Amos 6:12

Translations

Modern

“Do horses gallop on the cliffs? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood—

Traditional

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:

Literal

“Do horses run on the rock? Or does one plow there with the oxen? Yet you have turned justice into poison, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood,

Latin

Numquid currere queunt in petris equi, aut arari potest in bubalis? quoniam convertistis in amaritudinem judicium, et fructum justitiæ in absinthium.

Original

Hebrew

English

“Do horses gallop on the cliffs? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood—

Notes

Amos 6:12

Running horses over cliffs is unwise because unshod horses can damage their hooves on rocks. Obviously, oxen cannot plow the sea either. A slight change in the Hebrew text asks Can oxen be used to plow them [as in cliffs], which is equally absurd.
But you have turned: The comparisons highlight Israel's own absurdity in moral matters.
justice into poison: The people twisted what is just and right, making it toxic and bitter (see also Amos 5:7).

Amos 5:18–6:14

The pronouncements of sorrow in this section develop two main themes:

Israel’s apostasy (turning away from God) would make the day of the Lord a day of judgment, not salvation; and
Judah’s spiritual complacency (feeling satisfied and unconcerned about faithfulness to God) would also bring judgment.

Events

Prophecies of Amosc. 788 BC

Related verses

Amos 5:7
There are those who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground.
Hosea 10:4
They speak mere words; with false oaths they make covenants. So judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.
Amos 5:11–12
Therefore, because you trample on the poor and exact from him a tax of grain, you will never live in the stone houses you have built; you will never drink the wine from the lush vineyards you have planted.
Isaiah 59:13–14
…rebelling and denying the LORD, turning away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering lies from the heart.
Psalm 94:20–21
Can a corrupt throne be Your ally—one devising mischief by decree?
Isaiah 48:4
For I knew that you are stubborn; your neck is iron and your forehead is bronze.
1 Kings 21:7–13
But his wife Jezebel said to him, “Do you not reign over Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful, for I will get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
Habakkuk 1:3–4
Why do You make me see iniquity? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds.
Zechariah 7:11–12
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing.
Jeremiah 5:3
O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.
Jeremiah 6:29–30
The bellows blow fiercely, blasting away the lead with fire. The refining proceeds in vain, for the wicked are not purged.
Hosea 10:13
You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your mighty men,

Glossary

Agriculture Book of Amos Gall Hemlock Wormwood

Topics

Hemlock: A Poisonous and Bitter Plant Ploughing: Difficulty of, on Rocky Ground Rocks: Barren Rulers: Wicked The Ox used for Ploughing

Amos 6:12

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Events

Related verses

Glossary

Topics