Amos 1:6
New International Version
This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Gaza, even for four, I will not relent. Because she took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom,

New Living Translation
This is what the LORD says: “The people of Gaza have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They sent whole villages into exile, selling them as slaves to Edom.

English Standard Version
Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they carried into exile a whole people to deliver them up to Edom.

Berean Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Gaza, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they exiled a whole population, delivering them up to Edom.

King James Bible
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:

New King James Version
Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they took captive the whole captivity To deliver them up to Edom.

New American Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: “For three offenses of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke its punishment, Because they led into exile an entire population To turn them over to Edom.

NASB 1995
Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions of Gaza and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they deported an entire population To deliver it up to Edom.

NASB 1977
Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions of Gaza and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they deported an entire population To deliver it up to Edom.

Legacy Standard Bible
Thus says Yahweh, “For three transgressions of Gaza and for four I will not turn back its punishment Because they took away into exile the whole community of exiles To deliver it up to Edom.

Amplified Bible
Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions of Gaza [in Philistia] and for four (multiplied delinquencies) I will not reverse its punishment or revoke My word concerning it, Because [as slave traders] they took captive the entire [Jewish] population [of defenseless Judean border villages, of which none was spared] And deported them to Edom [for the slave trade].

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD says: I will not relent from punishing Gaza for three crimes, even four, because they exiled a whole community, handing them over to Edom.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD says: I will not relent from punishing Gaza for three crimes, even four, because they exiled a whole community, handing them over to Edom.

American Standard Version
Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Gaza, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole people, to deliver them up to Edom.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD said: I will punish Philistia for countless crimes, and I won't change my mind. They dragged off my people from town after town to sell them as slaves to the Edomites.

English Revised Version
Thus saith the LORD: For three transgressions of Gaza, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole people, to deliver them up to Edom:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This is what the LORD says: Because Gaza has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime, I will not change my plans. The Philistines have taken all the people captive in order to hand them over to the Edomites.

Good News Translation
The LORD says, "The people of Gaza have sinned again and again, and for this I will certainly punish them. They carried off a whole nation and sold them as slaves to the people of Edom.

International Standard Version
This is what the LORD says: "For three transgressions of Gaza —and now for a fourth— I will not turn away; because they exiled the entire population, delivering them to Edom.

Majority Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: ?For three transgressions of Gaza, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they exiled a whole population, delivering them up to Edom.

NET Bible
This is what the LORD says: "Because Gaza has committed three crimes--make that four!--I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They deported a whole community and sold them to Edom.

New Heart English Bible
Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Gaza, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they carried away captive the whole community, to deliver them up to Edom;

Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment: because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:

World English Bible
Yahweh says: “For three transgressions of Gaza, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they carried away captive the whole community, to deliver them up to Edom;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Thus said YHWH: “For three transgressions of Gaza, "" And for four, I do not reverse it, "" Because of their removing a complete captivity, "" To deliver up to Edom,

Young's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah: For three transgressions of Gaza, And for four, I do not reverse it, Because of their removing a complete captivity, To deliver up to Edom,

Smith's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah: For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn it back, for their carrying away captive the whole captivity to deliver over to Edom.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Gaza, and for four I will not convert it: because they have carried away a perfect captivity to shut them up in Edom.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Thus says the Lord: For three wicked deeds of Gaza, and for four, I will not convert it, in so far as they have carried out an excellent captivity, so as to enclose them in Idumea.

New American Bible
Thus says the LORD: For three crimes of Gaza, and now four— I will not take it back— Because they exiled an entire population, handing them over to Edom,

New Revised Standard Version
Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they carried into exile entire communities, to hand them over to Edom.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof, because they carried away captive the whole population to deliver them up to Edom;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Thus says LORD JEHOVAH: for three crimes of Aza, and the fourth, I shall not turn from them, because they captured the entire captivity that they would deliver to Edom
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thus saith the LORD: For three transgressions of Gaza, yea, for four, I will not reverse it: because they carried away captive a whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thus saith the Lord; For three sins of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away from them; because they took prisoners the captivity of Solomon, to shut them up into Idumea.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judgment on Israel's Neighbors
5I will break down the gates of Damascus; I will cut off the ruler of the Valley of Aven and the one who wields the scepter in Beth-eden. The people of Aram will be exiled to Kir,” says the LORD. 6This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Gaza, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they exiled a whole population, delivering them up to Edom. 7So I will send fire upon the walls of Gaza, to consume its citadels.…

Cross References
Joel 3:6
You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, to send them far from their homeland.

