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But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood--" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/amos/6-12.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/amos/6-12.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/amos/">Amos</a> > <a href="/amos/6.htm">Chapter 6</a> > Verse 12</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad12.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/amos/6-11.htm" title="Amos 6:11">◄</a> Amos 6:12 <a href="/amos/6-13.htm" title="Amos 6:13">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/amos/6.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/amos/6.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Do horses run on the rocky crags? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/amos/6.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Can horses gallop over boulders? Can oxen be used to plow them? But that’s how foolish you are when you turn justice into poison and the sweet fruit of righteousness into bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/amos/6.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/amos/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Do horses gallop on the cliffs? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/amos/6.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Shall horses run upon the rock? will <i>one</i> plow <i>there</i> with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/amos/6.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Do horses run on rocks? Does <i>one</i> plow <i>there</i> with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into gall, And the fruit of righteousness into wormwood,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/amos/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do horses run on rocks? Or does one plow <i>them</i> with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into poison, And the fruit of righteousness into wormwood,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/amos/6.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Do horses run on rocks? Or does one plow them with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into poison And the fruit of righteousness into wormwood,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/amos/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Do horses run on rocks? Or does one plow them with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into poison, And the fruit of righteousness into wormwood,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/amos/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Do horses run on rocks? Or does one plow them with oxen? Yet you have overturned justice into gall And the fruit of righteousness into wormwood,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/amos/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Do horses run on rocks? Do men plow rocks with oxen? [Of course not!] Yet you have turned justice into poison And the fruit of righteousness into wormwood (bitterness),<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/amos/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do horses gallop on the cliffs? Does anyone plow there with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood —<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/amos/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do horses gallop on the cliffs; does anyone plow there with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood— <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/amos/6.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? that ye have turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/amos/6.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Horses can't gallop on rocks; oceans can't be plowed. But you have turned justice and fairness into bitter poison. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/amos/6.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? that ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/amos/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Do horses run on rocks? Does a farmer plow the sea with oxen? Yet, you have turned justice into something deadly and what is righteous into poison.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/amos/6.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Do horses gallop on rocks? Does anyone plow the sea with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into poison, and right into wrong. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/amos/6.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Horses don't run over bare rock, do they? One doesn't plow rock with oxen, does he? But you have turned justice to gall, and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/amos/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?Do horses gallop on the cliffs? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/amos/6.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Can horses run on rocky cliffs? Can one plow the sea with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into a poisonous plant, and the fruit of righteous actions into a bitter plant. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/amos/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Do horses run on the rocky crags? Does one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison, and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/amos/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/amos/6.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Do horses run on the rocky crags? Does one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison, and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/amos/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Do horses run on a rock? Does one plow [it] with oxen? For you have turned judgment to gall, "" And the fruit of righteousness to wormwood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/amos/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Do horses run on a rock? Doth one plough it with oxen? For ye have turned to gall judgment, And the fruit of righteousness to wormwood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/amos/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Shall horses run upon the rock? will he plough with oxen? for ye turned judgment to poison and the fruit of justice to wormwood.