Amos 4:4-5 in the King James Version of the Bible reads: "Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years: 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."

The book of Amos is one of the books of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament. It is a collection of prophecies given by the prophet Amos, who lived in the 8th century BC during the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel. The primary themes of the book of Amos are social justice, righteousness, and the need for repentance.

In these verses, Amos is delivering a message from the Lord God to the people of Israel. He begins by telling them to "Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression." Bethel and Gilgal were two of the main religious centers in Israel at the time, and the people were regularly traveling to these places to offer sacrifices and fulfill their religious obligations. However, God is rebuking them for their ritualistic and insincere approach to worship. Rather than using their religious practices as opportunities for repentance and renewal, they were using them as opportunities to increase their transgressions.

The people are instructed to bring their sacrifices every morning and their tithes after three years. These were traditional religious practices meant to honor God and support the community, but they had become empty rituals that did not reflect true devotion to God. The act of bringing sacrifices and tithes had become a mere formality, devoid of the true spirit of thanksgiving, generosity, and obedience.

Furthermore, the people are instructed to "offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings." Leaven was typically forbidden in traditional Old Testament sacrifices, as it was a symbol of impurity and sin. By including leaven in their sacrifices, the people were defying the traditional laws and customs surrounding worship. This was a further indication of their insincere and disobedient attitude towards God.

The significance of these verses lies in the clear condemnation of empty religious practices and the call for genuine repentance and righteousness. The people of Israel had become complacent in their faith, relying on ritualistic forms of worship while neglecting the true essence of their relationship with God. The words of Amos serve as a warning to the people that their actions have consequences and that true worship requires sincerity, obedience, and humility.

In a broader context, these verses also carry a timeless message for all believers. They remind us that our outward religious practices, no matter how well-intentioned, can become empty and meaningless if they are not accompanied by a genuine heart for God. God desires our authentic devotion and obedience, not just our outward actions.

In terms of symbolism, the sacrifices and tithes mentioned in these verses represent the religious duties and responsibilities of the people. They are a symbol of the outward expressions of faith and devotion. However, the mention of leaven and the rebuke for their insincere and disobedient attitudes reveal the true condition of their hearts. The leaven symbolizes impurity and sin, and its inclusion in the sacrifices reflects the people's lack of true devotion and obedience to God.

Overall, Amos 4:4-5 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of genuine repentance, obedience, and righteousness in the eyes of God. It challenges us to examine the sincerity of our worship and the condition of our hearts, and to ensure that our actions are always aligned with God's will and desires.