Amos 2:4
New International Version
This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not relent. Because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed,

New Living Translation
This is what the LORD says: “The people of Judah have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They have rejected the instruction of the LORD, refusing to obey his decrees. They have been led astray by the same lies that deceived their ancestors.

English Standard Version
Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have rejected the law of the LORD, and have not kept his statutes, but their lies have led them astray, those after which their fathers walked.

Berean Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Judah, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they reject the Law of the LORD and fail to keep His statutes; they are led astray by the lies in which their fathers walked.

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have despised the law of the LORD, And have not kept His commandments. Their lies lead them astray, Lies which their fathers followed.

New American Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: “For three offenses of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke its punishment, Because they rejected the Law of the LORD And have not kept His statutes; Their lies also have led them astray, Those which their fathers followed.

NASB 1995
Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions of Judah and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they rejected the law of the LORD And have not kept His statutes; Their lies also have led them astray, Those after which their fathers walked.

NASB 1977
Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions of Judah and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they rejected the law of the LORD And have not kept His statutes; Their lies also have led them astray, Those after which their fathers walked.

Legacy Standard Bible
Thus says Yahweh, “For three transgressions of Judah and for four I will not turn back its punishment Because they rejected the law of Yahweh And have not kept His statutes; Their falsehood also has led them astray, That which their fathers walked after.

Amplified Bible
Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions of Judah and for four (multiplied delinquencies) I will not reverse its punishment or revoke My word concerning it, Because they have rejected the law of the LORD [the sum of God’s instruction to His people] And have not kept His commandments; But their lies [and their idols], after which their fathers walked, Caused them to go astray.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD says: I will not relent from punishing Judah for three crimes, even four, because they have rejected the instruction of the LORD and have not kept his statutes. The lies that their ancestors followed have led them astray.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD says: I will not relent from punishing Judah for three crimes, even four, because they have rejected the instruction of the LORD and have not kept His statutes. The lies that their ancestors followed have led them astray.

American Standard Version
Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Judah, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have rejected the law of Jehovah, and have not kept his statutes, and their lies have caused them to err, after which their fathers did walk.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD said: I will punish Judah for countless crimes, and I won't change my mind. They have rejected my teachings and refused to obey me. They were led astray by the same false gods their ancestors worshiped.

English Revised Version
Thus saith the LORD: For three transgressions of Judah, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have rejected the law of the LORD, and have not kept his statutes, and their lies have caused them to err, after the which their fathers did walk:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This is what the LORD says: Because Judah has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime, I will not change my plans. The people of Judah have rejected the LORD's Teachings and haven't kept his laws. They have been led astray by false teachings, the same ones their ancestors followed.

Good News Translation
The LORD says, "The people of Judah have sinned again and again, and for this I will certainly punish them. They have despised my teachings and have not kept my commands. They have been led astray by the same false gods that their ancestors served.

International Standard Version
This is what the LORD says: "For three transgressions of Judah —and now for a fourth— I will not turn away; because they rejected the Law of the LORD and did not keep his statutes. Their own lies made them wander off, following along the same path their ancestors walked.

Majority Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Judah, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they reject the Law of the LORD and fail to keep His statutes; they are led astray by the lies in which their fathers walked.

NET Bible
This is what the LORD says: "Because Judah has committed three covenant transgressions--make that four!--I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They rejected the LORD's law; they did not obey his commands. Their false gods, to which their fathers were loyal, led them astray.

New Heart English Bible
Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Judah, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they have rejected the LORD's law, and have not kept his statutes. Their false idols which they made, after which their fathers walked, have led them astray.