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/amos/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Can horses run upon the rocks, or can any one plough with buffles? for you have turned judgment into bitterness, and the fruit of justice into wormwood. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/amos/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 6:13>Can horses gallop across rocks, or is anyone able to plough with gazelles? For you have turned judgment into bitterness and the fruit of justice into wormwood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/amos/6.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Can horses run over rock, or can one plow the sea with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/amos/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood—<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/amos/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Do horses run upon rocks? Or does one plough with horses? For you have turned justice into bitterness, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/amos/6.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Do horses run on rocks, or do they drive a plow with them? For you have turned justice back to bitterness and the fruit of righteousness to wormwood<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/amos/6.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Do horses run upon the rocks? Doth one plow there with oxen? That ye have turned justice into gall, And the fruit of righteousness into wormwood;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/amos/6.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Will horses run upon rocks? will they refrain from neighing at mares? for ye have turned judgment into poison, and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/amos/6-12.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u4uh7eMswjw?start=1093" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/amos/6.htm">The Pride of Israel</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">11</span>For the LORD gives a command: “The great house will be smashed to pieces, and the small house to rubble.” <span class="reftext">12</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5483.htm" title="5483: sū·sîm (N-mp) -- A swallow, swift (type of bird). Or cuc; from an unused root meaning to skip; a horse; also a swallow.">“Do horses</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!"></a> <a href="/hebrew/7323.htm" title="7323: hay·ru·ṣūn (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp:: Pn) -- To run. A primitive root; to run.">gallop</a> <a href="/hebrew/5553.htm" title="5553: bas·se·la‘ (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- A crag, cliff. From an unused root meaning to be lofty; a craggy rock, literally or figuratively.">on the cliffs?</a> <a href="/hebrew/2790.htm" title="2790: ya·ḥă·rō·wōš (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To cut in, engrave, plow, devise.">Does one plow the sea</a> <a href="/hebrew/1241.htm" title="1241: bab·bə·qā·rîm (Prep-b, Art:: N-mp) -- Cattle, herd, an ox. From baqar; beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender; collectively, a herd.">with oxen?</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">But</a> <a href="/hebrew/2015.htm" title="2015: hă·p̄aḵ·tem (V-Qal-Perf-2mp) -- To turn, overturn. A primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert.">you have turned</a> <a href="/hebrew/4941.htm" title="4941: miš·pāṭ (N-ms) -- Judgment. ">justice</a> <a href="/hebrew/7219.htm" title="7219: lə·rōš (Prep-l:: N-ms) -- (bitter and poisonous herb) venom. Or rowsh; apparently the same as ro'sh; a poisonous plant, probably the poppy; generally poison.">into poison</a> <a href="/hebrew/6529.htm" title="6529: ū·p̄ə·rî (Conj-w:: N-msc) -- Fruit. From parah; fruit.">and the fruit</a> <a href="/hebrew/6666.htm" title="6666: ṣə·ḏā·qāh (N-fs) -- Righteousness. From tsadaq; rightness, subjectively, objectively, morally or figuratively.">of righteousness</a> <a href="/hebrew/3939.htm" title="3939: lə·la·‘ă·nāh (Prep-l:: N-fs) -- Wormwood. From an unused root supposed to mean to curse; wormwood.">into wormwood—</a> </span><span class="reftext">13</span>you who rejoice in Lo-debar and say, ‘Did we not take Karnaim by our own strength?’…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/5-20.htm">Isaiah 5:20</a></span><br />Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/10-13.htm">Hosea 10:13</a></span><br />You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your mighty men,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/3-9.htm">Micah 3:9</a></span><br />Now hear this, O leaders of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who despise justice and pervert all that is right,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/59-14.htm">Isaiah 59:14</a></span><br />So justice is turned away, and righteousness stands at a distance. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/4-22.htm">Jeremiah 4:22</a></span><br />“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/habakkuk/1-4.htm">Habakkuk 1:4</a></span><br />Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/21-15.htm">Proverbs 21:15</a></span><br />Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-21.htm">Isaiah 1:21</a></span><br />See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/9-3.htm">Jeremiah 9:3</a></span><br />“They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/5-7.htm">Isaiah 5:7</a></span><br />For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the plant of His delight. He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard a cry of distress.