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Amos 6:11

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Amos 6:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For, behold, Jehovah commandeth, and the great house shall be smitten with breaches, and the little house with clefts.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For, behold, Jehovah commandeth, and the great house shall be smitten with breaches, and the little house with clefts.
Amos 6:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Amos 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8The Lord Jehovah hath sworn by himself, saith Jehovah, the God of hosts: I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces; therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.
9And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.
10And when a man`s uncle shall take him up, even he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is in the innermost parts of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No; then shall he say, Hold thy peace; for we may not make mention of the name of Jehovah.
11For, behold, Jehovah commandeth, and the great house shall be smitten with breaches, and the little house with clefts.
12Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow [there] with oxen? that ye have turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood;
13ye that rejoice in a thing of nought, that say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?
14For, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith Jehovah, the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entrance of Hamath unto the brook of the Arabah.
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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
“For, behold, the Lord commandeth, etc.] Hath determined and ordered the judgment before, and what follows: Kimchi paraphrases it, hath decreed the earthquake, as in (<300315>Amos 3:15); of which he understands the following: and he will smite the great house with breaches; or “droppings”f176; so that the rain shall drop through: and the little house with clefts; so that it shall fall to ruin; that is, he shall smite the houses both of great and small, of the princes, and of the common people, either with an earthquake, so that they shall part asunder and fall; or, being left without inhabitants, shall of course become desolate, there being none to repair their breaches. Some understand, by…”
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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
“commandeth, and he will smite--His word of command, when once given, cannot but be fulfilled (Isa 55:11). His mere word is enough to smite with destruction. great house . . . little house--He will spare none, great or small (Amo 3:15). JEROME interprets "the great house" as Israel, and "the small house" as Judah: the former being reduced to branches or ruins, literally, "small drops"; the latter, though injured with "clefts" or rents, which threaten its fall, yet still permitted to stand.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The Lord commandeth and He will smite - Jerome: “If He commandeth, how doth He smite? If He smiteth, how doth He command? In that thing which He “commands” and enjoins His ministers, He Himself is seen to “smite.” In Egypt the Lord declares that He killed the first-born, who, we read, were slain by “the destroyer” Exodus 12:23. The “breaches” denote probably the larger, “the cleft” the smaller ruin. The greater pile was the more greatly destroyed. 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
“For behold - It seems to be the continued speech of him who took care of the dead, Amo 6:10, God hath sent out war, famine, and pestilence. The great house - The palaces of great men shall have great breaches made in them, and the cottages of poor men shall, by lesser strokes, be ruined. Amos 6:12”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the Lord: Amo 3:6, Amo 3:7, Amo 9:1, Amo 9:9; Psa 105:16, Psa 105:31, Psa 105:34; Isa 10:5, Isa 10:6, Isa 13:3, Isa 46:10, Isa 46:11, Isa 55:11; Eze 29:18-20; Nah 1:14 he will: Amo 6:8, Amo 3:15; Kg2 25:9; Hos 13:16; Zac 14:2; Luk 19:44 breaches: or, droppings, Ecc 10:18 Amos 6:12”
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Related study paths

Read Amos 6 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification