Amos 6:5

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

You strum away on your harps like David and fashion instruments for music.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

הַפֹּרְטִים עַל־פִּי הַנָּבֶל כְּדָוִיד חָשְׁבוּ לָהֶם כְּלֵי־שִׁיר

Transliteration

The pōrəṭîm upon- pî the nābel like dāwīd ḥāšəbû to-them kəlê- šîr

Grammar Details

• *pōrəṭîm*: masculine plural participle with definite article - those improvising/playing
• *pî*: construct masculine noun with preposition *ʿal-* - upon mouth of
• *nābel*: masculine noun with definite article - harp/lute
• *dāwīd*: proper noun with comparative prefix *kə-* - like David
• *ḥāšəbû*: perfect, 3rd person plural - they devised/invented
• *kəlê-*: masculine plural construct - instruments of
• *šîr*: masculine noun - song/music

Word Meanings

• *pōrəṭîm*: improvising/strumming/plucking/playing
• *pî*: mouth of/opening of/according to
• *nābel*: lute/harp/stringed instrument
• *ḥāšəbû*: devised/invented/thought up
• *kəlê-šîr*: musical instruments/instruments for music

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Who sing to the sound of the harp, and invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  that sing idle songs to the sound of the viol; that invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  ye that synge to the lute, and in playenge off instrumentes compare youre selues vnto Dauid:

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  They sing to the sounde of the viole: they inuent to themselues instruments of musike like Dauid.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  They sing to the sounde of the viole, they inuent to them selues instrumentes of musicke, like Dauid.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  That chant to the sound of the viol, [and] invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Who strum on the strings of a harp; Who invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Who are taking part according to the psaltery, Like David they invented for themselves instruments of music;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  that sing idle songs to the sound of the viol; that invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  that sing idle songs to the sound of the viol; that invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Making foolish songs to the sound of corded instruments, and designing for themselves instruments of music, like David;

• World English Bible (2000)

  who strum on the strings of a harp; who invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  They sing to the tune of stringed instruments; like David they invent musical instruments.

Referenced Verses

• Isa 5:12 : 12 They have harps and lyres, tambourines and flutes, and wine at their banquets, but they pay no attention to the deeds of the Lord or consider the work of His hands.
• Amos 5:23 : 23 Take away from me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
• 1 Chr 23:5 : 5 four thousand were gatekeepers, and four thousand praised the Lord with the instruments David had made for worship.
• Job 21:11-12 : 11 They release their young like a flock, and their children skip about. 12 They sing to the tambourine and lyre and rejoice to the sound of the flute.
• Eccl 2:8 : 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered male and female singers for myself, and the delights of men—many concubines.
• Gen 31:27 : 27 Why did you run away secretly and deceive me? You didn’t even let me know so I could send you away with joy and singing, to the music of tambourines and harps.
• 1 Chr 15:16 : 16 David instructed the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as singers, to sing joyful songs accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.
• Amos 8:3 : 3 In that day, the songs of the temple will turn into wailing, declares the Lord God. Many corpses will lie everywhere; they will be cast out in silence.
• 1 Pet 4:3 : 3 For you have already spent enough time in the past doing what the Gentiles choose to do, living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.
• Rev 18:22 : 22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters will never be heard in you again. No craftsman of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again.