Amos 6 · Verse 5

Amos 6:5

That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;
Amos 6:5, King James Version

Amos 6:5 in other translations

BSBYou improvise songs on the harp like David and invent your own musical instruments.
WEBwho strum on the strings of a harp, who invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;
ASVthat sing idle songs to the sound of the viol; that invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;
YLTWho are taking part according to the psaltery, Like David they invented for themselves instruments of music;
DARBYthat chant to the sound of the lute, and invent them instruments of music, like David;
BBEMaking foolish songs to the sound of corded instruments, and designing for themselves instruments of music, like David;
WebsterThat chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David;

What does Amos 6:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. chant--literally, "mark distinct sounds and tones." viol--the lyre, or lute. invent ... instruments ... like David--They fancy they equal David in musical skill (1Ch 23:5; Ne 12:36). They defend their luxurious passion for music by his example: forgetting that he pursued this study when at peace and free from danger, and that for the praise of God; but they pursue for their own self-gratification, and that when God is angry and ruin is imminent.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 And invent to themselves instruments of music, like David - See the note on 1Chr 23:5; and see especially the note on 2Chr 29:25 (note). I believe that David was not authorized by the Lord to introduce that multitude of musical instruments into the Divine worship of which we read, and I am satisfied that his conduct in this respect is most solemnly reprehended by this prophet; and I farther believe that the use of such instruments of music, in the Christian Church, is without the sanction and against the will of God; that they are subversive of the spirit of true devotion, and that they are sinful. If there was a wo to them who invented instruments of music, as did David under the law, is there no wo, no curse to them who invent them, and introduce them into the worship of God in the Christian Church? I am an old man, and an old minister; and I here declare that I never knew them productive of any good in the worship of God; and have had reason to believe that they were productive of much evil. Music, as a science, I esteem and admire: but instruments of music in the house of God I abominate and abhor. This is the abuse of music; and here I register my protest against all such corruptions in the worship of the Author of Christianity. The late venerable and most eminent divine, the Revelation John Wesley, who was a lover of music, and an elegant poet, when asked his opinion of instruments of music being introduced into the chapels of the Methodists said, in his terse and powerful manner, "I have no objection to instruments of music in our chapels, provided they are neither Heard nor Seen." I say the same, though I think the expense of purchase had better be spared. The word הפרטים happoretim, which we render chant, and the margin quaver, signifies to dance, to skip, etc. In the sight of such a text, fiddlers, drummers, waltzers, etc., may well tremble, who perform to excite detestable passions.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Amos 6:1-7

Those are looked upon as doing well for themselves, who do well for their bodies; but we are here told what their ease is, and what their woe is. Here is a description of the pride, security, and sensuality, for which God would reckon. Careless sinners are every where in danger; but those at ease in Zion, who are stupid, vainly confident, and abusing their privileges, are in the greatest danger. Yet many fancy…

Read the full comment on Amos 6:1-7 →

Amos 6:5 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.

הַפֹּרְטִ֖יםha.po.re.Timthose [who] improviseH6527
עַל\־'al-onH5921
פִּ֣יpi[the] mouth ofH6310
הַנָּ֑בֶלha.Na.velthe lyreH5035
כְּדָוִ֕ידke.da.Vidlike DavidH1732
חָשְׁב֥וּcha.she.Vuthey have devisedH2803
לָהֶ֖םla.Hemfor themselves
כְּלֵי\־ke.lei-instruments ofH3627
שִֽׁיר\׃ShirsongH7892

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

Cross references for Amos 6:5

  • Isaiah 5:12

    And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.

  • Amos 5:23

    Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.

  • Amos 8:3

    And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord God: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.

  • Genesis 31:27

    Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?

  • Ecclesiastes 2:8

    I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

  • Revelation 18:22

    And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

  • 1 Peter 4:3

    For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

  • 1 Chronicles 23:5

    Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the Lord with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.

  • Job 21:11-12

    They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

  • 1 Chronicles 15:16

    And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
chant. or, quaver. to the.
Ge 31:27; Job 21:11,12; Ec 2:8; Isa 5:12; 1Pe 4:3; Re 18:22
like.
5:23; 8:3; 1Ch 23:5

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

Context

  • 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 6:5

    That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;

  • Amos 6:6

    That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

Read all of Amos 6

Amos 6:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Gorjean al son de la flauta, é inventan instrumentos músicos, como David;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		qui chantez au son du luth, et inventez, comme David, à votre usage, des instruments pour le chant;
German
Elberfelder 1871		die da faseln zum Klange der Harfe, sich wie David Musikinstrumente ersinnen;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		qui canitis ad vocem psalterii, sicut David putaverunt se habere vasa cantici,