Amos 2:8
they lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge, and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The sin here isn't just luxury; it's the chilling combination of exploiting the poor and then using that ill-gotten gain for religious rituals. They're literally lounging on stolen bedding next to altars and drinking wine bought with fines, all within the "house of their God," twisting faith into a cloak for their cruelty.
Amos is exposing the deeply ingrained corruption and hypocrisy of Israel, particularly focusing on the northern kingdom. This verse highlights how the wealthy and powerful are perverting religious practices and exploiting the vulnerable. They are feasting luxuriously on pledged garments and wine confiscated from the fined, all within their idolatrous worship sites, demonstrating a brazen disregard for both God's law and human compassion.
Understand the original words
mizbeach · Hebrew Noun
A place of sacrifice or encounter with God. In Israel, it was intended to be a site of worship and atonement, but it could be corrupted by idolatry or sinful practice.
chabolah · Hebrew Noun
A guarantee or security held for a debt. According to the Mosaic Law, such items (especially clothing) were to be returned to the poor by night, and keeping them was a violation of covenant justice.
Amos' prophecy confronts a society where outward religious observance in local shrines is a mere veneer for cruel exploitation and the violation of God's law, highlighting how easily people can twist 'worship' to serve their own selfish desires.
c. 760-750 BC— this verse
Amos' Prophetic Ministry
Amos, a shepherd from Judah, delivers a powerful prophecy of judgment against the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a time of outward prosperity but deep social injustice and religious corruption.
c. 8th century BC
Religious Syncretism in Israel
Many Israelites blended worship of Yahweh with Canaanite practices, establishing local shrines and altars ('high places') outside of Jerusalem, often engaging in rituals that mixed true worship with idolatry and immorality.
c. 8th century BC
Economic Exploitation of the Poor
During a period of apparent prosperity, the wealthy elite in Israel engaged in aggressive business practices, including usury and unjust legal dealings, that impoverished the common people.
c. 8th century BC
Neglect of Mosaic Law
Key laws designed to protect the vulnerable, such as the requirement to return pledged clothing by nightfall (Exodus 22:26), were routinely ignored by the affluent.
pulpitAmos 2:8: "And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god."
Verse 8. - The prophet condemns the cruel luxury which, contrary to the Law, made the poor debtor's necessities minister to the rich man's pleasures. They lay themselves down upon; Vulgate, accubuerunt. Ewald translates, "they cast lots upon;" but the Authorized Version is supported by the highest authorities, and gives the most appropriate mea…
jfbAmos 2:8: "And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god."
- lay themselves … upon clothes laid to pledge—the outer garment, which Ex 22:25-27 ordered to be restored to the poor man before sunset, as being his only covering. It aggravated the crime that they lay on these clothes in an idol temple.by every altar—They partook in a recumbent posture of their idolatrous feasts; the ancients being in the h…
The sin here isn't just luxury; it's the chilling combination of exploiting the poor and then using that ill-gotten gain for religious rituals. They're literally lounging on stolen bedding next to altars and drinking wine bought with fines, all within the "house of their God," twisting faith into a cloak for their cruelty.
Amos is exposing the deeply ingrained corruption and hypocrisy of Israel, particularly focusing on the northern kingdom. This verse highlights how the wealthy and powerful are perverting religious practices and exploiting the vulnerable. They are feasting luxuriously on pledged garments and wine confiscated from the fined, all within their idolatrous worship sites, demonstrating a brazen disregard for both God's law and human compassion.
Amos is exposing the deeply ingrained corruption and hypocrisy of Israel, particularly focusing on the northern kingdom. This verse highlights how the wealthy and powerful are perverting religious practices and exploiting the vulnerable. They are feasting luxuriously on pledged garments and wine confiscated from the fined, all within their idolatrous worship sites, demonstrating a brazen disregard for both God's law and human compassion.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Amos 2:8 is available in the Sola app.
"they lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge, and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined." — The sin here isn't just luxury; it's the chilling combination of exploiting the poor and then using that ill-gotten gain for religious rituals. They're literally lounging on stolen bedding next to al…
