Amos 6:12
Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:
Original Language Analysis
בַּסֶּ֙לַע֙
upon the rock
H5553
בַּסֶּ֙לַע֙
upon the rock
Strong's:
H5553
Word #:
2 of 13
a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress)
אִֽם
H518
אִֽם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
4 of 13
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יַחֲר֖וֹשׁ
will one plow
H2790
יַחֲר֖וֹשׁ
will one plow
Strong's:
H2790
Word #:
5 of 13
to scratch, i.e., (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad
בַּבְּקָרִ֑ים
there with oxen
H1241
בַּבְּקָרִ֑ים
there with oxen
Strong's:
H1241
Word #:
6 of 13
a beeve or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
7 of 13
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
הֲפַכְתֶּ֤ם
for ye have turned
H2015
הֲפַכְתֶּ֤ם
for ye have turned
Strong's:
H2015
Word #:
8 of 13
to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert
לְרֹאשׁ֙
into gall
H7219
לְרֹאשׁ֙
into gall
Strong's:
H7219
Word #:
9 of 13
a poisonous plant, probably the poppy (from its conspicuous head); generally poison (even of serpents)
מִשְׁפָּ֔ט
judgment
H4941
מִשְׁפָּ֔ט
judgment
Strong's:
H4941
Word #:
10 of 13
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind
Historical Context
Amos repeatedly attacks Israel's corrupt legal system (Amos 5:10-15). Courts that should have defended the poor instead took bribes and ruled for the powerful. This judicial corruption was systemic, not isolated—making judgment inevitable.
Questions for Reflection
- What modern legal or political systems pervert justice into oppression while claiming righteousness?
- How do Christians sometimes invert biblical values—calling tolerance 'love,' compromise 'wisdom,' or comfort 'blessing'?
- What does it mean to restore justice and righteousness when systems have become thoroughly corrupted?
Analysis & Commentary
Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? (הַיְרֻצוּן בַּסֶּלַע סוּסִים אִם־יַחֲרוֹשׁ בַּבְּקָרִים, hayrutzun basela susim im-yacharosh bab'qarim)—two rhetorical questions about absurdities: horses can't gallop on rocky cliffs; oxen can't plow stone. Yet Israel's behavior is equally absurd: for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock (כִּי־הֲפַכְתֶּם לְרֹאשׁ מִשְׁפָּט וּפְרִי צְדָקָה לְלַעֲנָה, ki-hafachtem l'rosh mishpat ufri tz'dakah l'la'anah)—they've inverted justice (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat) into poison (רֹאשׁ, rosh, literally 'head,' meaning poisonous plant or gall), and righteousness's fruit (צְדָקָה, tz'dakah) into wormwood (לַעֲנָה, la'anah, bitter poison).
This indicts moral inversion: making justice serve oppression and perverting righteousness into wickedness. When legal systems meant to protect the vulnerable instead exploit them, society commits absurdity worse than horses running on rocks. Isaiah 5:20 pronounces woe on such moral confusion: 'Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil.'