Lectionary Calendar
Friday, August 15th, 2025
the Week of Proper 14 / Ordinary 19
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Read the Bible

New Life Version

Amos 5:9

He destroys the strong, so that the strong city is laid waste.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - War;   The Topic Concordance - God;  

Dictionaries:

- Holman Bible Dictionary - Amos;   Creation;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Amos (1);   Omnipotence;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He brings destruction on the strong,and it falls on the fortress.
Hebrew Names Version
Who brings sudden destruction on the strong, So that destruction comes on the fortress.
King James Version
That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.
English Standard Version
who makes destruction flash forth against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress.
New American Standard Bible
It is He who makes destruction flash upon the strong, So that destruction comes upon the fortress.
New Century Version
He destroys the protected city; he ruins the strong, walled city.
Amplified Bible
It is He who causes [sudden] destruction to flash forth on the strong So that destruction comes on the fortress.
Geneva Bible (1587)
He strengtheneth the destroyer against the mightie: and the destroyer shal come against the fortresse.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
It is He who flashes forth with destruction upon the strong, So that destruction comes upon the fortress.
Legacy Standard Bible
It is He who flashes forth with devastation upon the strongSo that devastation comes upon the fortification.
Berean Standard Bible
He flashes destruction on the strong, so that fury comes upon the stronghold.
Contemporary English Version
God destroys mighty soldiers and strong fortresses.
Complete Jewish Bible
he flashes destruction on the strong, so that destruction overcomes the fortress.
Darby Translation
He causeth destruction to break forth suddenly upon the strong, and bringeth destruction upon the fortress.
George Lamsa Translation
Who makes the weak to rule over the mighty, and exalts the meek over the proud.
Good News Translation
He brings destruction on the mighty and their strongholds.
Lexham English Bible
The one who makes destruction flash upon the fierce, so that destruction comes upon the fortification.
Literal Translation
who flashes out with destruction on the strong; yea, destruction comes on the fortress.
American Standard Version
that bringeth sudden destruction upon the strong, so that destruction cometh upon the fortress.
Bible in Basic English
Who sends sudden destruction on the strong, so that destruction comes on the walled town.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
That causeth destruction to flash upon the strong, so that destruction cometh upon the fortress.
King James Version (1611)
That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong: so that the spoiled shall come against the fortresse.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He strengthneth the destroyer against the mightie, & the destroyer shall come against the fortresse.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
who dispenses ruin to strength, and brings distress upon the fortress.
English Revised Version
that bringeth sudden destruction upon the strong, so that destruction cometh upon the fortress.
World English Bible
Who brings sudden destruction on the strong, So that destruction comes on the fortress.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Which scorneth distriyng on the stronge, and bringith robbyng on the myyti.
Update Bible Version
that brings sudden destruction on the strong, so that destruction comes on the fortress.
Webster's Bible Translation
That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.
New English Translation
He flashes destruction down upon the strong so that destruction overwhelms the fortified places.)
New King James Version
He rains ruin upon the strong, So that fury comes upon the fortress.
New Living Translation
With blinding speed and power he destroys the strong, crushing all their defenses.
New Revised Standard
who makes destruction flash out against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Him who flasheth force on the strong, - and, force, on the fortress, alighteth!
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that with a smile bringeth destruction upon the strong, and waste upon the mighty.
Revised Standard Version
who makes destruction flash forth against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress.
Young's Literal Translation
Who is brightening up the spoiled against the strong, And the spoiled against a fortress cometh.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He rayseth destruccion vpon the mightie people, & bryngeth downe the stronge holde:

Contextual Overview

4 The Lord says to the people of Israel, "Look for Me and live. 5 But do not look for Bethel. Do not go to Gilgal or cross over to Beersheba. For the people of Gilgal will be taken away to a strange land, and Bethel will come to nothing." 6 Look for the Lord and live, or He will break out like fire in the family of Joseph. It will destroy, and no one in Bethel will be able to stop it. 7 You turn what is right into something bitter. You throw what is right and good down to the earth. 8 The Lord made the stars of Pleiades and Orion. He changes darkness into morning, and turns day into night. He calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the earth. The Lord is His name. 9 He destroys the strong, so that the strong city is laid waste. 10 They hate him who speaks strong words in the gate. They hate him who speaks the truth. 11 You crush the poor under foot and make them pay taxes with their grain. Because of this, even though you have built houses of cut stone, you will not live in them and even though you have planted beautiful grape-fields, you will not drink their wine. 12 For I know that you have done much wrong and your sins are many. You make trouble for those who are right and good, and you take pay in secret for wrong-doing. You will not be fair to the poor. 13 The wise man keeps quiet at such a time, for it is a sinful time.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

strengtheneth: 2 Kings 13:17, 2 Kings 13:25, Jeremiah 37:10, Hebrews 11:34

spoiled: Heb. spoil

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 14:11 - nothing Psalms 8:2 - strength

Cross-References

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,
Luke 3:37
Lamech was the son of Methuselah. Methuselah was the son of Enoch. Enoch was the son of Jared. Jared was the son of Mahalaleel. Mahaleel was the son of Cainan.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong,.... Such as have been taken by an enemy, who have been stripped of their armour, and spoiled of all their goods and substance, and have no friends nor allies, nor anything to help themselves with; the Lord can supply them with strength, furnish them with weapons, and send them helpers, so that they shall rise up against their conquerors and spoilers, and in their turn subdue them. The Targum is,

"that strengthens the weak against the strong;''

or causes the weak to prevail over the strong. A learned man, from the use of the word in the Arabic language, chooses to render it, "who intends", or "designs, destruction to the strong" d; that is, in his secret purposes, and which he brings about in providence; though he is doubtful whether it may not have the signification of recreation and refreshment, and whether the construction and circumstances will admit of it; and some do so translate it, "who refreshes himself with destruction against the strong" e; takes delight and pleasure in it; it is a recreation to him:

so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress: lay siege to it and take it, in which the spoiler thought himself secure with the spoil and substance he had taken from the spoiled; such sudden changes and vicissitudes can God bring upon men when he pleases. Some apply this to the Romans strengthened against the Jews, and besieging their fortified city Jerusalem; but not very aptly.

d המבליג שד על עז "qui intendit destinat destructionem forti", Hottinger, Smegma Orientale, l. 1. c. 7. p. 129. e "Qui recreat se vastatione contra fortem [sive] robustum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Tarnovius. So Stockius, p. 136.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That strengtheneth the spoiled - (Literally, “spoil” English margin) probably That “maketh devastation to smile on the strong.” . The “smile,” in anger, attests both the extremity of anger, and the consciousness of the ease, wherewith the offence can be punished. They were strong in their own strength; strong, as they deemed, in their “fortress” ; “strong with an evil strength, like one phrensied against his physician.” But their strength would be weakness. “Desolation” when God willed, would “smile at” all which they accounted “might,” and would “come against the fortress,” which, as they deemed, “cut off” all approach.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Amos 5:9. That strengtheneth the spoiled — Who takes the part of the poor and oppressed against the oppressor; and, in the course of his providence, sets up the former, and depresses the latter.


 
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