Amos 1:13 (GNV)

Passage

Thus sayth ye Lord, For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for foure, I will not turne to it, because they haue ript vp the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border.

Nearby Context

Amos 1:11 Thus sayeth the Lord, For three transgressions of Edom, and for foure, I will not turne to it, because hee did pursue his brother with the sworde, and did cast off all pitie, and his anger spoyled him euermore, and his wrath watched him alway.

Amos 1:12 Therefore will I send a fire vpon Teman, and it shall deuoure the palaces of Bozrah.

Amos 1:13 Thus sayth ye Lord, For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for foure, I will not turne to it, because they haue ript vp the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border.

Amos 1:14 Therefore will I kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall deuoure the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battell, and with a tempest in the day of the whirlewinde.

Amos 1:15 And their King shall go into captiuitie, he and his princes together, saith the Lord.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "transgressions", "thus", "sayth", "lord", "three", "children", "ammon", and "foure". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "transgressions" and "thus", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "Therefore will I send a fire vpon..." into verse 14's "Therefore will I kindle a fire in...", so "transgressions" and "thus" belong inside that flow. In Amos context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "transgressions" and "thus" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.