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Legacy Standard Bible

Amos 6:4

Those who lay down on beds of ivoryAnd sprawl on their couchesAnd eat lambs from the flockAnd calves from the midst of the stall,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Amusements and Worldly Pleasures;   Bed;   Confidence;   Conscience;   Eating;   Feasts;   Gluttony;   Ivory;   Rich, the;   Worldliness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Animals;   Beds;   Calves;   Epicureans;   Food;   Food, Physical-Spiritual;   Ivory;   Luxury;   Pleasure, Worldly;   Self-Indulgence-Self-Denial;   Worldly;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Amusements and Pleasures, Worldly;   Beds;   Calf, the;   Diet of the Jews, the;   Gluttony;   Jews, the;   Lamb, the;   Ox, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Bed;   Calf;   Eating, Mode of;   Ivory;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Amos;   Government;   House;   Jeroboam;   Joy;   Self-discipline;   Sheep;   Singing;   Wealth;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Amos, Theology of;   Ethics;   Funeral;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Calf;   Dwellings;   Meals;   Music;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Banquets;   Bed;   Ivory;   Meals;   Rechab;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Amos;   Archaeology and Biblical Study;   Bed, Bedroom;   Earth, Land;   Furniture;   Herd;   Ivory;   Palace;   Remnant;   Samaria, Samaritans;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Day of the Lord;   Food;   House;   Ivory;   Manger;   Meals;   Sin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Couch;   Day of Judgment;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Couches;   Ivory;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Bed;   Calf;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Bed;   Ivory;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Houses;   Pillows;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Amos (1);   Bed;   Calf;   Commerce;   Furniture;   Ivory;   Jeroboam;   Meals;   Stall;   Triclinium;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Beds;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Alliteration and Kindred Figures;   Couch;   Ethics;   Food;   Furniture, Household;   Sheep;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
They lie on beds inlaid with ivory,sprawled out on their couches,and dine on lambs from the flockand calves from the stall.
Hebrew Names Version
Who lie on beds of ivory, And stretch themselves on their couches, And eat the lambs out of the flock, And the calves out of the midst of the stall;
King James Version (1611)
That lie vpon beds of Yuorie, and stretch themselues vpon their couches, and eate the lambes out of the flocke, and the calues out of the midst of the stall:
King James Version
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;
English Standard Version
"Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall,
New American Standard Bible
Those who lie on beds of ivory, And lounge around on their couches, And eat lambs from the flock, And calves from the midst of the fattened cattle,
New Century Version
You lie on beds decorated with ivory and stretch out on your couches. You eat tender lambs and fattened calves.
Amplified Bible
Those who lie on [luxurious] beds of ivory And lounge around out on their couches, And eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall,
Geneva Bible (1587)
They lie vpon beddes of yuorie, & stretch themselues vpon their beddes, & eate the lambes of the flocke, and the calues out of the stall.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Those who recline on beds of ivory And sprawl on their couches, And eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall,
Berean Standard Bible
You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall.
Contemporary English Version
You rich people lounge around on beds with ivory posts, while dining on the meat of your lambs and calves.
Complete Jewish Bible
You lie on beds of ivory and lounge sprawled out on your couches, dining on meat from lambs in the flock and from calves fattened in stalls.
Darby Translation
that lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves from the midst of the stall;
Easy-to-Read Version
But now you lie on ivory beds and stretch out on your couches. You eat tender young lambs from the flock and young calves from the stable.
George Lamsa Translation
Who lie upon beds of ivory, and give themselves to pleasures upon their couches, and eat the fatlings from the flock and calves from the midst of the herd;
Good News Translation
How terrible it will be for you that stretch out on your luxurious couches, feasting on veal and lamb!
Lexham English Bible
Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory and lounge on their couches, and those eating young rams from the sheep and goats, and bull-calves from the middle of the animal stall.
Literal Translation
who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves on their couches; and those eating the lambs from the flock, and bull calves from the midst of the stall;
American Standard Version
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;
Bible in Basic English
Who are resting on beds of ivory, stretched out on soft seats, feasting on lambs from the flock and young oxen from the cattle-house;
JPS Old Testament (1917)
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;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
They lye vpon beddes of yuorie, and stretche them selues vpon their couches, and eate the lambes out of the flocke, and the calues out of the stall.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
who sleep upon beds of ivory, and live delicately on their couches, and eat kids out of the flocks, and sucking calves out of the midst of the stalls;
English Revised Version
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;
World English Bible
Who lie on beds of ivory, And stretch themselves on their couches, And eat the lambs out of the flock, And the calves out of the midst of the stall;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and ye slepen in beddis of yuer, and doen letcherie in youre beddis; and ye eten a lomb of the flok, and calues of the myddil of droue;
Update Bible Version
that lie on beds of ivory, and stretch themselves on their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;
Webster's Bible Translation
That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the midst of the stall;
New English Translation
They lie around on beds decorated with ivory, and sprawl out on their couches. They eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the middle of the pen.
New King James Version
Who lie on beds of ivory, Stretch out on your couches, Eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall;
New Living Translation
How terrible for you who sprawl on ivory beds and lounge on your couches, eating the meat of tender lambs from the flock and of choice calves fattened in the stall.
New Life Bible
How bad it will be for you who lie on beds of ivory and spread out upon your long seats! You eat lambs from the flock and calves from the cattle-house.
New Revised Standard
Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the stall;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Who are lying on beds of ivory, and sprawling on their couch of pleasure, - and eating the well-fed of the flock, and the fatted calves out of the midst of the stalls:
Douay-Rheims Bible
You that sleep upon beds of ivory, and are wanton on your couches: that eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the herd;
Revised Standard Version
"Woe to those who lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the midst of the stall;
Young's Literal Translation
Who are lying down on beds of ivory, And are spread out on their couches, And are eating lambs from the flock, And calves from the midst of the stall,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Ye that lye vpon beddes off yuery, and vse youre wantonnesse vpon youre couches: ye that eate the best lambes of ye flocke, and the fattest calues off the droaue:

Contextual Overview

1Woe to those who are at ease in ZionAnd to those who feel secure in the mountain of Samaria,The distinguished men of the first of the nations,To whom the house of Israel comes. 2Pass on over to Calneh and look,And go from there to Hamath the great,Then go down to Gath of the Philistines.Are they better than these kingdoms,Or are their borders greater than your borders? 3Do you put off the day of calamity,And would you cause the seat of violence to approach? 4Those who lay down on beds of ivoryAnd sprawl on their couchesAnd eat lambs from the flockAnd calves from the midst of the stall, 5Who improvise to the sound of the harp,And like David have composed songs for themselves, 6Who drink wine from sacrificial bowlsWhile they anoint themselves with the first pick of the oils,Yet they have not grieved over the destruction of Joseph. 7Therefore, they will now go into exile among the first of the exiles,And the sprawlers' banqueting will turn aside.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

lie: Isaiah 5:11, Isaiah 5:12, Isaiah 22:13, Luke 16:19, Romans 13:13, Romans 13:14, James 5:5

beds: Either sofas to recline on at table, or beds to sleep on; which among the ancients, were ornamented with ivory inlaid.

stretch themselves upon their couches: or, abound with superfluities, 1 Samuel 25:36-38, Psalms 73:7, Luke 12:19, Luke 12:20

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:7 - General 1 Kings 10:18 - ivory 1 Kings 22:39 - the ivory house 2 Kings 9:34 - he did eat Esther 1:6 - the beds Esther 5:14 - go thou in Job 21:12 - General Jeremiah 16:8 - General Jeremiah 46:21 - fatted bullocks Lamentations 5:15 - our dance Ezekiel 23:41 - stately Ezekiel 26:13 - General Daniel 6:18 - and passed Amos 2:8 - by Amos 8:10 - I will turn

Cross-References

Genesis 6:15
Now this is how you shall make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits.
Genesis 6:20
Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.
Genesis 6:21
As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them."
Genesis 6:22
Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.
Genesis 11:4
And they said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, lest we be scattered over the face of the whole earth."
Numbers 13:33
There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."
Numbers 16:2
and they rose up before Moses, together with some of the sons of Israel, 250 leaders of the congregation, those called upon by the assembly, men of renown.
Deuteronomy 3:11
(For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was an iron bedstead; it is in Rabbah of the sons of Ammon. Its length was nine cubits, and its width four cubits by ordinary cubit.)
1 Samuel 17:4
Then a champion came out from the camps of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That lie upon beds of ivory,.... That were made of it, or inlaid with it, or covered with it, as the Targum; nor was it improbable that these were made wholly of ivory, for such beds we read of: Timaeus says r, the Agrigentines had beds entirely made of ivory; and Horace s also speaks of such beds: and if any credit can be given to the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem on Genesis 50:1. Joseph made his father Jacob to lie on a bed of ivory. Indeed, the Latin interpreters of these Targums render it a cedar bed; but Buxtorf t conjectures that ivory is meant by the word used; and so Bochart u translates it; on these they lay either for sleep and rest, or to eat their meals;