Zechariah 9:3-4
Tyre has built herself a fortress; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets. / Behold, the Lord will impoverish her and cast her wealth into the sea, and she will be consumed by fire.

Isaiah 23:1-18
This is the burden against Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor. Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus. / Be silent, O dwellers of the coastland, you merchants of Sidon, whose traders have crossed the sea. / On the great waters came the grain of Shihor; the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre; she was the merchant of the nations. ...

Ezekiel 25:15-17
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance, taking vengeance with malice of soul to destroy Judah with ancient hostility, / therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant along the coast. / I will execute great vengeance against them with furious reproof. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I lay My vengeance upon them.’”

Jeremiah 47:1-7
This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet about the Philistines before Pharaoh struck down Gaza. / This is what the LORD says: “See how the waters are rising from the north and becoming an overflowing torrent. They will overflow the land and its fullness, the cities and their inhabitants. The people will cry out, and all who dwell in the land will wail / at the sound of the galloping hooves of stallions, the rumbling of chariots, and the clatter of their wheels. The fathers will not turn back for their sons; their hands will hang limp. ...

Obadiah 1:10-14
Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame and cut off forever. / On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gate and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were just like one of them. / But you should not gloat in that day, your brother’s day of misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast proudly in the day of their distress. ...

Psalm 83:7
of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre.

2 Chronicles 21:16-17
Then the LORD stirred against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and Arabs who lived near the Cushites. / So they went to war against Judah, invaded it, and carried off all the possessions found in the king’s palace, along with his sons and wives; not a son was left to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest.

2 Kings 12:17-18
At that time Hazael king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he decided to attack Jerusalem. / So King Joash of Judah took all the sacred objects dedicated by his fathers—Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah—along with his own consecrated items and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram. So Hazael withdrew from Jerusalem.

1 Kings 5:1
Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s place, he sent envoys to Solomon; for Hiram had always been a friend of David.

Matthew 11:21-22
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. / But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

Luke 10:13-14
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. / But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

Acts 12:20
Now Herod was in a furious dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king’s country for food.

Mark 3:8
Jerusalem, Idumea, the region beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to Him when they heard what great things He was doing.

Matthew 15:21-28
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. / And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.” / But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” ...


Treasury of Scripture

Thus said the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:

three.

Amos 1:3,9,11
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron: …

Gaza.

1 Samuel 6:17
And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

2 Chronicles 28:18
The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.

Isaiah 14:29-31
Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent…

carried, etc.

2 Chronicles 21:16,17
Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians: …

2 Chronicles 28:18
The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.

Joel 3:6
The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.

to Edom.

Amos 1:9,11
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant: …

Ezekiel 35:5
Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end:

Obadiah 1:11
In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.

Jump to Previous
Captive Captivity Carried Changed Communities Community Complete Crimes Deliver Deported Edom Entire Exile Fate Four Gaza Gazah Population Prisoners Punishment Removing Reverse Revoke Sentence Sins Sold Thereof Three Transgressions Turn Whole Words Wrath
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Captive Captivity Carried Changed Communities Community Complete Crimes Deliver Deported Edom Entire Exile Fate Four Gaza Gazah Population Prisoners Punishment Removing Reverse Revoke Sentence Sins Sold Thereof Three Transgressions Turn Whole Words Wrath
Amos 1
1. The time when Amos prophesied.
3. He shows God's judgment upon Syria,
6. upon the Philistines,
9. upon Tyrus,
11. upon Edom,
13. upon Ammon.














This is what the LORD says
This phrase introduces a divine oracle, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. The Hebrew term for "LORD" is "YHWH," the sacred and personal name of God, highlighting His covenant relationship with Israel. This introduction sets the tone for a message that is not merely a human opinion but a divine decree, underscoring the seriousness and certainty of the forthcoming judgment.

For three transgressions of Gaza, even for four
The phrase "for three transgressions, even for four" is a Hebrew idiom used to express the completeness and fullness of sin. It suggests that the sins of Gaza have reached their limit, and divine patience has been exhausted. Gaza, one of the five Philistine cities, represents the Philistine nation known for its hostility towards Israel. Historically, the Philistines were a constant threat, and their transgressions were numerous and grievous.