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-23.htm">Matthew 23:23</a></span><br />Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-28.htm">Romans 1:28-32</a></span><br />Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. / They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, / slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/3-14.htm">James 3:14-16</a></span><br />But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. / Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. / For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/3-10.htm">Romans 3:10-18</a></span><br />As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. / There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. / All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_timothy/3-1.htm">2 Timothy 3:1-5</a></span><br />But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. / For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, / unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Shall horses run on the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for you have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:</p><p class="hdg">horses.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/48-4.htm">Isaiah 48:4</a></b></br> Because I knew that thou <i>art</i> obstinate, and thy neck <i>is</i> an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/5-3.htm">Jeremiah 5:3</a></b></br> O LORD, <i>are</i> not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, <i>but</i> they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/6-29.htm">Jeremiah 6:29,30</a></b></br> The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away… </p><p class="hdg">for.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/amos/5-7.htm">Amos 5:7,11,12</a></b></br> Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth, … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/21-7.htm">1 Kings 21:7-13</a></b></br> And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, <i>and</i> eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/94-20.htm">Psalm 94:20,21</a></b></br> Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/amos/5-7.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/amos/5-7.htm">Bitterness</a> <a href="/jeremiah/48-28.htm">Crags</a> <a href="/amos/2-9.htm">Fruit</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-19.htm">Gall</a> <a href="/hosea/10-4.htm">Hemlock</a> <a href="/amos/4-10.htm">Horses</a> <a href="/amos/5-24.htm">Judgment</a> <a href="/amos/5-24.htm">Justice</a> <a href="/amos/6-4.htm">Oxen</a> <a href="/hosea/13-15.htm">Plant</a> <a href="/hosea/10-11.htm">Plough</a> <a href="/hosea/12-11.htm">Ploughed</a> <a href="/hosea/10-11.htm">Plow</a> <a href="/hosea/7-5.htm">Poison</a> <a href="/amos/3-8.htm">Possible</a> <a href="/amos/5-24.htm">Righteousness</a> <a href="/hosea/9-13.htm">Rock</a> <a href="/hosea/13-16.htm">Rocks</a> <a href="/jeremiah/21-13.htm">Rocky</a> <a href="/amos/5-24.htm">Run</a> <a href="/amos/5-19.htm">Running</a> <a href="/amos/5-8.htm">Sea</a> <a href="/ezekiel/43-18.htm">Thereon</a> <a href="/amos/6-7.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/amos/5-7.htm">Wormwood</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/amos/8-10.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/zechariah/12-10.htm">Bitterness</a> <a href="/1_samuel/24-2.htm">Crags</a> <a href="/amos/7-14.htm">Fruit</a> <a href="/matthew/27-34.htm">Gall</a> <a href="/hosea/10-4.htm">Hemlock</a> <a href="/micah/1-13.htm">Horses</a> <a href="/amos/7-4.htm">Judgment</a> <a href="/micah/3-1.htm">Justice</a> <a href="/micah/6-6.htm">Oxen</a> <a href="/amos/9-14.htm">Plant</a> <a href="/luke/9-62.htm">Plough</a> <a href="/micah/3-12.htm">Ploughed</a> <a href="/luke/9-62.htm">Plow</a> <a href="/mark/16-18.htm">Poison</a> <a href="/micah/6-11.htm">Possible</a> <a href="/micah/6-5.htm">Righteousness</a> <a href="/obadiah/1-3.htm">Rock</a> <a href="/obadiah/1-3.htm">Rocks</a> <a href="/matthew/13-5.htm">Rocky</a> <a href="/amos/8-12.htm">Run</a> <a href="/amos/8-12.htm">Running</a> <a href="/amos/8-12.htm">Sea</a> <a href="/zephaniah/2-7.htm">Thereon</a> <a href="/amos/9-5.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/revelation/8-11.htm">Wormwood</a><div class="vheading2">Amos 6</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/amos/6-1.htm">The wantonness of Israel,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/amos/6-7.htm">shall be plagued with desolation;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/amos/6-12.htm">and their incorrigibleness shall end in affliction.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/amos/6.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/amos/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/amos/6.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Do horses gallop on the cliffs?</b><br>This rhetorical question highlights the absurdity of Israel's actions. Horses, known for their speed and strength, would not gallop on cliffs due to the danger and impracticality. This imagery underscores the foolishness of Israel's behavior, as they pursue actions that are as senseless as horses running on treacherous terrain. The cliffs may symbolize the precarious position of Israel, teetering on the edge of disaster due to their disobedience and injustice.<p><b>Does one plow the sea with oxen?</b><br>Plowing the sea with oxen is an impossible task, illustrating the futility of Israel's attempts to achieve prosperity and security through unjust means. Oxen, traditionally used for plowing fields, would be ineffective in the sea, just as Israel's efforts are ineffective without righteousness. This imagery emphasizes the pointlessness of their actions and serves as a warning against pursuing paths that lead to destruction.<p><b>But you have turned justice into poison</b><br>Justice, a foundational principle in God's covenant with Israel, has been corrupted. Instead of being a source of life and fairness, it has become toxic, harming the society it was meant to protect. This transformation reflects the moral decay within Israel, where leaders and people alike have perverted justice for personal gain. The imagery of poison suggests a deep-seated corruption that affects the entire community, leading to spiritual and social death.