and stretch themselves upon their couches; for the same purposes, living in great splendour, and indulging themselves in ease and sloth; as it was the custom of the eastern countries, and is of the Arabs now; that they make little or no use of chairs, but either sitting cross legged, or lying at length, have couches to lie on at their meals; and when they indulge to ease, they cover or spread their floors with carpets, which for the most part are of the richest materials. Along the sides of the wall or floor, a range of narrow beds or mattresses is often placed upon these carpets; and, for their further ease and convenience, several velvet or damask bolsters are placed upon these, or mattresses w, to lean upon, and take their ease; see

Ezekiel 13:18; and thus, and in some such like manner, did the principal men of the people of Israel indulge themselves. Some render it, "abound with superfluities"; the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, "are lascivious"; and the Arabic version, "burn in lust"; and so some of the Jewish writers interpret it of their committing adulteries, and all uncleanness, on their beds and couches;

and eat the lambs out of the flock; pick the best and fattest of them for their use: so the Targum,

"eat the fat of the sheep:''

and the calves out of the midst of the stall; where they are put, and kept to be fattened; from thence they took what they liked best, and perhaps not out of theft own flocks and stalls, but out of others, and with which they pampered themselves to excess.

r Apud Aelian. Var. Hist. l. 12. c. 29. s "----Rubro ubi cocco Tincta super lectos cauderet vestis eburnos". Horat. Serm. l. 2. Satyr. 6. v. 102. t Lexic. Talmud. col. 2475. u Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 2. c. 24. col. 252. w See Shaw's Travels, p. 209. Ed. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That lie upon beds (that is, sofas) of ivory - that is, probably inlaid with ivory. The word might, in itself, express either the bed, in which they slept by night, or the divan, on which the Easterns lay at their meals; “and stretch themselves,” literally, “are poured” out , stretching their listless length, dissolved, unnerved, in luxury and sloth, “upon their couches,” perhaps under an awning: “and eat the lambs,” probably “fatted lambs (as in Deuteronomy 32:14; Psa 37:20; 1 Samuel 15:9; Jeremiah 51:40), out of the flock,” chosen, selected out of it as the best, and “calves out of the midst of the stall;” that is, the place where they were tied up (as the word means) to be fatted. They were stall-fed, as we say, and these people had the best chosen for them.

: “He shews how they ‘draw nigh the seat of violence.’ They lay on beds or couches of ivory, and expended thereon the money wherewith their poor brethren were to be fed. Go now, I say not into the houses of nobles, but into any house of any rich man, see the gilded and worked couches, curtains woven of silk and gold, and walls covered with gold, while the poor of Christ are naked, shivering, shriveled with hunger. Yet stranger is it, that while this is everywhere, scarce anywhere is there who now blames it. Now I say, for there were formerly. ‘Ye array,’ Ambrose says , ‘walls with gold, men ye bare. The naked cries before your door and you neglect him; and are careful with what marbles you clothe your pavement. The poor seeketh money, and hath it not; man asketh for bread, and thy horse champeth gold. Thou delightest in costly ornaments, while others have not meal. What judgment thou heapest on thyself, thou man of wealth! Miserable, who hast power to keep so many souls from death, and hast not the will! The jewel of thy ring could maintain in life a whole population.’ If such things are not to be blamed now, then neither were they formerly.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Amos 6:4. That lie upon beds of ivory — The word הוי hoi, wo, is understood at the beginning of each of the first, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth verses. The beds mentioned here may be either sofas to recline on at table, or beds to sleep on; and these among the ancients were ornamented with ivory inlaid. They were called lectos eburatos by Plautus, lectos eburnos by Horace, "ivory beds." Probably those ornamented with shells, or mother-of-pearl, may be intended. Several works of this kind may be still seen in Palestine and other places. I have before me a cross brought from Jerusalem, incrusted all over with mother-of-pearl, and various figures chased on it.

There must have been a great deal of luxury and effeminacy among the Israelites at this time; and, consequently, abundance of riches. This was in the time of Jeroboam the second, when the kingdom had enjoyed a long peace. The description in the fourth, fifth, and sixth verses, is that of an Asiatic court even in the present day.


 
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