King James Version

What Does Amos 6:2 Mean?

Amos 6:2 in the King James Version says “Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great : then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be th...” — study this verse from Amos chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great : then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?”

Amos 6:2 · KJV

Context

1

Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! are at: or, are secure chief: or, firstfruits

2

Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great : then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?

3

Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; seat: or, habitation

4

That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; stretch: or, abound with superfluities

Read Amos 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines—God commands Israel to examine three conquered cities as object lessons. Calneh (Assyrian Kullani) fell to Tiglath-Pileser III around 738 BC. Hamath (Syrian city) was defeated by Assyria circa 720 BC. Gath (Philistine city) had been conquered by Uzziah of Judah (2 Chronicles 26:6). Be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border? (הֲטוֹבִים מִן־הַמַּמְלָכוֹת הָאֵלֶּה, hatovim min-hamamlachot ha'eleh)—rhetorical question: if these great cities fell, what makes Israel think they're immune?

This confronts nationalistic pride and false security. Israel trusted in their covenant status, but covenant unfaithfulness removes covenant protection. If powerful nations fell to judgment, covenantbreakers will fare no better. Peter echoes this: 'judgment must begin at the house of God' (1 Peter 4:17).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Amos likely prophesied this between 760-750 BC, before some of these cities fell—making it a genuine prophecy. Israel's complacency during prosperous times blinded them to approaching judgment. They thought their election guaranteed safety, but election without obedience brings greater accountability (Amos 3:2).

Reflection Questions

  1. What forms of false security—national identity, church membership, religious heritage—do people trust instead of genuine faith?
  2. How does examining other fallen nations or churches warn against presumption on God's patience?
  3. Why do prosperous times often breed spiritual complacency and blindness to approaching judgment?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
עִבְר֤וּ1 of 18

“Pass”

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

כַֽלְנֵה֙2 of 18

“ye unto Calneh”

H3641

calneh or calno, a place in the assyrian empire

וּרְא֔וּ3 of 18

“and see”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

וּלְכ֥וּ4 of 18
H1980

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

מִשָּׁ֖ם5 of 18
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

חֲמַ֣ת6 of 18

“ye to Hamath”

H2574

chamath, a place in syria

רַ֥ב7 of 18

“greater”

H7227

abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)

וּרְד֣וּ8 of 18

“then go down”

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau