Amos 4:6 "I beset all your cities with cleanness of teeth and all your towns with lack of bread, yet you did not return to Me," declares the LORD.

◄ Amos 4:6 ►

New International Version
“I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.

New Living Translation
“I brought hunger to every city and famine to every town. But still you would not return to me,” says the LORD.

English Standard Version
“I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places, yet you did not return to me,” declares the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
“I beset all your cities with cleanness of teeth and all your towns with lack of bread, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.

King James Bible
And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

New King James Version
“Also I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, And lack of bread in all your places; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
“But I gave you also cleanness of teeth in all your cities, And lack of bread in all your places; Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the LORD.

NASB 1995
“But I gave you also cleanness of teeth in all your cities And lack of bread in all your places, Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the LORD.

NASB 1977
“But I gave you also cleanness of teeth in all your cities And lack of bread in all your places, Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
“But I gave you also cleanness of teeth in all your cities And lack of bread in all your places, Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
“I also gave you cleanness of teeth [because of the famine] in all your cities And lack of bread in all your places, Yet you have not returned to Me [in repentance],” says the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
I gave you absolutely nothing to eat in all your cities, a shortage of food in all your communities, yet you did not return to me. This is the LORD’s declaration.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I gave you absolutely nothing to eat in all your cities, a shortage of food in all your communities, yet you did not return to Me. This is the LORD’s declaration.

American Standard Version
And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places; yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
I, the LORD, took away the food from every town and village, but still you rejected me.

English Revised Version
And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I left you with nothing to eat in any of your cities. I left you with no food in your entire land. And you still didn't return to me, declares the LORD.

Good News Translation
"I was the one who brought famine to all your cities, yet you did not come back to me.

International Standard Version
"I also have scheduled food shortages for you in all of your cities, and lack of bread in all of your settlements, but you haven't returned to me," declares the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
“I beset all your cities with cleanness of teeth and all your towns with lack of bread, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.

NET Bible
"But surely I gave you no food to eat in any of your cities; you lacked food everywhere you live. Still you did not come back to me." The LORD is speaking!

New Heart English Bible
"I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in every town; yet you haven't returned to me," says the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned to me, saith the LORD.

World English Bible
“I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in every town; yet you haven’t returned to me,” says Yahweh.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
“And I also—I have given to you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, "" And lack of bread in all your places, "" And you have not turned back to Me,” "" A declaration of YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
And I also -- I have given to you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, And lack of bread in all your places, And ye have not turned back unto Me, an affirmation of Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And also I gave to you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: and ye turned not back even to me, says Jehovah.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Whereupon I also have given you dulness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet you have not returned to me, saith the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, because of this, I have given you dull teeth in every one of your cities, and a lack of bread in all your places. And you have not been turned back towards me, says the Lord.

New American Bible
Though I made your teeth clean of food in all your cities, and made bread scarce in all your dwellings, Yet you did not return to me— oracle of the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places, yet you did not return to me, says the LORD.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And I also have given you shortage of food in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places; yet you have not returned to me, says the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Also I have given you numbness of teeth in all your cities and lack of bread in all your places, and you have not returned to me, says LORD JEHOVAH

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And I also have given you Cleanness of teeth in all your cities, And want of bread in all your places; Yet have ye not returned unto Me, Saith the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I will give you dulness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet ye returned not to me, saith the Lord.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Punishment Brings No Repentance
…5Offer leavened bread as a thank offering, and loudly proclaim your freewill offerings. For that is what you children of Israel love to do,” declares the Lord GOD. 6“ I beset all your cities with cleanness of teeth and all your towns with lack of bread, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD. 7“I also withheld the rain from you when the harvest was three months away. I sent rain on one city but withheld it from another. One field received rain; another without rain withered.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Deuteronomy 28:48
you will serve your enemies the LORD will send against you in famine, thirst, nakedness, and destitution. He will place an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.

Haggai 1:6
You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but never get warm. You earn wages to put into a bag pierced through.”

Leviticus 26:26
When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will bake your bread in a single oven and dole out your bread by weight, so that you will eat but not be satisfied.

2 Kings 8:1
Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed that a seven-year famine will come to the land.”

Isaiah 3:1
For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of food and water,

Ezekiel 4:16-17
Then He told me, “Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat bread rationed by weight, and in despair they will drink water by measure. / So they will lack food and water; they will be appalled at the sight of one another wasting away in their iniquity.

Jeremiah 14:1-6
This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: / “Judah mourns and her gates languish. Her people wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem. / The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns, but find no water; their jars return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads. ...

Joel 1:16-20
Has not the food been cut off before our very eyes—joy and gladness from the house of our God? / The seeds lie shriveled beneath the clods; the storehouses are in ruins; the granaries are broken down, for the grain has withered away. / How the cattle groan! The herds wander in confusion because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering. ...

1 Kings 17:1-7
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!” / Then a revelation from the LORD came to Elijah: / “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan. ...

2 Chronicles 15:6
Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God afflicted them with all kinds of adversity.

Matthew 24:7
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Luke 21:11
There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

Revelation 6:5-6
And when the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. / And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine.”

Mark 13:8
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

Romans 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

Treasury of Scripture

And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have you not returned to me, said the LORD.

cleanness.

and want.

Leviticus 26:26
And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.

Deuteronomy 28:38
Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.

1 Kings 17:1
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

yet.

Amos 4:8,9
So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD…

2 Chronicles 28:22
And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.

Isaiah 9:13
For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.

