Amos 6:2
Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?
Original Language Analysis
עִבְר֤וּ
Pass
H5674
עִבְר֤וּ
Pass
Strong's:
H5674
Word #:
1 of 18
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
כַֽלְנֵה֙
ye unto Calneh
H3641
כַֽלְנֵה֙
ye unto Calneh
Strong's:
H3641
Word #:
2 of 18
calneh or calno, a place in the assyrian empire
וּרְא֔וּ
and see
H7200
וּרְא֔וּ
and see
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
3 of 18
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
וּלְכ֥וּ
H1980
וּלְכ֥וּ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
4 of 18
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
מִשָּׁ֖ם
H8033
מִשָּׁ֖ם
Strong's:
H8033
Word #:
5 of 18
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
רַ֥ב
greater
H7227
רַ֥ב
greater
Strong's:
H7227
Word #:
7 of 18
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
וּרְד֣וּ
then go down
H3381
וּרְד֣וּ
then go down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
8 of 18
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
פְּלִשְׁתּ֗ים
of the Philistines
H6430
פְּלִשְׁתּ֗ים
of the Philistines
Strong's:
H6430
Word #:
10 of 18
a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth
הֲטוֹבִים֙
be they better
H2896
הֲטוֹבִים֙
be they better
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
11 of 18
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
12 of 18
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַמַּמְלָכ֣וֹת
than these kingdoms
H4467
הַמַּמְלָכ֣וֹת
than these kingdoms
Strong's:
H4467
Word #:
13 of 18
dominion, i.e., (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
15 of 18
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
רַ֥ב
greater
H7227
רַ֥ב
greater
Strong's:
H7227
Word #:
16 of 18
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
Cross References
Nahum 3:8Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?Genesis 10:10And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.2 Kings 18:34Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?2 Chronicles 26:6And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.1 Samuel 17:4And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
Historical Context
Amos likely prophesied this between 760-750 BC, before some of these cities fell—making it a genuine prophecy. Israel's complacency during prosperous times blinded them to approaching judgment. They thought their election guaranteed safety, but election without obedience brings greater accountability (Amos 3:2).
Questions for Reflection
- What forms of false security—national identity, church membership, religious heritage—do people trust instead of genuine faith?
- How does examining other fallen nations or churches warn against presumption on God's patience?
- Why do prosperous times often breed spiritual complacency and blindness to approaching judgment?
Analysis & Commentary
Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines—God commands Israel to examine three conquered cities as object lessons. Calneh (Assyrian Kullani) fell to Tiglath-Pileser III around 738 BC. Hamath (Syrian city) was defeated by Assyria circa 720 BC. Gath (Philistine city) had been conquered by Uzziah of Judah (2 Chronicles 26:6). Be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border? (הֲטוֹבִים מִן־הַמַּמְלָכוֹת הָאֵלֶּה, hatovim min-hamamlachot ha'eleh)—rhetorical question: if these great cities fell, what makes Israel think they're immune?
This confronts nationalistic pride and false security. Israel trusted in their covenant status, but covenant unfaithfulness removes covenant protection. If powerful nations fell to judgment, covenantbreakers will fare no better. Peter echoes this: 'judgment must begin at the house of God' (1 Peter 4:17).