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Amos 5:7 There are those who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground.
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Amos 5:7 There are those who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/amos/5-7.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/3/30_Amo_05_07.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Amos 5:7 - A Call to Repentance" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="There are those who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground." /><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/5-7.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/5-7.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/5.htm">Chapter 5</a> > Verse 7</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="/ad7.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/5-6.htm" title="Amos 5:6">◄</a> Amos 5:7 <a href="/amos/5-8.htm" title="Amos 5:8">►</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/5.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/5.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />There are those who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/amos/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />You twist justice, making it a bitter pill for the oppressed. You treat the righteous like dirt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/amos/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />O you who turn justice to wormwood and cast down righteousness to the earth!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/amos/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />There are those who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/amos/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/amos/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />You who turn justice to wormwood, And lay righteousness to rest in the earth!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/amos/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br /><i>For</i> those who turn justice into wormwood, And throw righteousness to the earth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/amos/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />For those who turn justice into wormwood And cast righteousness down to the earth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/amos/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br /><i>For</i> those who turn justice into wormwood And cast righteousness down to the earth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/amos/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br /><i>For</i> those who overturn justice into wormwood And put righteousness down to the earth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/amos/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />For those [shall be consumed] who turn justice into wormwood (bitterness) And cast righteousness down to the earth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/amos/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Those who turn justice into wormwood also throw righteousness to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/amos/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Those who turn justice into wormwood throw righteousness to the ground. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/amos/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Ye who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/amos/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />You people are doomed! You twist the truth and trample on justice. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/amos/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/amos/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />You, Israel, turn justice into poison and throw righteousness on the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/amos/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />You are doomed, you that twist justice and cheat people out of their rights! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/amos/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Those of you who are making justice taste bitter, and who have thrown righteousness to the ground:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/amos/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />There are those who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/amos/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The Israelites turn justice into bitterness; they throw what is fair and right to the ground. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/amos/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />You who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/amos/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness on the earth,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/amos/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />You who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth! <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/amos/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />You who are turning judgment to wormwood, "" And have put down righteousness to the earth!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/amos/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Ye who are turning to wormwood judgment, And righteousness to the earth have put down,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/amos/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Turning judgment to wormwood and they put down justice in the earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/amos/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />You that turn judgment into wormwood, and forsake justice in the land, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/amos/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />You turn judgment into wormwood, and you abandon justice on earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/amos/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The one who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn, and darkens day into night; Who summons the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth; <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/amos/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Ah, you that turn justice to wormwood, and bring righteousness to the ground!<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/amos/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />You who turn justice into bitterness, and lower righteousness to the ground,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/amos/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />They who overturn judgment to rebellion and righteousness to the ground<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/amos/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, And cast righteousness to the ground;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/amos/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br /><i>It is he</i> that executes judgment in the height <i>above</i>, and he has established justice on the earth:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/amos/5-7.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=760" 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/5.htm">A Call to Repentance</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">6</span>Seek the LORD and live, or He will sweep like fire through the house of Joseph; it will devour everything, with no one at Bethel to extinguish it. <span class="reftext">7</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2015.htm" title="2015: ha·hō·p̄ə·ḵîm (Art:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To turn, overturn. A primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert.">There are those who turn</a> <a href="/hebrew/4941.htm" title="4941: miš·pāṭ (N-ms) -- Judgment. ">justice</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> <a href="/hebrew/5117.htm" title="5117: hin·nî·ḥū (V-Hifil-Perf-3cp) -- To rest, i.e. settle down">and cast</a> <a href="/hebrew/6666.htm" title="6666: ū·ṣə·ḏā·qāh (Conj-w:: N-fs) -- Righteousness. From tsadaq; rightness, subjectively, objectively, morally or figuratively.">righteousness</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: lā·’ā·reṣ (Prep-l, Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">to the ground.</a> </span><span class="reftext">8</span>He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn and darkens day into night, who summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth—the LORD is His name—…<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="/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/23-14.htm">Jeremiah 23:14</a></span><br />And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/10-4.htm">Hosea 10:4</a></span><br />They speak mere words; with false oaths they make covenants. So judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.<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="/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="/isaiah/10-1.htm">Isaiah 10:1-2</a></span><br />Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, / to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/5-28.htm">Jeremiah 5:28</a></span><br />They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/22-29.htm">Ezekiel 22:29</a></span><br />The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy and have exploited the foreign resident without justice.<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="/luke/11-42.htm">Luke 11:42</a></span><br />Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-18.htm">Romans 1:18</a></span><br />The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/2-8.htm">Romans 2:8</a></span><br />But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/2-6.htm">James 2:6</a></span><br />But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">You who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,</p><p class="hdg">turn.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/amos/5-11.htm">Amos 5:11,12</a></b></br> Forasmuch therefore as your treading <i>is</i> upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/amos/6-12.htm">Amos 6:12</a></b></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:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/29-18.htm">Deuteronomy 29:18</a></b></br> Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go <i>and</i> serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;</p><p class="hdg">leave.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/36-3.htm">Psalm 36:3</a></b></br> The words of his mouth <i>are</i> iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, <i>and</i> to do good.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/125-5.htm">Psalm 125:5</a></b></br> As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: <i>but</i> peace <i>shall be</i> upon Israel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/3-20.htm">Ezekiel 3:20</a></b></br> Again, When a righteous <i>man</i> doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/hosea/12-14.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/ezekiel/27-31.htm">Bitterness</a> <a href="/amos/5-2.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/amos/2-13.htm">Crushing</a> <a href="/amos/4-13.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/amos/3-14.htm">Ground</a> <a href="/hosea/2-19.htm">Judging</a> <a href="/joel/3-2.htm">Judgment</a> <a href="/amos/2-7.htm">Justice</a> <a href="/amos/5-3.htm">Leave</a> <a href="/joel/2-23.htm">Righteousness</a> <a href="/amos/2-7.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/amos/2-7.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/joel/2-21.htm">Work</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-19.htm">Wormwood</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/amos/6-12.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/amos/6-12.htm">Bitterness</a> <a href="/amos/8-3.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/amos/8-4.htm">Crushing</a> <a href="/amos/5-8.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/amos/9-8.htm">Ground</a> <a href="/micah/3-8.htm">Judging</a> <a href="/amos/5-15.htm">Judgment</a> <a href="/amos/5-12.htm">Justice</a> <a href="/obadiah/1-5.htm">Leave</a> <a href="/amos/5-24.htm">Righteousness</a> <a href="/amos/5-12.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/jonah/3-9.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/jonah/1-8.htm">Work</a> <a href="/amos/6-12.htm">Wormwood</a><div class="vheading2">Amos 5</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/amos/5-1.htm">A lamentation for Israel.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/amos/5-4.htm">An exhortation to repentance.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/amos/5-21.htm">God rejects their hypocritical service.</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'; 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Wormwood is a bitter plant, often symbolizing sorrow and calamity in the Bible (<a href="/deuteronomy/29-18.htm">Deuteronomy 29:18</a>, <a href="/revelation/8-11.htm">Revelation 8:11</a>). The imagery suggests that what should be fair and just has become bitter and harmful. In the historical context, Israel was experiencing social injustice, where the poor and needy were oppressed by the wealthy and powerful (<a href="/amos/2-6.htm">Amos 2:6-7</a>). This perversion of justice is a recurring theme in the prophetic books, where God condemns the leaders for failing to uphold His standards of righteousness and fairness (<a href="/isaiah/5-20.htm">Isaiah 5:20-23</a>, <a href="/micah/3-9.htm">Micah 3:9-11</a>).<p><b>and cast righteousness to the ground</b><br>Righteousness, which should be upheld and revered, is instead being discarded and trampled upon. This phrase indicates a complete disregard for God's moral and ethical standards. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, righteousness was not just a personal virtue but a communal responsibility, reflecting the covenant relationship with God (<a href="/deuteronomy/6-25.htm">Deuteronomy 6:25</a>). The imagery of casting something to the ground suggests contempt and devaluation. This connects to other scriptures where righteousness is depicted as a foundation for a just society (<a href="/proverbs/14-34.htm">Proverbs 14:34</a>, <a href="/isaiah/32-17.htm">Isaiah 32:17</a>). The failure to maintain righteousness leads to societal decay and divine judgment, as seen throughout the prophetic writings. Amos, like other prophets, calls for a return to genuine worship and ethical living, foreshadowing the ultimate righteousness found in Jesus Christ, who fulfills the law and the prophets (<a href="/matthew/5-17.htm">Matthew 5:17</a>, <a href="/romans/3-21.htm">Romans 3:21-22</a>).<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 during a time of prosperity and moral decay.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The Northern Kingdom, which was experiencing economic prosperity but was spiritually and morally corrupt, leading to social injustices and idolatry.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/justice_and_righteousness.htm">Justice and Righteousness</a></b><br>Central themes in the prophetic message of Amos, representing God's standards for ethical behavior and fair treatment of others, which were being perverted by the people of Israel.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/w/wormwood.htm">Wormwood</a></b><br>A bitter plant used metaphorically to describe the corruption and bitterness that result from perverting justice.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_day_of_the_lord.htm">The Day of the Lord</a></b><br>An event often referenced by the prophets, including Amos, as a time of divine judgment and reckoning for the nations, particularly Israel in this context.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_perils_of_moral_corruption.htm">The Perils of Moral Corruption</a></b><br>Amos warns against the distortion of justice and righteousness, which leads to societal decay. Believers are called to uphold God's standards in all areas of life.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_bitterness_of_injustice.htm">The Bitterness of Injustice</a></b><br>Just as wormwood is bitter, so is the experience of injustice. Christians are encouraged to be agents of justice and righteousness, reflecting God's character in their communities.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_repentance.htm">The Call to Repentance</a></b><br>Amos's message is a call to repentance. Believers should regularly examine their lives for areas where they may be compromising God's standards and seek His forgiveness and guidance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_authentic_worship.htm">The Importance of Authentic Worship</a></b><br>God desires genuine worship that is reflected in just and righteous living. Christians should ensure their worship is not merely ritualistic but is accompanied by a life that honors God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_prophets_today.htm">The Role of Prophets Today</a></b><br>While the office of prophet as in the Old Testament may not be present today, the church is called to be a prophetic voice in society, speaking truth and advocating for justice.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_amos_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Amos 5</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_the_riches_of_god's_glory.htm">Can justice flow like a river?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/key_themes_in_amos.htm">What are the key themes in the Book of Amos?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_event_explains_wormwood's_bitter_waters.htm">In Revelation 8:10–11, what real-world event could explain a star named Wormwood making waters bitter and causing widespread death? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_jer._9_15's_'wormwood'_be_historical.htm">Jeremiah 9:15 mentions God giving “wormwood” and “poisoned water” as judgment—can this be reconciled with known scientific or historical data? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/amos/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(7) Is placed after <a href="/amos/5-9.htm" title="That strengthens the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.">Amos 5:9</a> by Ewald, since <a href="/context/amos/5-7.htm" title="You who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,">Amos 5:7-8</a> stand in the Heb. without any connecting-link. The holy thing "judgment" is perverted into the bitter thing "wormwood," that which is execrated.<p><span class= "bld">Leave off</span>.--Or rather, <span class= "ital">cast down righteousness to the earth, i.e.,</span> by false judgments and unjust decrees. Pusey sees here the analogue of the humiliation of the Holy One by wicked hands, when He was crowned with thorns, and fell beneath His cross.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/amos/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 7.</span> - The prophet brings out the con-trust between Israel's moral corruption and God's omnipotence. <span class="cmt_word">Ye who turn judgment to wormwood.</span> As Jerome puts it," Converterunt dulcedinem judicii in absinthii amaritudinem," "They turned the sweetness of judgment into the bitterness of absinth" (comp. <a href="/amos/6-12.htm">Amos 6:12</a>). Who make judgment the occasion of the bitterest injustice. There is no syntactical connection between this verse and the last, but virtually we may append it to "seek the Lord." It would sound in people's ears as a reminiscence of <a href="/deuteronomy/29-18.htm">Deuteronomy 29:18, 20</a>. The LXX. reads, <span class="greek">ὁ ποιῶν εἰς ὕψος κρίμα</span>. "that executeth judgment in the height," referring the sentence to the Lord, or else taking <span class="accented">laanah</span>, "wormwood," in a metaphorical sense, as elsewhere they translate it by <span class="greek">ἀνάγκη πικρία</span>, <span class="greek">ὀδύνη</span> (<a href="/deuteronomy/29-18.htm">Deuteronomy 29:18</a>; <a href="/proverbs/5-4.htm">Proverbs 5:4</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/9-15.htm">Jeremiah 9:15</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/23-15.htm">Jeremiah 23:15</a>). The name "wormwood" is applied to all the plants of the genus that grow in Palestine the taste of which was proverbially bitter. <span class="cmt_word">And leave off righteousness in the earth;</span> rather, <span class="accented">cast</span> <span class="accented">down righteousness to the earth</span> (as <a href="/isaiah/28-2.htm">Isaiah 28:2</a>), despise it and trample it underfoot (comp. <a href="/daniel/8-12.htm">Daniel 8:12</a>). This is Israel's practice; and yet God, as the next verse shows, is almighty, and has power to punish. <span class="accented">Righteousness</span> includes all transactions between man and man. The LXX. (still referring the subject to the Lord), <span class="greek">καὶ δικαιοσύνην εἰς</span> <span class="greek">γῆν ἔθηκεν</span>, "and he established righteousness on earth." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/amos/5-7.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">You who turn</span><br /><span class="heb">הַהֹפְכִ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(ha·hō·p̄ə·ḵîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - 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">מִשְׁפָּ֑ט</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 wormwood</span><br /><span class="heb">לְלַעֲנָ֖ה</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 /><br /><span class="word">and cast</span><br /><span class="heb">הִנִּֽיחוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(hin·nî·ḥū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3240.htm">Strong's 3240: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bestow, cast down, lay down, up, leave off, let alone remain, pacify, place, </span><br /><br /><span class="word">righteousness</span><br /><span class="heb">וּצְדָקָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ṣə·ḏā·qāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | 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">to the ground—</span><br /><span class="heb">לָאָ֥רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(lā·’ā·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/amos/5-7.htm">Amos 5:7 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/amos/5-7.htm">Amos 5:7 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/amos/5-7.htm">Amos 5:7 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/amos/5-7.htm">Amos 5:7 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/amos/5-7.htm">Amos 5:7 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/amos/5-7.htm">Amos 5:7 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/amos/5-7.htm">Amos 5:7 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/amos/5-7.htm">Amos 5:7 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/amos/5-7.htm">Amos 5:7 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/amos/5-7.htm">Amos 5:7 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/amos/5-7.htm">OT Prophets: Amos 5:7 You who turn justice to wormwood (Amo. Am) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/amos/5-6.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Amos 5:6"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Amos 5:6" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/amos/5-8.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Amos 5:8"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Amos 5:8" /></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>