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

World English Bible
Yahweh says: “For three transgressions of Judah, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they have rejected Yahweh’s law, and have not kept his statutes, and their lies have led them astray, after which their fathers walked;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Thus said YHWH: “For three transgressions of Judah, "" And for four, I do not reverse it, "" Because of their loathing the Law of YHWH, "" And His statutes they have not kept, "" And their lies cause them to err, "" After which their fathers walked,

Young's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah: For three transgressions of Judah, And for four, I do not reserve it, Because of their loathing the law of Jehovah, And His statutes they have not kept, And their lies do cause them to err, After which their fathers did walk,

Smith's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah: For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn it back from him, for their rejecting the instructions of Jehovah, and they watched not his laws, and their lies caused them to err which their fathers went after them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Juda, and for four I will not convert him: because he hath cast away the law of the Lord, and hath not kept his commandments: for their idols have caused them to err, after which their fathers have walked.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Thus says the Lord: For three wicked deeds of Judah, and for four, I will not convert him, in so far as he has rejected the law of the Lord and has not kept his commandments. For their idols, which their fathers followed, have deceived them.

New American Bible
Thus says the LORD: For three crimes of Judah, and now four— I will not take it back— Because they spurned the instruction of the LORD, and did not keep his statutes; Because the lies which their ancestors followed have led them astray,

New Revised Standard Version
Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they have rejected the law of the LORD, and have not kept his statutes, but they have been led astray by the same lies after which their ancestors walked.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Judah. and for four, I will not turn away the punishment from the people thereof because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept his commandments, and the vain idols, after which their fathers have walked, have caused them to go astray.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Thus says LORD JEHOVAH: for the three crimes of Judea, and the fourth, I shall not turn from them, because they rejected the Law of LORD JEHOVAH, and they have not kept his commandments, and vanities caused them to go astray, after which their fathers went
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thus saith the LORD: For three transgressions of Judah, Yea, for four, I will not reverse it: Because they have rejected the law of the LORD, And have not kept His statutes, And their lies have caused them to err, After which their fathers did walk.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thus saith the Lord; For three sins of the children of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away from him; because they have rejected the law of the Lord, and have not kept his ordinances, and their vain idols which they made, which their fathers followed, caused them to err.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judgment on Moab, Judah, and Israel
3I will cut off the ruler of Moab and kill all the officials with him,” says the LORD. 4This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Judah, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they reject the Law of the LORD and fail to keep His statutes; they are led astray by the lies in which their fathers walked. 5So I will send fire upon Judah to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.”…

Cross References
Jeremiah 8:9
The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they really have?

2 Kings 17:19
and even Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but lived according to the customs Israel had introduced.

2 Kings 21:11-15
“Since Manasseh king of Judah has committed all these abominations, acting more wickedly than the Amorites who preceded him, and with his idols has caused Judah to sin, / this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I am bringing such calamity upon Jerusalem and Judah that the news will reverberate in the ears of all who hear it. / I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab, and I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes out a bowl—wiping it and turning it upside down. ...

Isaiah 1:4
Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.

Jeremiah 6:19
Hear, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their own schemes, because they have paid no attention to My word and have rejected My instruction.

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

2 Chronicles 36:14-16
Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, following all the abominations of the nations, and they defiled the house of the LORD, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. / Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. / But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.

Ezekiel 20:16
because they kept rejecting My ordinances, refusing to walk in My statutes, and profaning My Sabbaths; for their hearts continually went after their idols.

Isaiah 5:24
Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes the straw, and as dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will decay and their blossoms will blow away like dust; for they have rejected the instruction of the LORD of Hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Jeremiah 9:13-14
And the LORD answered, “It is because they have forsaken My law, which I set before them; they have not walked in it or obeyed My voice. / Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts and gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them.”

Matthew 15:3-9
Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? / For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ / But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ ...

Mark 7:6-9
Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ / You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.” ...

Romans 1:21-23
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans 2:17-24
Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; / if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; / if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness, ...

Galatians 1:14
I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.


Treasury of Scripture

Thus said 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:

For.

Deuteronomy 31:16-18
And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them…

Deuteronomy 32:15-27
But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation…

Judah.

Amos 3:2
You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

2 Kings 17:19
Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.

Jeremiah 9:25,26
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised; …

because.

Leviticus 26:14,15
But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; …

Judges 2:17-20
And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so…

2 Samuel 12:9,10
Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon…

and their.

Isaiah 9:15,16
The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail…

Isaiah 28:15
Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

Isaiah 44:20
He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

after.

Judges 2:11-17
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: …

Judges 10:6
And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.

2 Chronicles 30:7
And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.

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Amos 2
1. God's judgments upon Moab,
4. upon Judah,
6. and upon Israel.
9. God complains of their ingratitude.














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.

For three transgressions of Judah, even four
This expression is a Hebrew idiom used throughout the book of Amos, indicating a fullness or completeness of sin. The number "three" suggests a pattern of repeated offenses, while "four" implies an overflow, signifying that Judah's sins have reached a tipping point. This structure underscores the seriousness of their actions and God's patience before judgment.

I will not revoke My judgment
The phrase indicates God's firm decision to execute justice. The Hebrew root for "revoke" suggests a sense of turning back or relenting. Here, it emphasizes God's unwavering commitment to righteousness and justice, despite His long-suffering nature. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of persistent disobedience.

because they have rejected the law of the LORD
"Rejected" comes from a Hebrew root meaning to despise or refuse. This highlights a deliberate and conscious decision to turn away from God's instructions. The "law of the LORD" refers to the Torah, the divine teachings given to guide Israel in righteousness. Judah's rejection signifies a breach of their covenant relationship with God.

and have not kept His statutes
The phrase "have not kept" implies a failure to guard or observe. "Statutes" are specific decrees or commands given by God. This failure indicates a neglect of their covenantal responsibilities and a disregard for the divine order established for their well-being and identity as God's people.

but they have been led astray by the lies their ancestors followed
"Led astray" suggests a deviation from the right path, often due to deception. The "lies" refer to false beliefs or idolatrous practices that have been perpetuated through generations. This highlights the influence of cultural and familial traditions in shaping spiritual direction, warning against the dangers of uncritically following inherited falsehoods.

Verses 4, 5. - § 2. Judah is summoned to judgment, the prophet thus passing from alien nations, through the most favoured people, to Israel, the subject of his prophecy. Verse 4. - They have despised the Law of the Lord. The other nations are denounced for their offences against God's people; Judah is sentenced for her offences against God himself. The former likewise had offended against the law of conscience, natural religion; the latter against the written Law, revealed religion. By thus denouncing Judah, Amos shows his perfect impartiality. The Law, Torah, is the general name for the whole body of precepts and commandments, chuqqim, moral and ceremonial. Their lies; Vulgate, idola sua, which is the sense, though not the translation, of the word. Idols are so called as being nonentities in themselves, and deceiving those who trust in them. "We know," says St. Paul (1 Corinthians 8:4). "that an idol is nothing in the world." The Septuagint gives, τὰ μάταια αὐτῶν α} ἐποίησαν, "their vain things which they made." Their fathers have walked. This is the usual expression for attachment to idolatrous practices. From this error the Israelites were never weaned till their return from the penal Captivity.

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 3069: YHWH

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 Judah,
יְהוּדָ֔ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

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

they have rejected
מָאֳסָ֞ם (mā·’o·sām)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3988: To spurn, to disappear

the law
תּוֹרַ֣ת (tō·w·raṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

of the LORD
יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

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

kept
שָׁמָ֔רוּ (šā·mā·rū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

His statutes;
וְחֻקָּיו֙ (wə·ḥuq·qāw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2706: Something prescribed or owed, a statute

they have been led astray
וַיַּתְעוּם֙ (way·yaṯ·‘ūm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8582: To vacillate, reel, stray

by the lies
כִּזְבֵיהֶ֔ם (kiz·ḇê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3577: A lie, falsehood, deceptive thing

in which
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

their forefathers
אֲבוֹתָ֖ם (’ă·ḇō·w·ṯām)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

walked.
הָלְכ֥וּ (hā·lə·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk


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OT Prophets: Amos 2:4 Thus says Yahweh: For three transgressions (Amo. Am)
Amos 2:3
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