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Amos 6:5

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Amos 6:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “that sing idle songs to the sound of the viol; that invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

that sing idle songs to the sound of the viol; that invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;
Amos 6:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Amos 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines: are they better than these kingdoms? or is their border greater than your border?
3-ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;
4that lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;
5that sing idle songs to the sound of the viol; that invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;
6that drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief oils; but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
7Therefore shall they now go captive with the first that go captive; and the revelry of them that stretched themselves shall pass away.
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.
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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 chant to the sound of the viol, etc.] Or psaltery; an instrument of twelve cords, and that gave twelve sounds, as Josephusf166 says, being stricken with the fingers; and to these sounds thesemen chanted or quivered, made like sounds with their voice, which they raised higher or lower, according to the sound of the instrument: they “particularized”, as the word signifiesf167; or observed the divisions and distinctions of notes and sounds, by the modulation of their voice: [and] invent to themselves instruments of music, like David: not content with old ones, such as were used in former times, they invented new instruments and new tunes, and new songs to sing to them; as David made songs…”
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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
“chant--literally, "mark distinct sounds and tones." viol--the lyre, or lute. invent . . . instruments . . . like David--They fancy they equal David in musical skill (Ch1 23:5; Neh 12:36). They defend their luxurious passion for music by his example: forgetting that he pursued this study when at peace and free from danger, and that for the praise of God; but they pursue for their own self-gratification, and that when God is angry and ruin is imminent.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“That chant to the voice of the lyre - Accompanying “the voice of the lyre” with the human voice; giving vocal expression and utterance to what the instrumental music spoke without words. The word, which Amos alone uses in this one place, describes probably a hurried flow of unmeaning, unconsidered words, in which the rhythm of words and music was everything, the sense, nothing; much like most glees. The English margin “quaver” has also some foundation in the root, but does not suit the idiom so well, which expresses that the act was something done “to the voice of the lyre,” accompanying the music, not altering the music itself. In fact, they would go together. An artificial, effeminate…”
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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
“That chant - That in a time of deep mourning entertain themselves with songs, and musical instruments. Amos 6:6”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“6:5-6 These verses provide a picture of drunken revelry.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“chant: or, quaver to the: Gen 31:27; Job 21:11, Job 21:12; Ecc 2:8; Isa 5:12; Pe1 4:3; Rev 18:22 like: Amo 5:23, Amo 8:3; Ch1 23:5 Amos 6:6”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification