Verse MeaningAmosSome background helps
Amos 1:6: Meaning Explained
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof;...
Amos 1:6
“Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Gaza, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they carried away captive the whole community, to deliver them up to Edom;"”
What Does This Verse Mean?
Gaza did many wrong things. They captured whole groups of people and sold them as slaves to Edom. God will punish them.
What’s Happening Here
Gaza practiced slavery and human trafficking. This is one of the worst wrongs a nation can do.
Key Words
Gazaa Philistine city
captivetaken prisoner or made a slave
communitya group of people
Why It Matters
God hates slavery and treating people as objects to buy and sell. He judges nations that do this.
Did You Know?
Selling people as slaves was one of the worst crimes in God's eyes, and He brought judgment on those who did it.
Word Study
H559
Thus saithאָמַ֣ר
H3068
the LORDיְהוָ֔ה
H7969
For threeשְׁלֹשָׁה֙
H6588
transgressionsפִּשְׁעֵ֣י
H5804
of Gazaעַזָּ֔ה
H702
and for fourאַרְבָּעָ֖ה
H7725
I will not turn awayאֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ
H1540
the punishment thereof because they carried away captiveהַגְלוֹתָ֛ם
H1546
captivityגָּל֥וּת
H8003
the wholeשְׁלֵמָ֖ה
H5462
to deliver them upלְהַסְגִּ֥יר
H123
to Edomלֶאֱדֽוֹם׃
Cross References
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Read Amos 1:6 in the Bible reader, or explore the full chapter summary.