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Amos 4

1. He reproves Israel for oppression,
4. for idolatry,
6. and for their incorrigibleness.

Berean Study Bible

I gave you cleanness of teeth
The phrase "cleanness of teeth" is a Hebrew idiom that refers to a lack of food, resulting in clean teeth because there is nothing to eat. In the context of Amos, this is a divine judgment from God upon Israel for their disobedience and idolatry. The Hebrew root word for "cleanness" (נִקָּיוֹן, niqqayon) implies purity or emptiness, emphasizing the severity of the famine. Historically, famines were often seen as a direct consequence of a nation's sin, and in the ancient Near East, they were understood as a sign of divine displeasure. This phrase serves as a stark reminder of God's sovereignty and the consequences of turning away from His commandments.

in all your cities
The phrase "in all your cities" underscores the widespread nature of the judgment. It was not limited to a single location but affected the entire nation of Israel. The Hebrew word for "cities" (עָרִים, arim) indicates populated areas, suggesting that the famine was not just a rural issue but impacted urban centers as well. This comprehensive scope of judgment highlights the seriousness of Israel's sin and the extent of God's corrective measures. It serves as a call for national repentance and a return to covenant faithfulness.

and lack of bread
"Lack of bread" further clarifies the nature of the judgment as a famine. Bread, a staple food in ancient Israel, symbolizes sustenance and life. The Hebrew word for "lack" (חֹסֶר, choser) conveys deficiency or want, emphasizing the dire situation faced by the people. In the biblical context, bread is often associated with God's provision, as seen in the manna provided during the Israelites' wilderness journey. The absence of bread here signifies a withdrawal of divine blessing due to Israel's unfaithfulness.

in all your places
Similar to "in all your cities," the phrase "in all your places" reinforces the idea that the famine was pervasive. The Hebrew word for "places" (מְקוֹמוֹת, mekomot) can refer to various locations, whether urban or rural. This repetition serves to emphasize the totality of the judgment and the inescapable nature of God's discipline. It is a call for introspection and a reminder that no part of the nation is exempt from the consequences of sin.

Yet you have not returned to Me
This phrase is a lament from God, expressing His desire for Israel's repentance. The Hebrew word for "returned" (שׁוּב, shuv) is often used in the context of repentance, meaning to turn back or return to a previous state. Despite the hardships and divine warnings, Israel failed to repent and return to God. This highlights the stubbornness of the people and their unwillingness to acknowledge their need for God. It serves as a poignant reminder of God's patience and His longing for a restored relationship with His people.

declares the LORD
The phrase "declares the LORD" is a prophetic formula that underscores the authority and certainty of the message. The Hebrew word for "declares" (נְאֻם, ne'um) is often used in prophetic literature to introduce a divine pronouncement. It signifies that the message comes directly from God, carrying His authority and truth. This declaration serves as a solemn reminder of God's sovereignty and the seriousness of His call to repentance. It is an invitation to heed His words and return to a covenant relationship with Him.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) Cleanness of teeth is, by the poetic parallelism, identified with the want of bread, the former phrase being a graphic representation of one of the ghastly aspects of famine; clean, sharp, prominent teeth projecting from the thin lips. Notwithstanding their chastisement, God says, "Ye have not returned even up to me." Jehovah is here introduced as grieving over the failure of his disciplinary treatment of Israel.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - In this and the five following verses God sets forth instances of the judgments which he had sent at various times to correct Israel; viz. famine, drought, blight, pestilence, earthquake; but all had been in vain. Five times recurs the sad refrain, "Yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord." God's unwearied love had not conquered their rebellion. Cleanness of teeth; Septuagint, γομφιασμὸν ὀδόντων, "dulness of teeth;" Vulgate, stuporem dentium. It is not "toothache" that is meant, but famine, as is seen by the parallel term, want of bread; as Corn. a Lapide says, "Cum enim in fame et penuria dentes non habent quod mordeant et mandant, innocentes sunt et mundi." This is the first chastisement mentioned. It was threatened in the Law as a consequence of backsliding (see Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28:48, 57). The famines to which Amos alludes are not recorded. Plainly they were not fortuitous, but were providential inflictions, in accordance with previous warnings Yet have ye not returned unto me. Pusey notes that the words imply, not that they returned not at all, but that they did after a fashion return, but not so as to reach God, their repentance being a half-repentance and their worship a half-worship, and therefore unacceptable.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“I
אֲנִי֩ (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

beset
נָתַ֨תִּי (nā·ṯat·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

all
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

your cities
עָ֣רֵיכֶ֔ם (‘ā·rê·ḵem)
Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5892: Excitement

with cleanness
נִקְי֤וֹן (niq·yō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5356: Clearness

of teeth
שִׁנַּ֙יִם֙ (šin·na·yim)
Noun - cd
Strong's 8127: A tooth, ivory, a cliff

and all
בְּכֹ֖ל (bə·ḵōl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

your towns
מְקוֹמֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם (mə·qō·w·mō·ṯê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

with lack
וְחֹ֣סֶר (wə·ḥō·ser)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2640: Want, lack

of bread,
לֶ֔חֶם (le·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

yet you did not
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

return
שַׁבְתֶּ֥ם (šaḇ·tem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

to Me.”
עָדַ֖י (‘ā·ḏay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

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

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OT Prophets: Amos 4:6 I also have given you cleanness (Amo. Am)