Amos 5:11
Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.
Original Language Analysis
לָ֠כֵן
H3651
לָ֠כֵן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
1 of 22
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
יַ֣עַן
Forasmuch
H3282
יַ֣עַן
Forasmuch
Strong's:
H3282
Word #:
2 of 22
properly, heed; by implication, purpose (sake or account); used adverbially to indicate the reason or cause
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
4 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
דָּ֗ל
is upon the poor
H1800
דָּ֗ל
is upon the poor
Strong's:
H1800
Word #:
5 of 22
properly, dangling, i.e., (by implication) weak or thin
וּמַשְׂאַת
from him burdens
H4864
וּמַשְׂאַת
from him burdens
Strong's:
H4864
Word #:
6 of 22
properly, (abstractly) a raising (as of the hands in prayer), or rising (of flame); figuratively, an utterance; concretely, a beacon (as raised); a pr
בַּר֙
of wheat
H1250
בַּר֙
of wheat
Strong's:
H1250
Word #:
7 of 22
grain of any kind (even while standing in the field); by extension the open country
תִּקְח֣וּ
and ye take
H3947
תִּקְח֣וּ
and ye take
Strong's:
H3947
Word #:
8 of 22
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
מִמֶּ֔נּוּ
H4480
מִמֶּ֔נּוּ
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
9 of 22
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
בָּתֵּ֥י
houses
H1004
בָּתֵּ֥י
houses
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
10 of 22
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וְלֹא
H3808
וְלֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
13 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תֵ֣שְׁבוּ
but ye shall not dwell
H3427
תֵ֣שְׁבוּ
but ye shall not dwell
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
14 of 22
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
נְטַעְתֶּ֔ם
in them ye have planted
H5193
נְטַעְתֶּ֔ם
in them ye have planted
Strong's:
H5193
Word #:
18 of 22
properly, to strike in, i.e., fix; specifically, to plant (literally or figuratively)
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
19 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִשְׁתּ֖וּ
but ye shall not drink
H8354
תִשְׁתּ֖וּ
but ye shall not drink
Strong's:
H8354
Word #:
20 of 22
to imbibe (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:30Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.Micah 6:15Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.Zephaniah 1:13Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.James 2:6But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?Haggai 1:6Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.Micah 2:2And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
Historical Context
Archaeological excavations at Israelite sites from Jeroboam II's era confirm stark inequality—monumental elite structures alongside modest homes. Ivory decorations, fine pottery, and imported goods indicate luxury concentrations. This prosperity came through exploiting the poor—debt slavery, corrupt courts, unjust taxes. Amos's prediction came true: Assyrian conquest (722 BC) meant the wealthy lost everything, never enjoying what they'd built. The lesson: injustice doesn't pay; God's justice prevails.
Questions for Reflection
- What modern economic systems or practices parallel Israel's exploitation of the poor?
- How does knowing that ill-gotten wealth won't be enjoyed affect attitudes toward economic justice?
- In what ways do Christians sometimes build wealth through means that exploit vulnerable people?
Analysis & Commentary
"Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them." Amos specifies Israel's sin: "treading upon the poor"—oppression and exploitation. "Take from him burdens of wheat" likely describes unjust taxation or exorbitant rent extracted from subsistence farmers. The wealthy built "houses of hewn stone" (ashlar masonry—expensive, prestigious construction) and "pleasant vineyards" using wealth extracted from the poor. But divine justice intervenes: "ye shall not dwell in them... ye shall not drink wine of them." What was gained through oppression will be lost through judgment—classic covenant curse (Deuteronomy 28:30, 38-40). This principle of proportional judgment appears throughout Scripture (Micah 6:15, Zephaniah 1:13). The Reformed doctrine of God's justice affirms that ill-gotten gain doesn't prosper ultimately—God vindicates the oppressed and judges oppressors.