I will not revoke My wrath
This declaration indicates the irrevocable nature of God's judgment once His patience has been surpassed. The Hebrew root for "revoke" implies a turning back or relenting, which God declares He will not do. This highlights the seriousness of sin and the certainty of divine justice. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of persistent rebellion against God.

because they exiled a whole population
The specific sin of Gaza mentioned here is the forced exile of entire communities. This act of aggression and inhumanity reflects a grave violation of justice and compassion. Historically, such actions were common in ancient warfare, where entire populations were uprooted and sold into slavery. This underscores the moral depravity of Gaza's actions and the reason for divine retribution.

delivering them up to Edom
Edom, a nation descended from Esau, often acted as an adversary to Israel. By delivering captives to Edom, Gaza not only engaged in human trafficking but also collaborated with a nation that was historically hostile to God's people. This act of betrayal and cruelty further compounds their guilt. The historical animosity between Edom and Israel adds a layer of treachery to Gaza's actions, justifying the severity of the judgment pronounced by God.

CURSE ON PHILISTIA.

(6-8) The marginal reading is more literal, and points to the special bitterness of the proceedings of Philistia, here represented by Gaza as the principal city (comp. 2Chronicles 21:16-17, which implies a veritable sack of Jerusalem). The extreme barbarity from which Judah suffered was that her children were delivered up to the implacable enemy Edom. (Comp. the language of Joel 3:4-6.) This may have occurred in the border warfare, in which defenceless Judaean villages were overpowered, and the inhabitants sold to the Oriental tribes through the medium of the Edomites. The utter fall of Philistian independence is depicted (comp. Amos 6:2). The cities here mentioned are often referred to in the books of Joshua, Judges, and Samuel, and by the prophet Zephaniah.

Verses 6-8. - The judgment on Philistia. Verse 6. - Gaza is here used as the representative of the five cities of the Philistines. Three others are mentioned in ver. 8, Gath being omitted as having long lost its importance, if not already destroyed (comp. 2 Chronicles 26:6; Jeremiah 25:20; Zephaniah 2:4, where see note; Zechariah 9:5, 6). Gaza, modern Guzzeh, was the most southern city of Philistia in the immediate neighbourhood of the desert. (For a description of the Plain of Philistia, see Sir C. Warren, 'Survey Memoirs,' volume on Jerusalem, p. 436.) The whole captivity; Hebrew, "an entire captivity," the whole people, so that neither age nor sex was spared. A similar complaint is made in Joel 3:4, 6. What the LXX. mean by their rendering here and ver. 9, αἰχμαλωσίαν τοῦ Σαλωμὼν, it is very hard to say. Probably they punctuated the word translated "perfect" (shelemah) shelomoh, making "Solomon" stand for his people Israel. Cyril supposes that the reference is to cities which Solomon established among neighbouring nations; these had now been destroyed or seized. The event referred to may be the invasion of Judah by Philistines and Arabians in the time of Joram, mentioned in 2 Chronicles 21:16, etc., and in which it is possible that a compact was made that the captive Judaeans should be delivered to their bitterest enemies, the Edomites. One would rather have expected a reference to some evil inflicted on Israel (as in ver. 3) instead of an injury done to Judah.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
This is what
כֹּ֚ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

says:
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“For
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

three
שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ (šə·lō·šāh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

transgressions
פִּשְׁעֵ֣י (piš·‘ê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6588: Transgression

of Gaza,
עַזָּ֔ה (‘az·zāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5804: A Philistine city

even
וְעַל־ (wə·‘al-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

four,
אַרְבָּעָ֖ה (’ar·bā·‘āh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 702: Four

I will not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

revoke [My judgment],
אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ (’ă·šî·ḇen·nū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

because
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

they exiled
הַגְלוֹתָ֛ם (haḡ·lō·w·ṯām)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1540: To denude, to exile, to reveal

a whole
שְׁלֵמָ֖ה (šə·lê·māh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 8003: Complete, safe, at peace

population
גָּל֥וּת (gā·lūṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1546: Captivity, exiles

to deliver [them] up
לְהַסְגִּ֥יר (lə·has·gîr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5462: To shut up, to surrender

to Edom.
לֶאֱדֽוֹם׃ (le·’ĕ·ḏō·wm)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 123: The name of a condiment


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OT Prophets: Amos 1:6 Thus says Yahweh: For three transgressions (Amo. Am)
Amos 1:5
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