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Amos 5:9

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Amos 5:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “that bringeth sudden destruction upon the strong, so that destruction cometh upon the fortress.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

that bringeth sudden destruction upon the strong, so that destruction cometh upon the fortress.
Amos 5:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Amos 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6Seek Jehovah, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, and there be none to quench it in Beth-el.
7Ye who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth,
8[seek him] that maketh the Pleiades and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night; that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth (Jehovah is his name);
9that bringeth sudden destruction upon the strong, so that destruction cometh upon the fortress.
10They hate him that reproveth in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.
11Forasmuch therefore as ye trample upon the poor, and take exactions from him of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink the wine thereof.
12For I know how manifold are your transgressions, and how mighty are your sins-ye that afflict the just, that take a bribe, and that turn aside the needy in the gate [from their right].
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, etc.] Such as have been taken by an enemy, who have been stripped of their armour, and spoiled of all their goods and substance, and have no friends nor allies, nor anything to help themselves with; the Lord can supply them with strength, furnish them with weapons, and send them helpers, so that they shall rise up against their conquerors and spoilers, and in their turn subdue them. The Targum is, “that strengthens the weak against the strong;” or causes the weak to prevail over the strong. A learned man, from the use of the word in the Arabic language, chooses to render it, “who intends”, or “designs, destruction to the strong”f124; that…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“strengtheneth the spoiled--literally, "spoil" or "devastation": hence the "person spoiled." WINER, MAURER, and the best modern critics translate, "maketh devastation (or destruction) suddenly to arise," literally, "maketh it to gleam forth like the dawn." Ancient versions support English Version. The Hebrew is elsewhere used, to make, to shine, to make glad: and as English Version here (Psa 39:13), "recover strength." the spoiled shall come--"devastation," or "destruction shall come upon" [MAURER]. English Version expresses that, strong as Israel fancies herself after the successes of Jeroboam II (Kg2 14:25), even the weakest can be made by God to prevail against the strong.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“That strengtheneth the spoiled - (Literally, “spoil” English margin) probably That “maketh devastation to smile on the strong.” . The “smile,” in anger, attests both the extremity of anger, and the consciousness of the ease, wherewith the offence can be punished. They were strong in their own strength; strong, as they deemed, in their “fortress” ; “strong with an evil strength, like one phrensied against his physician.” But their strength would be weakness. “Desolation” when God willed, would “smile at” all which they accounted “might,” and would “come against the fortress,” which, as they deemed, “cut off” all approach. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The strong - The mighty, victorious and insolent. Shall come - Shall rally and form a siege against their besiegers. Amos 5:10”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“strengtheneth: Kg2 13:17, Kg2 13:25; Jer 37:10; Heb 11:34 spoiled: Heb. spoil Amos 5:10”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification