Amos 1:6 Meaning and Explanation
“Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Gaza, chief city of the Philistines, is condemned for wholesale slave-trading, deporting entire communities to sell them to Edom.
What Does Amos 1:6 Mean?
The charge against Gaza is the trafficking of human beings. They carried off "the whole captivity," emptying whole towns, and handed the captives over to Edom for profit. This was the slave trade in its most total and heartless form.
God names the buying and selling of people as a crime that fills up a nation's guilt. Human beings bear His image and are not merchandise. The same God who later declares through His prophets that He hears the cry of the oppressed will not overlook those who turn people into property. This ancient word still indicts every system that treats persons as goods, and it reveals a Lord who counts each captive precious.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amos 1:6
What does Amos 1:6 mean?
Gaza, chief city of the Philistines, is condemned for wholesale slave-trading, deporting entire communities to sell them to Edom.