Amos 8:5

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?

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}?

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,

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.

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 on Amos 8:5

Amos 8:5 vividly exposes the deep-seated corruption and hypocrisy prevalent in ancient Israel during the prophet Amos's ministry. This verse captures the greedy mindset of merchants who, despite outward religious observance, eagerly awaited the end of sacred days to resume their dishonest business practices.

Context

The prophet Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa, was called by God to deliver a message of judgment against the northern kingdom of Israel in the 8th century BC. This was a time of relative prosperity under King Jeroboam II, but also rampant social injustice, moral decay, and religious formalism. Amos consistently condemned the wealthy and powerful for oppressing the poor and vulnerable. Chapter 8 specifically presents a vision of a basket of summer fruit, symbolizing that Israel's end was near, and then details the specific sins that necessitated this judgment. The merchants' impatience with religious holidays underscores their prioritization of profit over piety and justice.

Key Themes

  • Hypocrisy and False Piety: The merchants outwardly observed the Sabbath and new moon festivals, which were times of rest and worship. However, their hearts were far from God, as evidenced by their impatience to resume dishonest trade. This highlights the danger of religious ritual without genuine devotion and obedience.
  • Greed and Materialism: The core motivation for their actions was an insatiable desire for wealth, even at the expense of others. They viewed sacred time not as an opportunity for spiritual reflection, but as an obstacle to their accumulation of riches.
  • Dishonest Business Practices: The verse outlines specific methods of fraud:
    • "Making the ephah small": The ephah was a standard dry measure, typically for grain. To "make it small" meant cheating customers by selling less than the advertised quantity.
    • "And the shekel great": The shekel was a unit of weight, often used for currency (silver or gold). To "make the shekel great" meant demanding more payment for goods, effectively devaluing the customer's money or requiring them to pay more in weight for a given amount.
    • "And falsifying the balances by deceit": This refers to tampering with scales or weights to ensure an unfair advantage, always in favor of the merchant. This directly violated God's clear commands for honest weights and measures (Leviticus 19:36, Proverbs 11:1).
  • Exploitation of the Poor: These dishonest practices disproportionately affected the poor, who were dependent on purchasing basic necessities like corn and wheat. The systemic deceit ensured that the rich grew richer while the poor were further impoverished, a central theme in Amos's prophetic message.

Linguistic Insights

The terms "ephah" and "shekel" are crucial here, representing the concrete tools of their trade. The phrase "falsifying the balances by deceit" (Hebrew: 'aqqesh micne-mishqal) emphasizes the deliberate and intentional nature of their fraud. It wasn't accidental error but calculated deception for personal gain.

Practical Application

Amos 8:5 remains remarkably relevant today. It challenges us to examine our own priorities: Do we view spiritual disciplines and times of rest as burdens, or as opportunities for genuine connection with God? It calls for integrity in all our dealings, especially in business. God's concern for justice and righteousness extends to the marketplace, demanding fairness and honesty. The verse reminds us that true worship involves not just outward observance, but a heart that loves justice and cares for the vulnerable, rejecting any form of exploitation or deceit.

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.

  • 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.

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