Amos 5 · Verse 9

Amos 5:9

That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.
Amos 5:9, King James Version

Amos 5:9 in other translations

BSBHe flashes destruction on the strong, so that fury comes upon the stronghold.
WEBwho brings sudden destruction on the strong, so that destruction comes on the fortress.
ASVthat bringeth sudden destruction upon the strong, so that destruction cometh upon the fortress.
YLTWho is brightening up the spoiled against the strong, And the spoiled against a fortress cometh.
DARBYHe causeth destruction to break forth suddenly upon the strong, and bringeth destruction upon the fortress.
BBEWho sends sudden destruction on the strong, so that destruction comes on the walled town.
WebsterThat strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.

What does Amos 5:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. strengtheneth the spoiled--literally, "spoil" or "devastation": hence the "person spoiled." Winer, Maurer, and the best modern critics translate, "maketh devastation (or destruction) suddenly to arise," literally, "maketh it to gleam forth like the dawn." Ancient versions support English Version. The Hebrew is elsewhere used, to make, to shine, to make glad: and as English Version here (Psa 39:13), "recover strength." the spoiled shall come--"devastation," or "destruction shall come upon" [Maurer]. English Version expresses that, strong as Israel fancies herself after the successes of Jeroboam II (2Ki 14:25), even the weakest can be made by God to prevail against the strong.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 That strengtheneth the spoiled - Who takes the part of the poor and oppressed against the oppressor; and, in the course of his providence, sets up the former, and depresses the latter.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Amos 5:7-17

The same almighty power can, for repenting sinners, easily turn affliction and sorrow into prosperity and joy, and as easily turn the prosperity of daring sinners into utter darkness. Evil times will not bear plain dealing; that is, evil men will not. And these men were evil men indeed, when wise and good men thought it in vain even to speak to them. Those who will seek and love that which is good, may help to save…

Read the full comment on Amos 5:7-17 →

Amos 5:9 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הַמַּבְלִ֥יגha.mav.Ligthe [who] causes to flashH1082
שֹׁ֖דshoddevastationH7701
עַל\־'al-onH5921
עָ֑ז'Az[the] strongH5794
וְשֹׁ֖דve.Shodand devastationH7701
עַל\־'al-onH5921
מִבְצָ֥רmiv.Tzara fortressH4013
יָבֽוֹא\׃ya.Vo'it will comeH935

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Amos 5:9

  • Jeremiah 37:10

    For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.

  • 2 Kings 13:17

    And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.

  • Micah 5:11

    And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:

  • 2 Kings 13:25

    And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Ben–hadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.

  • Hebrews 11:34

    Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
strengtheneth.
2Ki 13:17,25; Jer 37:10; Heb 11:34
spoiled. Heb. spoil.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Amos 5:8

    Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name:

  • Amos 5:9

    That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.

  • Amos 5:10

    They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.

Read all of Amos 5

Amos 5:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Que da esfuerzo al despojador sobre el fuerte, y que el despojador venga contra la fortaleza.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Il fait lever subitement la destruction sur le fort, et la destruction vient sur la forteresse.
German
Elberfelder 1871		der Verwüstung losbrechen läßt über den Starken, und Verwüstung kommt über die Feste.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		qui subridet vastitatem super robustum, et depopulationem super potentem affert.