Amos 6:5

Translations

Modern

You improvise songs on the harp like David and invent your own musical instruments.

Traditional

That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;

Literal

…those singing foolishly over the mouth of the harp, like David, devising for themselves all manner of song;

Latin

…qui canitis ad vocem psalterii, sicut David putaverunt se habere vasa cantici,

Original

Hebrew

English

You improvise songs on the harp like David and invent your own musical instruments.

Notes

Amos 6:5–6

These verses describe people celebrating with excessive drinking and loud behavior.

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.

Theme notes and profiles

James, Brother of Jesus

Events

Prophecies of Amosc. 788 BC

Related verses

Isaiah 5:12
At their feasts are the lyre and harp, tambourines and flutes and wine. They disregard the actions of the LORD and fail to see the work of His hands.
Amos 5:23
Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
Amos 8:3
“In that day,” declares the Lord GOD, “the songs of the temple will turn to wailing. Many will be the corpses, strewn in silence everywhere!”
Revelation 18:22
And the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will never ring out in you again. Nor will any craftsmen of any trade be found in you again, nor the sound of a millstone be heard in you again.
1 Chronicles 15:16
David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.
Ecclesiastes 2:8
…and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—many concubines.
Job 21:11–12
They send forth their little ones like a flock; their children skip about,
1 Peter 4:3
For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.
1 Chronicles 23:5
…4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I have made for giving praise.”
Genesis 31:27
Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps.

Parallels

Luke 6:24–26

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ

Glossary

Banquet Book of Amos Poetry, Biblical Prophecy Psalms, Book of Samaria Viol

Topics

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Disregard of the Judgments and Works of God Beds used for Reclining on at Meals Confidence: False David: King of Israel: David As Musician Entertainments: Music and Dancing often Introduced At Feasts: Music At Gluttony: General Scriptures Concerning Invention of Musical Instruments by David Music: Instruments of Invented by David Music: Instruments of The Jews Celebrated for Inventing Music: Instruments of Viol, a Lyre Music: The Jews Used in Private Entertainments Music: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To The Diet of the Jews of the Rich, Luxurious The Rich: General Scriptures Concerning Worldliness: General Scriptures Concerning Worldly Amusements and Pleasures: Lead to Disregard of the Judgments and Works of God

Amos 6:5

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Original?

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Events?

Related verses?

Parallels?