Amos 3:14
New International Version
“On the day I punish Israel for her sins, I will destroy the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.

New Living Translation
“On the very day I punish Israel for its sins, I will destroy the pagan altars at Bethel. The horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.

English Standard Version
“that on the day I punish Israel for his transgressions, I will punish the altars of Bethel, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground.

Berean Standard Bible
On the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off, and they will fall to the ground.

King James Bible
That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.

New King James Version
“That in the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will also visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; And the horns of the altar shall be cut off And fall to the ground.

New American Standard Bible
“For on the day that I punish Israel’s offenses, I will also punish the altars of Bethel; The horns of the altar will be cut off, And will fall to the ground.

NASB 1995
“For on the day that I punish Israel’s transgressions, I will also punish the altars of Bethel; The horns of the altar will be cut off And they will fall to the ground.

NASB 1977
“For on the day that I punish Israel’s transgressions, I will also punish the altars of Bethel; The horns of the altar will be cut off, And they will fall to the ground.

Legacy Standard Bible
“For on the day that I punish Israel’s transgressions, I will also punish the altars of Bethel; The horns of the altar will be cut in pieces, And they will fall to the ground.

Amplified Bible
“On that day when I punish Israel’s transgressions, I shall also punish the altars of Bethel [with their golden calves]; And the horns of the altar shall be cut off And fall to the ground.

Christian Standard Bible
I will punish the altars of Bethel on the day I punish Israel for its crimes; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will punish the altars of Bethel on the day I punish Israel for its crimes; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.

American Standard Version
For in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also visit the altars of Beth-el; and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.

Contemporary English Version
When I, the LORD, punish Israel for their sins, I will destroy the altars at Bethel. Even the corners of the altar will be left in the dirt.

English Revised Version
For in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also visit the altars of Beth-el, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
On the day I punish Israel for its disobedience, I will also destroy the altars at Bethel. The horns of the altar will be cut off and will fall to the ground.

Good News Translation
"On the day when I punish the people of Israel for their sins, I will destroy the altars of Bethel. The corners of every altar will be broken off and will fall to the ground.

International Standard Version
"because on that day I will lay out the charges against Israel. I will also bring judgment upon the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off and will fall to the ground.

Majority Standard Bible
On the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off, and they will fall to the ground.

NET Bible
"Certainly when I punish Israel for their covenant transgressions, I will destroy Bethel's altars. The horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.

New Heart English Bible
"For in the day that I visit the transgressions of Israel on him, I will also visit the altars of Bethel; and the horns of the altar will be cut off, and fall to the ground.

Webster's Bible Translation
That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also visit the altars of Beth-el: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.

World English Bible
“For in the day that I visit the transgressions of Israel on him, I will also visit the altars of Bethel; and the horns of the altar will be cut off, and fall to the ground.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“For in the day of My charging the transgressions of Israel on him, I have laid a charge on the altars of Beth-El, "" And the horns of the altar have been cut off, "" And they have fallen to the earth.

Young's Literal Translation
For in the day of My charging the transgressions of Israel on him, I have laid a charge on the altars of Beth-El, And cut off have been the horns of the altar, And they have fallen to the earth.

Smith's Literal Translation
For in the day of my reviewing the transgressions of Israel upon him, and reviewed upon the altars of the house of God: and the horns of the altar were broken, and they fell to the earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
That in the day when I shall begin to visit the transgressions of Israel, I will visit upon him, and upon the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altars shall be cut off, and shall fall to the ground.

Catholic Public Domain Version
that in the day, when I will begin to visit the betrayals of Israel, I will visit upon him and upon the altars of Bethel. And the horns of the altars will be cut off and will fall to the ground.

New American Bible
On the day when I punish Israel for its crimes, I will also punish the altars of Bethel; The horns of the altar shall be broken off and fall to the ground.

New Revised Standard Version
On the day I punish Israel for its transgressions, I will punish the altars of Bethel, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
That in the day that I punish the transgressions of Israel I will also punish the altars of Beth-el; and the horns of the altars shall be cut off and fall to the ground.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because in the day that I review the evil of Israel upon him, I shall review concerning the altars of Bayth Eil and the horns of the altars shall be cut off and they shall fall on the ground
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also punish the altars of Beth-el, And the horns of the altar shall be cut off, And fall to the ground.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For in the day wherein I shall take vengeance of the sins of Israel upon him, I will also take vengeance on the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be broken down, and they shall fall upon the ground.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Witnesses Against Israel
13Hear and testify against the house of Jacob, declares the Lord GOD, the God of Hosts. 14 On the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off, and they will fall to the ground. 15I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses of ivory will also perish, and the great houses will come to an end,” declares the LORD.…

Cross References
Hosea 10:8
The high places of Aven will be destroyed—it is the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”

2 Kings 23:15
He even pulled down the altar at Bethel, the high place set up by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin. Then he burned the high place, ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole.

1 Kings 13:2
And he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, “O altar, O altar, this is what the LORD says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David, and upon you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense upon you, and human bones will be burned upon you.’”

2 Kings 23:19-20
Just as Josiah had done at Bethel, so also in the cities of Samaria he removed all the shrines of the high places set up by the kings of Israel who had provoked the LORD to anger. / On the altars he slaughtered all the priests of the high places, and he burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

Isaiah 10:11
and as I have done to Samaria and its idols, will I not also do to Jerusalem and her idols?”

