Amos 2:1

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

This is what the LORD says: 'For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they burned to lime the bones of the king of Edom.'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־שָׂרְפ֛וֹ עַצְמ֥וֹת מֶֽלֶךְ־אֱד֖וֹם לַשִּֽׂיד׃

Transliteration

kōh ʾāmar YHWH upon-šəlōšāh pišʿê môʾāb wə-upon-ʾarbāʿāh lōʾ ʾăšîbennû upon-śārəpô ʿaṣəmôt melek-ʾĕdôm laśśîd

Grammar Details

• *kōh*: adverb - thus/so
• *ʾāmar*: perfect, 3rd masculine singular - said/speaks
• *YHWH*: divine name - Yahweh/LORD
• *šəlōšāh*: cardinal number, masculine - three
• *pišʿê*: construct masculine plural of *pešaʿ* - transgressions/rebellions of
• *môʾāb*: proper noun - Moab
• *wə*: conjunction - and
• *ʾarbāʿāh*: cardinal number, masculine - four
• *lōʾ*: negative particle - not
• *ʾăšîbennû*: hiphil imperfect 1st singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - I will not turn it back/revoke it
• *śārəpô*: infinitive construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his burning
• *ʿaṣəmôt*: feminine plural construct - bones of
• *melek*: masculine singular construct - king of
• *ʾĕdôm*: proper noun - Edom
• *laśśîd*: preposition + definite article + noun - to the lime/ash

Word Meanings

• *pišʿê*: transgressions/rebellions/crimes
• *ʾăšîbennû*: I will not turn it back/revoke it/reverse it
• *śārəpô*: his burning/calcining
• *laśśîd*: to lime/to ash/to dust/to calcium oxide (material used in plaster)

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Thus saith{H559} Jehovah:{H3068} For three{H7969} transgressions{H6588} of Moab,{H4124} yea, for four,{H702} I will not turn away{H7725} the punishment thereof; because he burned{H8313} the bones{H6106} of the king{H4428} of Edom{H123} into lime:{H7875}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068}; For three{H7969} transgressions{H6588} of Moab{H4124}, and for four{H702}, I will not turn away{H7725}{(H8686)} the punishment thereof; because he burned{H8313}{(H8800)} the bones{H6106} of the king{H4428} of Edom{H123} into lime{H7875}:

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Thus sayeth the LORDE: For thre and foure wickednesses off Moab, I will not spare him: because he brent the bones off the kynge of Edom to asshes.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Thus sayth the Lorde, For three transgressions of Moab, and for foure, I will not turne to it, because it burnt the bones of the King of Edom into lime.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Thus sayth the Lorde, For three wickednesses of Moab, & for foure I will not spare him: because he burnt the bones of the king of Edom into lime.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Moab, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Thus said Jehovah: For three transgressions of Moab, And for four, I do not reverse it, Because of his burning the bones of the king of Edom to lime,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Moab, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Moab, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  These are the words of the Lord: For three crimes of Moab, and for four, I will not let its fate be changed; because he had the bones of the king of Edom burned to dust.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Moab, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  This is what the LORD says:“Because Moab has committed three crimes– make that four!– I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They burned the bones of Edom’s king into lime.

