Amos 2:8

Translations

Modern

They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. And in the house of their God, they drink wine obtained through fines.

Traditional

And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.

Literal

And on clothes taken in pledge they stretch out beside every altar, and the wine of those having been fined they drink in the house of their God.

Latin

Et super vestimentis pignoratis accubuerunt juxta omne altare, et vinum damnatorum bibebant in domo Dei sui.

Original

Hebrew

English

They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. And in the house of their God, they drink wine obtained through fines.

Notes

Amos 2:8

The irony is that those who oppressed the poor openly displayed their sins during religious festivals.
The law of Moses allowed a lender to take a poor man’s cloak as security for a debt. However, the cloak had to be returned before nightfall, because nights were cold (Exodus 22:26–27; Deuteronomy 24:12–13). The law also said that a widow’s clothing must never be taken as security for a debt (Deuteronomy 24:17).
fines: The wealthy also imposed unjust fines. They bribed judges and used their power to prevent the poor, who could not defend themselves, from receiving a fair hearing (Amos 5:12).

Amos 2:6–16

Israel: Amos listed the sins of Israel's neighbors, then revealed his main point: The Israelites would face the same consequences (similar to Nathan's use of prophetic speech to prompt self-judgment, 2 Samuel 12:1–13).

Amos 1:3–2:16

This prophecy's eight judgments start with the most obvious enemy, Damascus, and end with the least obvious, Israel itself. This order would have captured Israel's attention as they listened to God's judgment on their enemies. However, Amos eventually revealed God's judgment on Israel, too.

Theme notes and profiles

Social Justice True Justice

Events

Prophecies of Amosc. 788 BC

Related verses

Deuteronomy 24:12–17
If he is a poor man, you must not go to sleep with the security in your possession;
Exodus 22:26–27
If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset,
Amos 6:6
You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
Ezekiel 18:7
He does not oppress another, but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
Amos 6:4
You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall.
Amos 4:1
Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, who say to your husbands, “Bring us more to drink.”
1 Corinthians 10:7
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”
Judges 9:27
And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.
Ezekiel 18:12
He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations.
Hosea 4:8
They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity.
Ezekiel 23:41
You sat on a couch of luxury with a table spread before it, on which you had set My incense and My oil,
1 Corinthians 10:21
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.

Glossary

Alms Beggar Book of Amos Book of Jeremiah Hell Lord Prophecy

Topics

Debt: Security For Drunkenness: General Scriptures Concerning Idolatry: Wicked Practices of Licentiousness of Pawn: General Scriptures Concerning Poor: Oppressions of Prophecies Concerning Israel: Prophecies Concerning of Captivity, Famine, and Judgments Surety (Guarantee): General Scriptures Concerning

Amos 2:8

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Translations

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Events

Related verses

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Topics