Amos 5:12

Authorized King James Version

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For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.

Original Language Analysis

כִּ֤י H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 1 of 13
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ For I know H3045
יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ For I know
Strong's: H3045
Word #: 2 of 13
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
רַבִּ֣ים your manifold H7227
רַבִּ֣ים your manifold
Strong's: H7227
Word #: 3 of 13
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
פִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֔ם transgressions H6588
פִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֔ם transgressions
Strong's: H6588
Word #: 4 of 13
a revolt (national, moral or religious)
וַעֲצֻמִ֖ים and your mighty H6099
וַעֲצֻמִ֖ים and your mighty
Strong's: H6099
Word #: 5 of 13
powerful (specifically, a paw); by implication, numerous
חַטֹּֽאתֵיכֶ֑ם sins H2403
חַטֹּֽאתֵיכֶ֑ם sins
Strong's: H2403
Word #: 6 of 13
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
צֹרְרֵ֤י they afflict H6887
צֹרְרֵ֤י they afflict
Strong's: H6887
Word #: 7 of 13
to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive
צַדִּיק֙ the just H6662
צַדִּיק֙ the just
Strong's: H6662
Word #: 8 of 13
just
לֹ֣קְחֵי they take H3947
לֹ֣קְחֵי they take
Strong's: H3947
Word #: 9 of 13
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
כֹ֔פֶר a bribe H3724
כֹ֔פֶר a bribe
Strong's: H3724
Word #: 10 of 13
properly, a cover, i.e., (literally) a village (as covered in)
וְאֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים the poor H34
וְאֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים the poor
Strong's: H34
Word #: 11 of 13
destitute
בַּשַּׁ֥עַר in the gate H8179
בַּשַּׁ֥עַר in the gate
Strong's: H8179
Word #: 12 of 13
an opening, i.e., door or gate
הִטּֽוּ׃ and they turn aside H5186
הִטּֽוּ׃ and they turn aside
Strong's: H5186
Word #: 13 of 13
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)

Analysis & Commentary

I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins—God's comprehensive knowledge (yada' rabim pish'eikhem va'atsumim chatoteikhem, יָדַע רַבִּים פִּשְׁעֵיכֶם וַעֲצֻמִים חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם) uses two words for sin: pesha' (פֶּשַׁע, "transgression/rebellion") denotes willful covenant violation, while chatta't (חַטָּאת, "sin") means missing the mark. "Manifold" (rabim, רַבִּים, "many") and "mighty" (atsumim, עֲצֻמִים, "strong/numerous") emphasize both quantity and severity of their guilt.

Three specific crimes follow: they afflict the just (tsorerim tsaddiq, צֹרְרִים צַדִּיק)—oppressing righteous people; they take a bribe (loqchei kofer, לֹקְחֵי כֹפֶר)—kofer (כֹּפֶר) is ransom or bribe money that perverts justice; they turn aside the poor in the gate (ve'evyonim bash-sha'ar hittu, וְאֶבְיוֹנִים בַּשַּׁעַר הִטּוּ)—denying the poor (evyon, אֶבְיוֹן) their legal rights. The gate was where justice should be administered, but Israel's courts sold verdicts to the wealthy. This triad—oppressing the righteous, accepting bribes, denying the poor justice—summarizes systemic corruption that violates Torah repeatedly (Exodus 23:6-8; Deuteronomy 16:19, 27:19).

Historical Context

During Jeroboam II's prosperous reign (793-753 BC), Israel experienced territorial expansion and economic growth, but wealth concentrated among elites who built it on exploitation. Archaeological evidence from Samaria reveals massive inequality—ivory palaces for the rich, while debt slavery enslaved the poor. Courts that should have protected the vulnerable instead sold justice. God's detailed knowledge of their crimes ("I know") meant no secret sin escaped divine notice—accountability was coming.

Questions for Reflection