Amos 6:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →They boast in empty victories, crediting their own strength for triumphs that amount to nothing.
What Does Amos 6:13 Mean?
The people celebrate "a thing of nought" -- a victory or gain that has no lasting substance. Their joy is pinned to hollow trophies. "Horns" in Scripture picture strength and conquest, and they brag that they seized this power "by our own strength," needing no one's help, least of all God's. It is the boast of self-sufficiency.
Here is the deeper sickness beneath the luxury and injustice: a confidence that rests entirely on themselves. They have forgotten that strength is given, not generated; that every horn lifted in triumph was first granted from above. To rejoice in what is empty and to credit it to one's own arm is to live a double illusion. The prophet exposes a pride that has cut itself off from the Source of all true power, and so glories in nothing while calling it everything.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amos 6:13
What does Amos 6:13 mean?
They boast in empty victories, crediting their own strength for triumphs that amount to nothing.