Referenced Verses

• Zeph 2:8-9 : 8 I have heard the taunts of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, who have reproached My people and enlarged their borders. 9 Therefore, as surely as I live—declares the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel—Moab will become like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a land of weeds and salt pits, a perpetual ruin. The remnant of My people will plunder them, and the survivors of My nation will inherit their land.
• Jer 48:1-9 : 1 This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says concerning Moab: Woe to Nebo, for it is devastated! Kiriathaim is disgraced and captured; the mighty stronghold is humbled and shattered. 2 The glory of Moab is no more! In Heshbon, a plan for disaster was made against her: 'Come, let us cut her off from being a nation!' Even Madmen will be silenced; the sword will follow you. 3 A cry of distress comes from Horonaim: great destruction and devastation! 4 Moab is broken! A cry is heard; even her young ones make their distress known. 5 For at the ascent of Luhith, weeping goes with the steps; as they descend to Horonaim, cries of destruction are heard from the enemy. 6 Flee! Save your lives like a juniper in the wilderness. 7 Because you trusted in your works and your treasures, you too will be captured! Chemosh will go into exile with his priests and officials together. 8 The destroyer will come to every city, and no city will escape. The valley will perish, and the plateau will be destroyed, for the LORD has spoken. 9 Give Moab wings so she may fly away, for her cities will become desolate, with no one living in them. 10 Cursed is the one who does the LORD's work negligently, and cursed is the one who withholds their sword from blood. 11 Moab has been at ease from her youth, settled on her dregs, not poured from vessel to vessel, nor gone into exile. Therefore her taste remains, and her aroma is unchanged. 12 Therefore, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will send those who pour out wine to tip her over; they will empty her vessels and shatter her jars. 13 Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, just as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel, their confidence. 14 How can you say, 'We are warriors, men mighty in battle'? 15 Moab is devastated, and its towns have been destroyed! The best of its young men have gone down to slaughter, declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts. 16 The calamity of Moab is near at hand, and her disaster is rushing swiftly. 17 Mourn for her, all you who surround her, and all who know her name; say, 'How the mighty rod of strength and the glorious staff is broken!' 18 Come down from your place of glory and sit in thirst, inhabitant daughter of Dibon, for the one who destroys Moab has attacked you, ruining your fortresses. 19 Stand by the road and watch, inhabitant of Aroer. Ask the man fleeing and the woman escaping, 'What has happened?' 20 Moab is put to shame, for it is shattered. Wail and cry out! Proclaim at the Arnon that Moab is destroyed. 21 Judgment has come to the land of the plain—to Holon, to Jahaz, and to Mephaath, 22 to Dibon, to Nebo, and to Beth-diblathaim, 23 to Kiriathaim, to Beth-gamul, and to Beth-meon, 24 to Kerioth, to Bozrah, and to all the cities of the land of Moab, far and near. 25 The horn of Moab is cut off, and her arm is broken, declares the LORD. 26 Make her drunk, for she has magnified herself against the LORD. Moab will wallow in her vomit and become an object of ridicule. 27 Was not Israel a laughingstock to you? Was he found among thieves, that whenever you speak of him you wag your head in scorn? 28 Abandon your cities and dwell among the rocks, O inhabitants of Moab. Be like a dove that makes its nest in the sides of the cave's opening. 29 We have heard of Moab's pride—so very proud—his arrogance, pride, conceit, and the haughtiness of his heart. 30 I know his fury, declares the LORD, but it is empty; his boasts accomplish nothing. 31 Therefore, I will wail for Moab; I will cry out for all of Moab. For the men of Kir-heres, I will mourn. 32 I will weep for you, vine of Sibmah, more than for Jazer. Your branches spread to the sea, reaching as far as Jazer. The destroyer has fallen upon your summer fruit and your grape harvest. 33 Joy and gladness have been taken from the fertile fields and the land of Moab. I have stopped the wine flowing from the presses; no one treads them with shouts of joy. There is no joyful shouting. 34 The crying of Heshbon resounds to Elealeh and Jahaz, they have raised their voices from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah. Even the waters of Nimrim are dried up. 35 I will put an end in Moab to the one who sacrifices on the high places and burns incense to his gods, declares the LORD. 36 Therefore, my heart moans for Moab like the sound of flutes; it moans like flutes for the men of Kir-heres, because their accumulated wealth has perished. 37 Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off, gashes are on all their hands, and sackcloth is wrapped around their waists. 38 On every rooftop of Moab and in its public squares, there is nothing but lamentation. For I have broken Moab like a jar no one wants, declares the LORD. 39 How shattered Moab is! Cry out! How Moab has turned his back in shame. So Moab will become a ridicule and a horror to all his neighbors. 40 For this is what the LORD says: Behold, one will fly swiftly like an eagle and spread his wings against Moab. 41 The cities are captured, and the strongholds are seized. On that day, the heart of Moab's warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor. 42 Moab will be destroyed as a people, because he exalted himself against the LORD. 43 Terror, pit, and snare await you, O inhabitant of Moab, declares the LORD. 44 The one who flees from the terror will fall into the pit, and the one climbing out of the pit will be caught in the snare. For I will bring on Moab the year of their punishment, declares the LORD. 45 In the shadow of Heshbon, the fugitives stand helpless, for a fire has gone out from Heshbon, and a flame from Sihon. It devours the corner of Moab and the crown of the noisy boasters. 46 Woe to you, Moab! The people of Chemosh are destroyed. Your sons have been taken into exile, and your daughters into captivity. 47 Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days, declares the LORD. Here ends the judgment on Moab.
• Ezek 25:8-9 : 8 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because Moab and Seir said, 'Look! The house of Judah is like all the other nations,' 9 therefore, I will expose the flank of Moab, beginning with its frontier cities—the pride of the land—Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon, and Kiriathaim.
