What does Amos 4:1 mean?
"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." - Amos 4:1
Amos 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."
Amos 4:1 in the King James Version of the Bible reads: "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."
This verse comes from the Old Testament book of Amos, which is a prophetic book that emphasizes social justice and the need for repentance and obedience to God's laws. The context of this verse is a condemnation of the wealthy and powerful people of Samaria, who were oppressing and exploiting the poor and needy in their pursuit of selfish desires. The term "kine of Bashan" refers to the wealthy and influential women of that time, who were like the well-fed cattle that grazed in the fertile pastures of Bashan, a symbol of prosperity and abundance.
The prophet Amos delivers a message from God to these affluent and luxurious women, calling them out for their oppression of the poor and their disdain for the needy. The verse emphasizes the arrogance and callousness of these women, who demand extravagance and indulgence from their masters without any regard for the suffering and injustice they impose on others. They have become so preoccupied with their own pleasures and comforts that they have lost all compassion and empathy for those less fortunate.
The themes in this verse are ones of social injustice, oppression, selfishness, and the corrupting influence of wealth and power. The prophet Amos is denouncing the moral decay and spiritual emptiness that has taken hold of the wealthy and influential people in Samaria. They have become blinded by their own desires and have neglected their responsibilities to care for the vulnerable and marginalized members of society. The emphasis on the mistreatment of the poor and needy reflects the broader message in the book of Amos about the need for social equity and moral integrity.
There is also a strong symbolism in this verse, particularly in the use of the term "kine of Bashan" to represent the affluent and indulgent women of Samaria. The comparison to well-fed cattle in the fertile pastures of Bashan serves as a metaphor for their abundance and prosperity, but also for their complacency and disregard for others. The image of these women demanding to "drink" from their masters further illustrates their insatiable appetite for luxury and their exploitation of those beneath them.
In a broader sense, this verse serves as a warning about the dangers of wealth and power when they are pursued at the expense of others. It highlights the moral responsibilities that come with privilege and abundance, and the dire consequences of neglecting justice and mercy. The verse calls for introspection and repentance, challenging the wealthy and influential to reconsider their actions and realign themselves with the principles of compassion and righteousness.
Overall, Amos 4:1 from the King James Version of the Bible is a powerful condemnation of social injustice and the abuse of power. It serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of humility, empathy, and ethical conduct, especially for those who hold positions of influence and prosperity. It prompts readers to reflect on their own attitudes towards wealth and privilege, and to consider their obligations to promote equity and alleviate the suffering of the less fortunate.
Amos 4:1 Artwork
Amos 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."
Amos 1:4 - "But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Ben-hadad."
Amos 8:4 - "¶ Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,"
Amos 1:1 - "The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake."
Amos 4:4 - "¶ Come to Beth-el, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years:"
Amos 5:4 - "¶ For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:"
Amos 4:13 – "He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind."
Amos 1:10 - "But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof."
Amos 1:12 - "But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah."
Amos 1:7 - "But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:"
Amos 1:15 - "And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD."
Amos 8:1 - "Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit."
Amos 6:4 - "That 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;"
Amos 4:12 - "Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel."
Amos 3:4 - "Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?"
Amos 4:5 - "And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD."
Amos 4:3 - "And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith the LORD."
Amos 7:4 - "¶ Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part."
Amos 4:2 - "The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks."
Amos 9:4 - "And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good."
Amos 5:1 - "Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel."
Amos 4:8 - "So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD."
Amos 6:1 - "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!"
Amos 1:14 - "But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:"
Amos 4:11 - "I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD."
Amos 4:6 - "¶ And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD."
Amos 4:4-5 - "Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years. Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings—boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do," declares the Sovereign Lord."
Amos 2:4 - "¶ Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:"
Amos 1:3 - "Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:"
Amos 1:13 - "¶ Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:"