Amos 1:3 Meaning and Explanation
“Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →God begins His indictment of the nations with Damascus, condemning the brutal cruelty with which Syria crushed the people of Gilead.
What Does Amos 1:3 Mean?
The phrase "for three transgressions, and for four" is a poetic way of saying the cup of sin has overflowed; it is not a literal count but a sign of fullness. Damascus had crushed Gilead as harvesters drag iron sledges over grain, a picture of merciless conquest.
God's judgment begins not with Israel but with the surrounding nations, showing that every people answers to Him for how it treats the helpless. Cruelty in war, the grinding of the conquered, does not escape heaven's notice. The Lord who sees Gilead threshed sees every act of violence still, and He holds the powerful accountable for the suffering they inflict on those beneath them.
Amos 1:3 in the Original Language
pesha' (פֶּשַׁע), 'transgression' -- rebellion, a deliberate breach against rightful authority.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amos 1:3
What does Amos 1:3 mean?
God begins His indictment of the nations with Damascus, condemning the brutal cruelty with which Syria crushed the people of Gilead.