Amos 5:11 Meaning and Explanation
“Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Because they trample the poor and extort their grain, they will not enjoy the fine houses and vineyards they have built.
What Does Amos 5:11 Mean?
God names the crime and its consequence together. They trample the poor and seize the grain that should feed them, then use the proceeds to build fine houses of cut stone and plant lovely vineyards. But the verdict is fixed: they will not live in those houses or drink that wine.
What is gained by oppression cannot be enjoyed in peace. The very luxuries built on the backs of the poor are stripped from the oppressors before they can savor them. There is a moral order to the world that no amount of wealth can override. The verse warns the reader that prosperity wrung from injustice is hollow and fleeting, and that God will not let the powerful rest comfortably on what they have stolen from the weak.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amos 5:11
What does Amos 5:11 mean?
Because they trample the poor and extort their grain, they will not enjoy the fine houses and vineyards they have built.