Amos 8:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The greedy chafe at holy days that interrupt their trade, eager to cheat with false weights.
What Does Amos 8:5 Mean?
Amos exposes the inner thoughts of the greedy. They keep the new moon and the sabbath outwardly, but inwardly they fret: "When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat?" The day set apart for God is, to them, only an interruption of profit. Their bodies rest while their hearts race ahead to the marketplace.
Worse, they plan to cheat: "making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit." They will shrink the measure of grain they give and inflate the price they charge, rigging the very scales of trade. Religion has become a hollow shell observed only because custom requires it, while beneath it runs a settled intention to defraud. The outward keeping of holy days cannot hide a heart already busy with dishonesty.
Amos 8:5 in the Original Language
ephah (אֵיפָה), 'ephah' -- a standard measure of grain, here made small to cheat the buyer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amos 8:5
What does Amos 8:5 mean?
The greedy chafe at holy days that interrupt their trade, eager to cheat with false weights.