Amos 1:6 (KJV)

What does Amos 1:6 mean?

Amos 1:6 says that God will not hold back punishment from Gaza because they took an entire population captive and handed them over to Edom. The verse uses a formula—“for three transgressions... and for four”—to show that Gaza’s repeated wrongdoing has reached a breaking point.

In this verse, the prophet Amos is speaking God’s message of judgment against Gaza, a Philistine city. The charge is that Gaza captured whole communities and sold them as slaves to Edom, another nation. This act of violence and betrayal is highlighted as especially serious, setting the stage for God’s coming judgment on the surrounding nations.

The Hebrew behind Amos 1:6

• “Transgressions” (פֶּשַׁע, pesha‘) refers to rebellious acts or willful wrongdoing, not just accidental mistakes. This word emphasizes that Gaza’s actions were deliberate violations.
• “Carried away captive” (גָּלָה, galah) means to take people away from their homeland, often by force. This highlights the seriousness of Gaza’s crime—they uprooted entire communities.
• “Whole” (שָׁלֵם, shalem) means complete or entire. The verse stresses that Gaza didn’t just take a few people, but captured entire populations.
• “Up” (סָגַר, sagar) means to deliver or hand over, often with the sense of shutting in or confining. Gaza is accused of turning over captives to Edom, intensifying their guilt.

Why Amos 1:6 matters

• Amos 1:6 shows that God holds nations accountable for cruelty and injustice, even those outside Israel.
• The verse clarifies that God’s judgment is not random but is a response to repeated, serious offenses, especially the betrayal and enslavement of innocent people.
• This verse fits into a larger pattern in Amos, where God addresses the sins of Israel’s neighbors before turning to Israel itself, showing that divine justice is impartial and far-reaching.