Jeremiah 7:14
therefore what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears My Name, the house in which you trust, the place that I gave to you and your fathers.

Micah 1:5-7
All this is for the transgression of Jacob and the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem? / Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble in the open field, a planting area for a vineyard. I will pour her stones into the valley and expose her foundations. / All her carved images will be smashed to pieces; all her wages will be burned in the fire, and I will destroy all her idols. Since she collected the wages of a prostitute, they will be used again on a prostitute.

2 Kings 17:9-12
The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities. / They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. / They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger. ...

1 Kings 12:28-30
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.

2 Chronicles 34:4-7
Then in his presence the altars of the Baals were torn down, and he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them. He shattered the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images, crushed them to dust, and scattered them over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. / Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. / Josiah did the same in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them. ...

Hosea 4:15
Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’

Matthew 24:2
“Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Mark 13:2
“Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Luke 21:6
“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

John 4:20-21
Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where one must worship is in Jerusalem.” / “Believe Me, woman,” Jesus replied, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.


Treasury of Scripture

That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel on him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.

in the.

Exodus 32:34
Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.

Amos 9:1
I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.

1 Kings 13:2-5
And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee…

2 Kings 23:15
Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he brake down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove.

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Altar Altars Bethel Beth-El Charge Charging Cut Destroy Earth Fall Fallen Ground Horns Israel Israel's Laid Punish Punishment Sins Transgressions Visit
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Amos 3
1. The necessity of God's judgment against Israel.
9. The publication of it, with the causes thereof.














On the day I punish Israel for their transgressions
This phrase sets a solemn tone, indicating a specific time of divine judgment. The Hebrew word for "punish" is "pāqad," which can mean to visit, attend to, or reckon with. In this context, it implies a divine reckoning or accounting for Israel's sins. Historically, Israel had been warned repeatedly through prophets about the consequences of their disobedience. The "transgressions" refer to their covenant violations, idolatry, and social injustices. This phrase underscores God's justice and the certainty of His judgment, reminding believers of the importance of living in obedience to God's commands.

I will visit the altars of Bethel
The "altars of Bethel" were significant because Bethel was a center of idol worship in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The Hebrew word "bāqar" for "visit" in this context implies a thorough examination or inspection. Bethel, meaning "house of God," had become a place of false worship, contrary to its intended purpose. This phrase highlights God's intention to confront and dismantle the idolatrous practices that had taken root there. It serves as a warning against the corruption of true worship and the dangers of syncretism, where the worship of God is mixed with pagan practices.

the horns of the altar will be cut off
The "horns of the altar" were projections on the altar's corners, symbolizing strength and refuge. In ancient Israel, they were considered sacred and a place of asylum. The Hebrew word "qārān" for "horns" signifies power and might. By stating that these will be "cut off," God is declaring the removal of any perceived power or protection that the altar might have offered. This act symbolizes the end of false security and the dismantling of idolatrous systems. It serves as a powerful reminder that no false refuge can stand against the judgment of God.

and fall to the ground
The imagery of the horns falling to the ground signifies total destruction and humiliation. The Hebrew word "nāphal" for "fall" conveys a sense of collapse or defeat. This phrase emphasizes the complete overthrow of the idolatrous practices at Bethel. It illustrates the futility of relying on anything other than God for security and salvation. For believers, it is a call to examine their own lives for any idols or false securities and to place their trust solely in the Lord.

Verse 14. - That in the day, etc. This verse is rightly joined to the preceding, as it particularizes the threats which the heathen are summoned to testify. Visit upon; equivalent to "punish" (Zephaniah 1:8). Altars of Bethal. We read of one altar being set up by Jeroboam I (1 Kings 12:29, 33), but doubtless others had been added in the course of time. The denunciation of 1 Kings 13:2, 3 is here repeated. The horns of the altar. These were certain projections at the four angles of the altar, perhaps in the form of an ox's horn, on which the blood of the sin offering was smeared, and which therefore were considered the holiest part of the altar (see Exodus 27:2; Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 16:18). The instruments of idolatry or impure worship should share the destruction of the idolaters.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
On the day
בְּי֛וֹם (bə·yō·wm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

I punish
פָּקְדִ֥י (pā·qə·ḏî)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

for their transgressions,
פִשְׁעֵֽי־ (p̄iš·‘ê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6588: Transgression

I will visit [destruction]
וּפָֽקַדְתִּי֙ (ū·p̄ā·qaḏ·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

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

the altars
מִזְבְּח֣וֹת (miz·bə·ḥō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4196: An altar

of
בֵּֽית־ (bêṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's Hebrew

Bethel;
אֵ֔ל (’êl)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1008: Bethel -- 'house of God', a city in Ephraim, also a place in southern Judah

the horns
קַרְנ֣וֹת (qar·nō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 7161: A horn, a flask, cornet, an elephant's tooth, a corner, a peak, a ray, power

of the altar
הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

will be cut off,
וְנִגְדְּעוּ֙ (wə·niḡ·də·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1438: To fell a, tree, to destroy anything

and they will fall
וְנָפְל֖וּ (wə·nā·p̄ə·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

to the ground.
לָאָֽרֶץ׃ (lā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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OT Prophets: Amos 3:14 For in the day that I visit (Amo. Am)
Amos 3:13
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