Amos – Chapter 6

Old Testament15 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 6 of Amos begins: "Woe to you that are wealthy in Sion, and to you that have confidence in the mountain of Samaria: ye great men, heads of the people, that go…" The chapter centers on Joseph, David and Jacob. Across its 15 verses, two threads run through the text: sin and divine judgment and God's kingdom and kingship. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1Woe to you that are wealthy in Sion, and to you that have confidence in the mountain of Samaria: ye great men, heads of the people, that go in with state into the house of Israel.

2Pass ye over to Chalane, and see, and go from thence into Emath the great: and go down into Geth of the Philistines, and to all the best kingdoms of these: if their border be larger than your border.

3You that are separated unto the evil day: and that approach to the throne of iniquity;

4You that sleep upon beds of ivory, and are wanton on your couches: that eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the herd;

5You that sing to the sound of the psaltery: they have thought themselves to have instruments of music like David;

6That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the best ointments: and they are not concerned for the affliction of Joseph.

7Wherefore now they shall go captive at the head of them that go into captivity: and the faction of the luxurious ones shall be taken away.

8The Lord God hath sworn by his own soul, saith the Lord the God of hosts: I detest the pride of Jacob, and I hate his houses, and I will deliver up the city with the inhabitants thereof.

9And if there remain ten men in one house, they also shall die.

10And a man's kinsman shall take him up, and shall burn him, that he may carry the bones out of the house; and he shall say to him that is in the inner rooms of the house: Is there yet any with thee?

11And he shall answer: There is an end. And he shall say to him: Hold thy peace, and mention not the name of the Lord.

12For behold the Lord hath commanded, and he will strike the greater house with breaches, and the lesser house with clefts.

13Can horses run upon the rocks, or can any one plough with buffles? for you have turned judgment into bitterness, and the fruit of justice into wormwood.

14You that rejoice in a thing of nought: you that say: Have we not taken unto us horns by our own strength?

15But behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel, saith the Lord the God of hosts; and they shall destroy you from the entrance of Emath, even to the torrent of the desert.

Important Verses in Amos 6

Woe to you that are wealthy in Sion, and to you that have confidence in the mountain of Samaria: ye great men, heads of the people, that go in with state into the house of Israel.

Amos 6:1

The Lord God hath sworn by his own soul, saith the Lord the God of hosts: I detest the pride of Jacob, and I hate his houses, and I will deliver up the city with the inhabitants thereof.

Amos 6:8

And he shall answer: There is an end. And he shall say to him: Hold thy peace, and mention not the name of the Lord.

Amos 6:11

But behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel, saith the Lord the God of hosts; and they shall destroy you from the entrance of Emath, even to the torrent of the desert.

Amos 6:15

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Amos was written with the wealthy northern kingdom, warned that worship without justice is worthless in view. Chapter 6 of 9 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 15 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Joseph, David and Jacob appear at the center of the events recorded here. The chapter begins: "Woe to you that are wealthy in Sion, and to you that have confidence in the mountain of Samaria: ye great men, heads of…" The chapter ends with: "But behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel, saith the Lord the God of hosts; and they shall…" In terms of historical background, Amos, a layman from Judah, was sent north to prosperous Israel, where luxury coexisted with oppression of the poor and hollow worship. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: About 760-750 BC.

Who Wrote It

Amos, a shepherd and dresser of sycamore trees from Tekoa

When It Was Written

About 760-750 BC

Catholic Commentary

The literal sense of Amos 6 presents a concrete episode in the history of social justice and true worship. A pivotal line is verse 1: "Woe to you that are wealthy in Sion, and to you that have confidence in the mountain of Samaria: ye great men, heads of the people, that go in with state into…" The passage repeatedly touches on sin and divine judgment.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 2632). Here, Catholic social teaching echoes Amos's call for justice (CIC 2419-2425). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize sin and divine judgment as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.
  • God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.
  • God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.

People in This Chapter

Joseph1 mentionDavid1 mentionJacob1 mention

Reflection for Today

Amos Chapter 6 belongs to the Old Testament and forms part of the Catholic canon proclaimed in the liturgy of the Word.

Through typology, the Church often reads Old Testament passages as preparing for Christ, while New Testament passages reveal Him explicitly. Catholic social teaching echoes Amos's call for justice (CIC 2419-2425). Here the believer is invited to ponder poverty of spirit and detachment.

Consider praying with this chapter again at day's end, offering God gratitude for one insight received. The Church encourages daily contact with Scripture (CIC 1324) so that Christ's mind may be formed in us.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Amos Chapter 6 about?

Amos 6 contains 15 verses. It opens with "Woe to you that are wealthy in Sion, and to you that have confidence in the mountain of Samaria: ye great men, heads of…" and closes with "But behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel, saith the Lord the God of hosts; and they shall…". The book as a whole is prophetic oracles of judgment.

What is a key verse in Amos 6?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "Woe to you that are wealthy in Sion, and to you that have confidence in the mountain of Samaria: ye great men, heads of the people, that go in with state into the house of Israel." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Amos Chapter 6?

This chapter mentions Joseph, David, Jacob.

Who wrote Amos and when?

Amos, a shepherd and dresser of sycamore trees from Tekoa. About 760-750 BC.

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