For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts.

AMOS 6:11KJV
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Amos 6:11 (KJV)

What does Amos 6:11 mean?

Amos 6:11 warns that God has given a command to destroy both the large and small houses, breaking them apart and leaving them in ruins. The verse shows that no one, whether great or humble, will be spared from the coming judgment.

In this verse, the prophet Amos is speaking to the people of Israel, especially those living comfortably in their wealth and security. God’s command is final and powerful, and the destruction will reach everyone, from the grandest homes to the simplest dwellings. This is part of a larger message where Amos warns Israel about the consequences of their pride and injustice.

The Hebrew behind Amos 6:11

  • LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name for God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that the judgment comes directly from Israel’s covenant God, not from fate or chance.
  • smite (נָכָה, nakah): This word means to strike or hit with force. Here, it shows that the destruction is active and forceful, not a gentle or accidental event.
  • breaches (רְסִיסִים, resisim) and clefts (בְּקָעִים, beka‘im): Both words refer to breaks or gaps, but "breaches" often means large, gaping holes, while "clefts" are smaller cracks. The difference highlights that both the powerful and the humble will suffer damage, though in different ways.

Why Amos 6:11 matters

  • Amos 6:11 makes it clear that God’s judgment is thorough and impartial, affecting both the wealthy and the poor, which challenges any sense of security based on social status or material comfort.
  • The verse connects to the wider theme in Amos of accountability for injustice and pride, showing that no one is beyond the reach of God’s justice.
  • By using specific words for different sizes of houses and types of damage, the verse emphasizes that God’s command is detailed and intentional, not random or careless.

Where else these words appear

“breaches” Hebrew H7447 · used in 2 verses

  • Song of Solomon 5:2 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

“clefts” Hebrew H1233 · used in 2 verses

  • Isaiah 22:9 Ye have seen also the breaches of the city of David, that they are many: and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool.

“little” Hebrew H6996 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
  • 1 Samuel 15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
  • 2 Chronicles 31:15 And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small: