King James Version

What Does Amos 8:5 Mean?

Amos 8:5 in the King James Version says “Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ...” — study this verse from Amos chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? new: or, month set: Heb. open falsifying: Heb. perverting the balances of deceit”

Amos 8:5 · KJV

Context

3

And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord GOD: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence. shall be howlings: Heb. shall howl with: Heb. be silent

4

Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,

5

Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? new: or, month set: Heb. open falsifying: Heb. perverting the balances of deceit

6

That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?

7

The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.

Read Amos 8 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat—This verse exposes the merchants' hearts: they observe religious festivals outwardly while resenting them inwardly. New moon (חֹדֶשׁ, chodesh) marked monthly celebrations with rest from commerce (Numbers 10:10, 28:11-15; Isaiah 1:13-14). Sabbath (שַׁבָּת, shabbat) commanded weekly rest (Exodus 20:8-11). These oppressors endure religious obligations impatiently, eager to resume profit-making.

The commercial activities they anticipate reveal systematic fraud: making the ephah small (לְהַקְטִין אֵיפָה, lehaqtin eifah)—using undersized measures when selling grain, so customers pay full price for reduced quantity. And the shekel great (וּלְהַגְדִּיל שֶׁקֶל, ulehagdil shekel)—using heavy weights when collecting payment, so merchants receive inflated value. Falsifying the balances by deceit (וּלְעַוֵּת מֹאזְנֵי מִרְמָה, ule'avvet moznei mirmah)—rigging scales to cheat customers. Every transaction involved calculated theft.

This triple fraud violated Leviticus 19:35-36: "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have." God commanded commercial honesty because economics is worship—how we treat others in marketplace transactions reveals our view of God. These merchants kept Sabbath externally but violated its spirit by viewing it as interruption to exploitation rather than sacred time honoring God and protecting workers. Jesus condemned similar hypocrisy: the Pharisees tithed herbs but neglected justice and mercy (Matthew 23:23).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient commerce relied on standardized measures: the ephah (dry measure, ~22 liters) for grain, the shekel (weight, ~11.4 grams) for precious metals, and balance scales for weighing. Without modern enforcement, merchants could easily manipulate measures—keeping multiple sets of weights/measures, using worn scales, or employing sleight-of-hand. Archaeological discoveries include both honest and fraudulent weights, confirming such practices existed.

Sabbath and new moon festivals required cessation of commerce, protecting workers from exploitation and maintaining covenant rhythms. But Israel's merchants resented these restrictions, viewing them as lost profit opportunities rather than acts of worship. Their question "When will [the festival] be gone?" reveals hearts devoted to mammon, not God. They resembled the Pharisees who devoured widows' houses while making long prayers (Luke 20:47)—religious externalism masking greedy hearts.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do modern believers sometimes treat corporate worship as interruption to pursuits we really value, and what does this reveal about our true priorities?
  2. What forms of "making the ephah small and the shekel great" exist in contemporary business practices, and how should Christians respond?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
לֵאמֹ֗ר1 of 16

“Saying”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

מָתַ֞י2 of 16
H4970

properly, extent (of time); but used only adverbially (especially with other particle prefixes), when (either relative or interrogative)

יַעֲבֹ֤ר3 of 16

“be gone”

H5674

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

הַחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙4 of 16

“When will the new moon”

H2320

the new moon; by implication, a month

וְנַשְׁבִּ֣ירָה5 of 16

“that we may sell”

H7666

to deal in grain

שֶּׁ֔בֶר6 of 16

“corn”

H7668

grain (as if broken into kernels)

וְהַשַּׁבָּ֖ת7 of 16

“and the sabbath”

H7676

intermission, i.e (specifically) the sabbath

וְנִפְתְּחָה8 of 16

“that we may set forth”

H6605

to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

בָּ֑ר9 of 16

“wheat”

H1250

grain of any kind (even while standing in the field); by extension the open country

לְהַקְטִ֤ין10 of 16

“small”

H6994

to diminish, i.e., be (causatively, make) diminutive or (figuratively) of no account

אֵיפָה֙11 of 16

“making the ephah”

H374

an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general

וּלְהַגְדִּ֣יל12 of 16

“great”

H1431

to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride)

שֶׁ֔קֶל13 of 16

“and the shekel”

H8255

probably a weight; used as a commercial standard

וּלְעַוֵּ֖ת14 of 16

“and falsifying”

H5791

to wrest

מֹאזְנֵ֥י15 of 16

“the balances”

H3976

(only in the dual) a pair of scales

מִרְמָֽה׃16 of 16

“by deceit”

H4820

fraud

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 8:5 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 8:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Nehemiah 13:15-21Hosea 12:7Micah 6:10-11Deuteronomy 25:13-16Leviticus 19:36Exodus 20:8-10

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