<p><b>and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood—</b><br>Wormwood, a bitter plant, symbolizes the bitterness and suffering resulting from Israel's unrighteousness. The fruit of righteousness, intended to bring peace and blessing, has been tainted, leading to bitterness and judgment. This phrase connects to other scriptures where wormwood represents divine judgment and bitterness (e.g., <a href="/deuteronomy/29-18.htm">Deuteronomy 29:18</a>, <a href="/revelation/8-11.htm">Revelation 8:11</a>). The transformation of righteousness into wormwood highlights the consequences of abandoning God's ways, serving as a prophetic warning of impending judgment.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/a/amos.htm">Amos</a></b><br>A prophet from Tekoa, a small town in Judah, who was called by God to deliver messages of judgment and repentance to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The Northern Kingdom, which was experiencing a time of prosperity but was spiritually and morally corrupt.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/justice_and_righteousness.htm">Justice and Righteousness</a></b><br>Central themes in Amos's prophecy, representing God's standards for ethical and moral behavior, which Israel had perverted.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/h/horses_and_oxen.htm">Horses and Oxen</a></b><br>Used metaphorically to illustrate the absurdity of Israel's actions, as horses do not run on rocky crags, nor do oxen plow there.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/w/wormwood.htm">Wormwood</a></b><br>A bitter plant, symbolizing the bitterness and corruption that Israel's perversion of justice and righteousness had produced.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_absurdity_of_sin.htm">The Absurdity of Sin</a></b><br>Just as it is absurd for horses to run on rocky crags, it is equally absurd for God's people to pervert justice and righteousness. We must recognize the irrationality of sin in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_injustice.htm">Consequences of Injustice</a></b><br>Turning justice into poison leads to societal decay. We must strive to uphold justice and righteousness in our communities to avoid such consequences.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/b/bitterness_of_sin.htm">Bitterness of Sin</a></b><br>Like wormwood, sin leaves a bitter taste and leads to destruction. We should seek the sweetness of righteousness through Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/call_to_repentance.htm">Call to Repentance</a></b><br>Amos's message is a call to return to God's standards. We must examine our lives and repent where we have strayed from justice and righteousness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/living_out_justice_and_righteousness.htm">Living Out Justice and Righteousness</a></b><br>As believers, we are called to be agents of justice and righteousness, reflecting God's character in our actions and decisions.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_amos_6.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Amos 6</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_plowing_the_sea_literal_or_metaphor.htm">In Amos 6:12, is plowing the sea a literal impossibility or a misunderstood metaphor that undermines the text’s credibility? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_do_the_seals,_trumpets,_bowls_mean.htm">What do the Seven Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls signify?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_no_exodus_evidence_challenge_faith.htm">Amos 3:1: Does the lack of direct archaeological evidence for a mass exodus undermine the claim that God led Israel out of Egypt?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_jesus_ride_a_white_horse_in_revelation.htm">Is Jesus depicted riding a white horse in Revelation?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/amos/6.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(12) The questions require a negative answer, and show that the conduct of Israel is as inconsistent and senseless as the supposition involved in the interrogation: that horses should climb steep cliffs, or oxen plough in the rocky gorge. The conception of oppression, luxury, and pride being the forerunners of prosperity and peace is anomalous. The idea is, that that which should have insured the stability of the state, the embodiment of its conscience, had been turned into narcotic poison--the self-satisfaction of personal greed. <span class= "ital">Rosh,</span> the Hebrew for "gall," is a poisonous kind of plant with bitter taste, and resembling, according to Jerome, stalks of grass, and propagating itself with such rapidity that it is difficult to exterminate it. (Comp. <a href="/hosea/10-4.htm" title="They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springs up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.">Hosea 10:4</a>. <span class= "ital">Speaker's Commentary</span> suggests "poppy-head.") In <a href="/amos/5-7.htm" title="You who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,">Amos 5:7</a> the word expressed here by "hemlock" is rendered "worm-wood," as in <a href="/jeremiah/9-15.htm" title="Therefore thus said the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.">Jeremiah 9:15</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/23-15.htm" title="Therefore thus said the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.">Jeremiah 23:15</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/29-18.htm" title="Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turns away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that bears gall and wormwood;">Deuteronomy 29:18</a>, &c., a rendering which should have been retained here. Gall and worm-wood are constantly associated in Old Testament prophecy in this metaphorical sense.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/amos/6.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 12-14.</span> - The prophet shows the folly of these evil doers who think in their own strength to defy judgment and to resist the enemy whom God is sending against them. <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 12.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Shall horses run upon the rock?</span> Can horses gallop safely over places covered with rocks and stones? <span class="cmt_word">Will one plough there with oxen?</span> Do men plough the rock with their oxen? The answer, of course, is "No." Yet your conduct is equally foolish, your labour is equally lost. Some, dividing the words differently, translate, "Does one plough the sea with oxen?" which reminds one of the Latin proverb, "Litus arare bubus." Thus Ovid, 'Ep. Heroid,' 5:115 - <p><span class="accented">"Quid facis OEnone? Quid arenae semina mandas?<br />Non protecturis litora bubus aras."</span> <span class="cmt_word">For ye have turned;</span> or, <span class="accented">that ye have turned. <span class="cmt_word"></span>Judgment into gall</span> (see note on Amos 5:7). <span class="cmt_word">Hemlock</span>. Some plant with an acrid juice. Ye turn the administration of justice, which is "the fruit of righteousness," into the bitterest injustice and wrong. It were "more easy," says Pusey, "to change the course of nature or the use of things of nature, than the course of God's providence or the laws of his just retribution." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/amos/6-12.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">“Do horses</span><br /><span class="heb">סוּסִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(sū·sîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5483.htm">Strong's 5483: </a> </span><span class="str2">A swallow, swift (type of bird)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">gallop</span><br /><span class="heb">הַיְרֻצ֤וּן</span> <span class="translit">(hay·ru·ṣūn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7323.htm">Strong's 7323: </a> </span><span class="str2">To run</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on the cliffs?</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּסֶּ֙לַע֙</span> <span class="translit">(bas·se·la‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5553.htm">Strong's 5553: </a> </span><span class="str2">A craggy rock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Does one plow [the sea]</span><br /><span class="heb">יַחֲר֖וֹשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(ya·ḥă·rō·wōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2790.htm">Strong's 2790: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cut in, engrave, plow, devise</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with oxen?</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּבְּקָרִ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(bab·bə·qā·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1241.htm">Strong's 1241: </a> </span><span class="str2">Beef cattle, ox, a herd</span><br /><br /><span class="word">But</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you have turned</span><br /><span class="heb">הֲפַכְתֶּ֤ם</span> <span class="translit">(hă·p̄aḵ·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2015.htm">Strong's 2015: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert</span><br /><br /><span class="word">justice</span><br /><span class="heb">מִשְׁפָּ֔ט</span> <span class="translit">(miš·pāṭ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4941.htm">Strong's 4941: </a> </span><span class="str2">A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style</span><br /><br /><span class="word">into poison</span><br /><span class="heb">לְרֹאשׁ֙</span> <span class="translit">(lə·rōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7219.htm">Strong's 7219: </a> </span><span class="str2">A poisonous plant, the poppy, poison</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and the fruit</span><br /><span class="heb">וּפְרִ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(ū·p̄ə·rî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6529.htm">Strong's 6529: </a> </span><span class="str2">Fruit</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of righteousness</span><br /><span class="heb">צְדָקָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(ṣə·ḏā·qāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6666.htm">Strong's 6666: </a> </span><span class="str2">Rightness, subjectively, objectively</span><br /><br /><span class="word">into wormwood—</span><br /><span class="heb">לְלַעֲנָֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(lə·la·‘ă·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3939.htm">Strong's 3939: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wormwood</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/amos/6-12.htm">Amos 6:12 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/amos/6-12.htm">Amos 6:12 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/amos/6-12.htm">Amos 6:12 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/amos/6-12.htm">Amos 6:12 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/amos/6-12.htm">Amos 6:12 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/amos/6-12.htm">Amos 6:12 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/amos/6-12.htm">Amos 6:12 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/amos/6-12.htm">Amos 6:12 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/amos/6-12.htm">Amos 6:12 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/amos/6-12.htm">Amos 6:12 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/amos/6-12.htm">OT Prophets: Amos 6:12 Do horses run on the rocky crags? (Amo. Am) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/amos/6-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Amos 6:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Amos 6:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/amos/6-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Amos 6:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Amos 6:13" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>