterward. Their outward piety stands in stark contrast to their inner greed and dishonesty. The verse also utilizes **Parallelism**, particularly in the pairing of "new moon" and "sabbath," and the complementary actions of "making the ephah small" and "the shekel great." This structure emphasizes the comprehensive nature of their disregard for both sacred time and just dealings. Furthermore, **Metonymy** is present, where "ephah" and "shekel" stand in for the entire system of commercial exchange, symbolizing the pervasive corruption within the marketplace. The explicit mention of "deceit" at the end serves as a powerful **Summary Statement**, leaving no doubt about the intentional and morally reprehensible nature of their actions.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Amos 8:5 stands as a profound indictment of religious hypocrisy and economic exploitation, revealing God's deep concern for justice and integrity in all spheres of life, including the marketplace. It underscores the biblical principle that true worship is not merely about observing rituals, but about living righteously and caring for one's neighbor, especially the vulnerable. The merchants' actions demonstrate a profound misunderstanding of God's character, believing that outward religious observance could compensate for inward corruption and systemic injustice. This passage serves as a timeless reminder that God demands not just piety, but also ethical conduct, and that the pursuit of wealth at the expense of others is an abomination.

* [Leviticus 19:36](/leviticus/19-36 "Leviticus 19:36 - Just Balances and Weights")
* [Deuteronomy 25:13-16](/deuteronomy/25-13-16 "Deuteronomy 25:13-16 - Honest Weights and Measures")
* [Proverbs 11:1](/proverbs/11-1 "Proverbs 11:1 - Dishonest Balances are an Abomination")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Amos 8:5 serves as a piercing mirror for contemporary society and individual lives. It challenges us to honestly examine our own priorities: Do we see spiritual disciplines, times of rest, or ethical considerations as inconvenient interruptions to our pursuit of success and material gain? Or do we embrace them as foundational to a life truly honoring God? This verse calls for radical integrity in all our dealings, whether in business, personal relationships, or public life. God's concern for justice extends beyond the walls of the church into every corner of our existence, demanding fairness, honesty, and compassion, especially towards those who are most vulnerable. It reminds us that genuine faith is demonstrated not merely by our attendance at religious services, but by the righteousness of our character and the equity of our actions.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I prioritize personal gain or convenience over ethical conduct or spiritual discipline?**
* **How might my "outward" religious practices be undermined by "inward" attitudes or actions that are not aligned with God's justice?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure greater integrity and fairness in my financial dealings, professional life, or interactions with others?**

### FAQ
**What was the significance of the "new moon" and "sabbath" in ancient Israel, and why did the merchants want them to be "gone"?**

Answer: The "new moon" (Rosh Chodesh) and the "sabbath" were both divinely ordained periods of rest and worship in ancient Israel. The Sabbath was a weekly day of cessation from labor, dedicated to God, while the New Moon festival marked the beginning of each lunar month and involved special sacrifices and assemblies. These were sacred times meant for spiritual reflection, communal worship, and physical rest, embodying God's covenant with His people. The merchants' desire for these days to be "gone" reveals their profound spiritual apathy and greed. They viewed these holy days not as opportunities for communion with God or rest, but as frustrating interruptions to their commercial activities, especially their dishonest trade practices. Their impatience underscores a heart that prioritized profit over piety and the commands of God, demonstrating a superficial adherence to religious rituals while inwardly despising their true purpose. This attitude is a clear example of the hypocrisy that Amos vehemently condemned, as seen in passages like [Isaiah 1:13-15](/isaiah/1-13-15 "Isaiah 1:13-15 - God's Rejection of Empty Rituals").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Amos 8:5, with its stark portrayal of religious hypocrisy and economic exploitation, finds its ultimate fulfillment and condemnation in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament law demanded honest weights and measures as a reflection of God's righteous character, it was often violated by a people whose hearts were far from Him. Jesus consistently exposed and condemned such superficial piety, particularly among the Pharisees and religious leaders, who meticulously observed external rituals while neglecting the "more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness" as He declares in [Matthew 23:23](/matthew/23-23 "Matthew 23:23 - Woe to the Pharisees"). Like Amos, Jesus demonstrated a profound concern for the poor and marginalized, actively challenging systems and attitudes that oppressed them. His cleansing of the temple, where merchants had turned a house of prayer into a "den of robbers" ([Matthew 21:12-13](/matthew/21-12-13 "Matthew 21:12-13 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple")), directly mirrors Amos's condemnation of dishonest trade within the sacred context. Christ embodies the perfect justice and integrity that the merchants of Amos's day so grievously lacked. He did not merely preach against greed and injustice; He lived a life of perfect righteousness, ultimately offering Himself as the spotless Lamb of God to atone for humanity's sin, including the sin of covetousness and deceit. Through His atoning work, believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live lives of genuine integrity and justice, reflecting the character of God in the marketplace and in every sphere, fulfilling the spirit of the law that Amos championed, not by outward observance alone, but by a transformed heart that seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness ([Matthew 6:33](/matthew/6-33 "Matthew 6:33 - Seek First the Kingdom")).

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

Nehemiah 13:15

¶ In those days saw I in Judah [some] treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all [manner of] burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified [against them] in the day wherein they sold victuals.

Nehemiah 13:21

Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do [so] again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no [more] on the sabbath.

Hosea 12:7

¶ [He is] a merchant, the balances of deceit [are] in his hand: he loveth to oppress.

Micah 6:10

Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure [that is] abominable?

Micah 6:11

Shall I count [them] pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?

Deuteronomy 25:13

¶ Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small.

Deuteronomy 25:16

For all that do such things, [and] all that do unrighteously, [are] an abomination unto the LORD thy God.