“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The surprising insult isn't just calling them "cows," but specifically "cows of Bashan." This imagery conjures up fat, pampered animals from incredibly rich pastures, highlighting their luxurious indulgence and disconnect from the suffering they cause. Their demand to "Bring, that we may drink!" reveals that their comfort is directly fueled by the exploitation of the poor.
“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Amos begins by directly addressing the wealthy women of Samaria, comparing them to well-fed, pampered cows from the fertile region of Bashan. He paints a picture of their opulent lifestyle, funded by the exploitation and crushing of the poor and needy, as they call on their husbands or masters to provide them with drink for their revelries. This sets the stage for a series of pronouncements detailing God's judgment against Israel for their injustice and idolatry.
Imagine plump, well-fed cattle lounging in the most fertile pastures. This is the image God uses for the wealthy elite of Samaria. But their prosperity hides a dark secret.
Amos calls the luxurious women of Samaria "kine of Bashan." Bashan was a region renowned for its rich lands and exceptionally strong, well-fed livestock. This imagery highlights the pampered and overfed lifestyle of Samaria's elite.
A Life of Ease, A Heart of Stone
These "cows" weren't just enjoying their feast; they were actively involved in oppressing the poor and crushing the needy. Their comfortable lives were directly funded by the suffering of others. They demanded more and more, like thirsty animals, without a thought for the cost to those they exploited.
The women of Samaria aren't just passively enjoying their wealth; they're actively demanding more. But who is fulfilling these demands?
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The verse points to the women saying to their "masters" (or 'lords'/'husbands'), "Bring, that we may drink!" This reveals a dynamic where the women's extravagant desires directly pressured the men in power to provide.
Enabling Exploitation
These "masters" weren't just husbands; they could be kings, officials, or wealthy landowners. The women's insatiable thirst for drink and indulgence spurred these men to commit acts of injustice. The men, in turn, likely used their authority to extort and defraud the poor to meet these demands.
Understand the original words
pārôt · Hebrew Noun
A term referring to the rich, self-indulgent, and oppressive women of Samaria. It highlights their callousness, comparing them to well-fed livestock that are ultimately destined for slaughter.
bāšān · Hebrew Noun
A region in Transjordan known for its lush pastures and high-quality livestock, used here to symbolize the wealth and luxury of the oppressors.
ʿāšaq · Hebrew Verb
To treat harshly, burden, or exploit those who are socially or economically weaker. In Scripture, God repeatedly condemns such exploitation as a violation of His covenant laws.
dal · Hebrew Noun
Individuals who are socially, economically, or physically vulnerable, lacking the power or resources to defend themselves. God frequently positions Himself as the protector of those in this state.
Amos uses the image of 'cows of Bashan' to highlight the luxurious, self-indulgent, and cruel nature of Samaria's elite, whose comfort is built on the suffering of the poor, all within a geopolitical context of growing Assyrian power.
c. 760 BC— this verse
Amos Prophesies
Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa in Judah, is called by God to prophesy against the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a time of prosperity and outward religious observance but inner corruption.
c. 8th century BC
Prosperity and Social Inequality
The Northern Kingdom of Israel, particularly its capital Samaria, experiences economic prosperity. This wealth, however, is concentrated in the hands of the elite, leading to severe oppression of the poor and needy.
c. 8th century BC
Widespread Corruption
Luxury and self-indulgence are rampant among the wealthy in Samaria. They are characterized by their callous disregard for the suffering of others, prioritizing their own comfort and desires.
c. 745-740 BC
Assyrian Power Grows
The Neo-Assyrian Empire, under rulers like Tiglath-Pileser III, begins its expansion, posing an increasing threat to the smaller kingdoms of the region, including Israel.
This psalm describes a suffering individual surrounded by enemies, comparing them to 'strong bulls of Bashan,' a vivid image of power and aggression that parallels Amos' use of Bashan for a symbol of oppressive might.
Ezekiel 39:18Ezekiel also uses the imagery of fat beasts from Bashan, calling them 'powerful bulls and male goats,' to describe the formidable armies that will be overthrown, linking the land of Bashan to both strength and coming judgment.
1 Kings 21:1-16This story of Naboth's vineyard shows a powerful woman, Jezebel, using her influence over her husband, the king, to unjustly seize property from a poorer man, mirroring the oppressive demands and luxurious desires described in Amos 4:1.
Proverbs 31:10-31While Proverbs 31 praises a virtuous wife, its description of diligence and care for the household stands in stark contrast to the self-indulgent, oppressive 'cows of Bashan' who demand more to drink at the expense of the needy.
barnesAmos 4:1: "Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink."
Hear ye this, ye kine of Bashan - The pastures of Bashan were very rich, and it had its name probably from its richness of soil . The Batanea of later times was a province only of the kingdom of Bashan, which, with half of Gilead, was given to the half tribe of Manasseh. For the Bashan of Og included Golan Deutero…
clarkeAmos 4:1: "Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink."
Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan - Such an address was quite natural from the herdsman of Tekoa. Bashan was famous for the fertility of its soil, and its flocks and herds; and the prophet here represents the iniquitous, opulent, idle, lazy drones, whether men or women, under the idea of fatted bullocks, which wer…
The surprising insult isn't just calling them "cows," but specifically "cows of Bashan." This imagery conjures up fat, pampered animals from incredibly rich pastures, highlighting their luxurious indulgence and disconnect from the suffering they cause. Their demand to "Bring, that we may drink!" reveals that their comfort is directly fueled by the exploitation of the poor.
Amos begins by directly addressing the wealthy women of Samaria, comparing them to well-fed, pampered cows from the fertile region of Bashan. He paints a picture of their opulent lifestyle, funded by the exploitation and crushing of the poor and needy, as they call on their husbands or masters to provide them with drink for their revelries. This sets the stage for a series of pronouncements detailing God's judgment against Israel for their injustice and idolatry.
Amos begins by directly addressing the wealthy women of Samaria, comparing them to well-fed, pampered cows from the fertile region of Bashan. He paints a picture of their opulent lifestyle, funded by the exploitation and crushing of the poor and needy, as they call on their husbands or masters to provide them with drink for their revelries. This sets the stage for a series of pronouncements detailing God's judgment against Israel for their injustice and idolatry.
"“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’" — The surprising insult isn't just calling them "cows," but specifically "cows of Bashan." This imagery conjures up fat, pampered animals from incredibly rich pastures, highlighting their luxurious ind…
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Last reviewed October 2026