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:

AMOS 1:13KJV
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Amos 1:13 (KJV)

What does Amos 1:13 mean?

Amos 1:13 says that God will not hold back punishment from the people of Ammon because they committed a brutal act against the people of Gilead, tearing open pregnant women in order to take more land. This verse highlights the seriousness of their violence and shows that God sees and judges such cruelty.

The prophet Amos is speaking God’s words to the people, listing the wrongs of neighboring nations. Here, the focus is on Ammon, a nation east of Israel, who attacked Gilead (an Israelite region) with extreme violence. The verse uses graphic language to stress the horror of their actions and makes clear that their desire for more territory led them to commit terrible crimes.

The Hebrew behind Amos 1:13

  • "Transgressions" (פֶּשַׁע, pesha‘): This word means more than just mistakes; it refers to deliberate acts of rebellion or breaking trust. In this verse, it shows that Ammon’s actions were willful and serious.
  • "Ripped up" (בָּקַע, baqa‘): This verb is very strong, describing a violent tearing apart. The use of this word underlines the shocking cruelty of what Ammon did to the women of Gilead.
  • "Enlarge" (רָחַב, rachav): This word means to make something wider or bigger. Here, it explains the motive behind Ammon’s violence—they wanted to expand their "border" (גְּבוּל, gevul), meaning their territory.

Why Amos 1:13 matters

  • Amos 1:13 clears up that God’s judgment is not just for Israel but also for other nations who commit extreme violence and injustice.
  • The verse emphasizes that God cares about the suffering of innocent people, even those outside Israel, and holds nations accountable for cruelty.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage in Amos 1, where God lists the sins of several nations, showing that no one is above His justice.

Where else these words appear

“child” Hebrew H2030 · used in 16 verses

  • Genesis 16:11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
  • Judges 13:7 But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
  • Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

“enlarge” Hebrew H7337 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 26:22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.
  • Psalms 18:36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
  • Isaiah 30:33 For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

“up” Hebrew H1234 · used in 50 verses

  • Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
  • 1 Chronicles 11:18 And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,
  • Isaiah 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

“transgressions” Hebrew H6588 · used in 90 verses

  • Genesis 31:36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
  • Psalms 51:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
  • Lamentations 1:5 Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.