Amos 2:8 Meaning and Explanation
“And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →They feast at their altars on garments seized from the poor as collateral and on wine extracted through unjust fines, mixing worship with robbery.
What Does Amos 2:8 Mean?
The law required that a poor man's cloak, taken as a pledge for a loan, be returned by nightfall so he would not be cold. Here the rich recline on those very garments beside their altars, and drink wine bought with money wrung from the unjustly fined, turning their worship into a celebration of plunder.
Nothing is more offensive to God than oppression dressed up as devotion. They sin against the poor and then bring the spoils into His presence as if He would be pleased. Worship that is built on injustice is worse than no worship at all. This searching word warns every reader that the Lord is not honored by religious display when the offering itself is stained with another's tears.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amos 2:8
What does Amos 2:8 mean?
They feast at their altars on garments seized from the poor as collateral and on wine extracted through unjust fines, mixing worship with robbery.