• Isa 15:1-9 : 1 An oracle concerning Moab: In the night, Ar of Moab was devastated and destroyed. In the night, Kir of Moab was devastated and destroyed. 2 They have gone up to the temple and to Dibon, to the high places, to weep. Moab wails over Nebo and Medeba. Every head is shaved, and every beard is cut off. 3 In its streets, they wear sackcloth. On its rooftops and public squares, everyone wails, falling down in tears. 4 Heshbon and Elealeh cry out; their voices are heard as far as Jahaz. Therefore, the armed men of Moab cry out, and their souls are filled with dread. 5 My heart cries out for Moab; her fugitives flee to Zoar, like a three-year-old heifer. They go up weeping by the ascent of Luhith. On the way to Horonaim, they raise a cry of destruction. 6 The waters of Nimrim are desolate. The grass is withered, the vegetation has vanished, and nothing green remains. 7 So the wealth they have earned and their stored possessions will be carried away over the Wadi of the Willows. 8 For the cry has gone around the borders of Moab. Its wailing reaches Eglaim, and its lamentation goes all the way to Beer Elim. 9 The waters of Dimon are full of blood, and I will bring even more upon Dimon—a lion upon the survivors of Moab and upon those remaining in the land.
• Isa 25:10 : 10 For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, but Moab will be trampled under him as straw is trampled down in a manure pit.
• 2 Kgs 3:26-27 : 26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took seven hundred men with swords to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not. 27 Then he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a burnt sacrifice on the city wall. Great wrath came upon Israel, so they withdrew from him and returned to their own land.
• Amos 1:3 : 3 Thus says the LORD: 'For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke punishment, because they threshed Gilead with sharp implements of iron.'
• Amos 2:4 : 4 This is what the LORD says: '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. Their lies have led them astray, lies after which their ancestors walked.'
• Amos 2:6 : 6 This is what the LORD says: 'For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.'
• Mic 6:5 : 5 My people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised and what Balaam son of Beor answered him, from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.
• Amos 1:6 : 6 Thus says the LORD: 'For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke punishment, because they deported an entire population to deliver them over to Edom.'
• Amos 1:9 : 9 Thus says the LORD: 'For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not revoke punishment, because they delivered up an entire population to Edom and did not remember their treaty of brotherhood.'
• Amos 1:11 : 11 Thus says the LORD: 'For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke punishment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and suppressed compassion. His anger tore continually, and his wrath remained forever.'
• Amos 1:13 : 13 Thus says the LORD: 'For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not revoke punishment, because they ripped open pregnant women in Gilead in order to enlarge their territory.'
• Ps 83:4-7 : 4 They devise cunning plans against your people and conspire together against your treasured ones. 5 They say, 'Come, let us destroy them as a nation, so that the name of Israel may no longer be remembered.' 6 For they have consulted together with one mind; they have made a covenant against you. 7 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,
• Prov 15:3 : 3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, watching both the wicked and the good.
• Isa 11:14 : 14 Together they will swoop down on the shoulders of the Philistines to the west; they will plunder the people of the east. They will lay hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them.
• Num 22:1-9 : 1 Then the Israelites traveled and camped in the plains of Moab, across the Jordan River near Jericho. 2 When Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3 Moab became very afraid of the people because they were numerous. Moab was overcome with dread because of the Israelites. 4 Moab said to the elders of Midian, 'Now this horde will devour everything around us, like an ox eats the grass of the field.' At that time, Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab. 5 He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the river in the land of his people. They were to call him, saying, 'Look, a people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and are settling next to me.' 6 Now, please come and curse this people for me, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed. 7 The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them payment for divination. They came to Balaam and told him Balak's message. 8 Balaam said to them, 'Spend the night here, and I will bring back a word to you, as the LORD speaks to me.' So the Moabite leaders stayed with Balaam. 9 Then God came to Balaam and asked, 'Who are these men with you?' 10 Balaam said to God, 'Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent this message to me: 11 'Look, a people that came out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now, come and curse them for me. Perhaps I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.' 12 But God said to Balaam, 'Do not go with them. You must not curse the people, for they are blessed.' 13 The next morning, Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, 'Go back to your own country, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.' 14 So the Moabite leaders returned to Balak and said, 'Balaam refused to come with us.' 15 Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. 16 They came to Balaam and said to him, 'This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Please do not let anything prevent you from coming to me.' 17 'For I will reward you very handsomely and will do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on these people for me.' 18 But Balaam answered Balak's servants, 'Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do anything small or great.' 19 Now please stay here tonight as well, so that I may find out what else the LORD may say to me. 20 That night God came to Balaam and said, 'Since these men have come to summon you, go with them. But do only what I tell you.' 21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the Moabite officials. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam struck the donkey to make it turn back onto the road. 24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.
• Deut 23:4-5 : 4 No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD, even to the tenth generation; none of their descendants may ever enter the assembly of the LORD. 5 This is because they did not meet you with bread and water on your way out of Egypt, and because they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor of Aram Naharaim to curse you.
• 2 Kgs 3:9 : 9 So the king of Israel set out, along with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. After traveling a roundabout route for seven days, there was no water for the army or the animals with them.