Amos 7:13 Meaning and Explanation
“But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king’s chapel, and it is the king’s court.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Amaziah forbids Amos to prophesy at Bethel, calling it the king's chapel and court.
What Does Amos 7:13 Mean?
Amaziah names his real concern: "prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court." The sanctuary belongs, in his eyes, not to God but to the king. It is a royal chapel, a state institution, and its worship serves the throne's interests. An unwelcome word from God has no place in such a setting.
The phrase lays bare the deepest corruption Amos has faced. Worship has been annexed to power; the house meant for God has become an instrument of the crown. Amaziah guards the king's chapel as the king's man, treating the living word as an intrusion into managed religion. This is precisely why the plumbline found the nation crooked -- when the sanctuary answers to the palace rather than to God, the standard has already been abandoned.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amos 7:13
What does Amos 7:13 mean?
Amaziah forbids Amos to prophesy at Bethel, calling it the king's chapel and court.