King James Version

What Does Amos 2:4 Mean?

Amos 2:4 in the King James Version says “Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; becau...” — study this verse from Amos chapter 2 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:”

Amos 2:4 · KJV

Context

2

But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:

3

And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD.

4

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:

5

But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.

6

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;

Read Amos 2 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
After pronouncing judgment on six pagan nations, Amos turns to Judah, his home kingdom. The prophetic formula "Thus saith the LORD" establishes divine authority. "For three transgressions of Judah, and for four" uses Hebrew poetic parallelism indicating multiplied, overflowing sin—not literally three or four offenses but systematic, habitual covenant violation. The number pattern (3+1) suggests completeness and certainty of judgment.

"I will not turn away the punishment thereof" translates lo' ashivenu—literally "I will not revoke it," referring to God's decree of judgment. Once God's patience reaches its limit and He decrees judgment, He won't reverse it. The reason: "because they have despised the law of the LORD" (ma'asam et-torat Yahweh). The verb ma'as means to reject, despise, or treat with contempt. Judah didn't merely violate specific commands but rejected God's entire revealed will (torah), the comprehensive instruction He gave to govern covenant life.

"And have not kept his commandments" parallels and intensifies the charge. The verb shamar (keep, guard, observe) indicates faithful, vigilant obedience. Judah failed to guard what God entrusted to them. "Their lies caused them to err" refers to false gods, false prophets, or deceptive ideologies—the Hebrew kazav means lying, deception, or falsehood. "After the which their fathers have walked" indicates generational pattern of idolatry and apostasy, repeating ancestral sins rather than learning from judgment.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This oracle against Judah would shock Amos's audience. Northern Israelites likely approved his judgments on Gentile nations (Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab) and probably even Judah, their southern rival. But Amos's indictment of Judah for rejecting God's law establishes a pattern: God judges His own people by higher covenant standards than He judges pagans. Gentile nations face judgment for crimes against humanity; covenant peoples face judgment for covenant unfaithfulness.

Judah's specific sin—despising God's law—differs from the brutal atrocities cited against pagan nations. Judah possessed God's revealed will through Moses, had the temple, the Davidic dynasty, and the priesthood. Their privileges increased their accountability. Jesus later articulated this principle: "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required" (Luke 12:48). Judah's judgment came through Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, about 160 years after Amos prophesied.

The mention of ancestral sins points to transgenerational patterns of covenant unfaithfulness. Judah's kings often tolerated or promoted idolatry (Rehoboam, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah, Ahaz, Manasseh), despite occasional reforms under godly kings (Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Hezekiah, Josiah). This instability contrasted with God's unchanging covenant faithfulness, demonstrating human inability to maintain righteousness apart from divine grace.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Judah's judgment for rejecting God's law challenge Christian complacency about possessing Scripture without obeying it?
  2. What modern "lies" cause believers to err and perpetuate generational patterns of sin?
  3. How should the reality of increased accountability with increased revelation shape our approach to biblical knowledge?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
כֹּ֚ה1 of 25
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַ֣ר2 of 25

“Thus saith”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֗ה3 of 25

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

עַל4 of 25
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

שְׁלֹשָׁה֙5 of 25

“For three”

H7969

three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice

פִּשְׁעֵ֣י6 of 25

“transgressions”

H6588

a revolt (national, moral or religious)

יְהוּדָ֔ה7 of 25

“of Judah”

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

וְעַל8 of 25
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

אַרְבָּעָ֖ה9 of 25

“and for four”

H702

four

לֹ֣א10 of 25
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ11 of 25

“I will not turn away”

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

עַֽל12 of 25
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

מָאֳסָ֞ם13 of 25

“the punishment thereof because they have despised”

H3988

to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear

אֶת14 of 25
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

תּוֹרַ֣ת15 of 25

“the law”

H8451

a precept or statute, especially the decalogue or pentateuch

יְהוָ֗ה16 of 25

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וְחֻקָּיו֙17 of 25

“his commandments”

H2706

an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)

לֹ֣א18 of 25
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

שָׁמָ֔רוּ19 of 25

“and have not kept”

H8104

properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc

וַיַּתְעוּם֙20 of 25

“caused them to err”

H8582

to vacillate, i.e., reel or stray (literally or figuratively); also causative of both

כִּזְבֵיהֶ֔ם21 of 25

“and their lies”

H3577

falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively (idol)

אֲשֶׁר22 of 25
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

הָלְכ֥וּ23 of 25

“have walked”

H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

אֲבוֹתָ֖ם24 of 25

“the which their fathers”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃25 of 25

“after”

H310

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Amos. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Amos 2:4 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Amos 2:4 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 20:24Ezekiel 20:13Ezekiel 20:16Jeremiah 16:19-20Isaiah 28:15Habakkuk 2:18

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Amos 2 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterAmos Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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