Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version This is what the LORD says: “As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s mouth only two leg bones or a piece of an ear, so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued, with only the head of a bed and a piece of fabric from a couch.” New Living Translation This is what the LORD says: “A shepherd who tries to rescue a sheep from a lion’s mouth will recover only two legs or a piece of an ear. So it will be for the Israelites in Samaria lying on luxurious beds, and for the people of Damascus reclining on couches. English Standard Version Thus says the LORD: “As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed. Berean Standard Bible This is what the LORD says: “As the shepherd snatches from the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites dwelling in Samaria will be rescued having just the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch. King James Bible Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch. New King James Version Thus says the LORD: “As a shepherd takes from the mouth of a lion Two legs or a piece of an ear, So shall the children of Israel be taken out Who dwell in Samaria— In the corner of a bed and on the edge of a couch! New American Standard Bible This is what the LORD says: “Just as the shepherd snatches from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear, So will the sons of Israel living in Samaria be snatched away— With the corner of a bed and the cover of a couch! NASB 1995 Thus says the LORD, “Just as the shepherd snatches from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear, So will the sons of Israel dwelling in Samaria be snatched away— With the corner of a bed and the cover of a couch! NASB 1977 Thus says the LORD, “Just as the shepherd snatches from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear, So will the sons of Israel dwelling in Samaria be snatched away— With the corner of a bed and the cover of a couch! Legacy Standard Bible Thus says Yahweh, “Just as the shepherd delivers from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear, So will the sons of Israel inhabiting Samaria be delivered— With the corner of a bed and the cover of a couch! Amplified Bible Thus says the LORD, “Just as the shepherd snatches from the mouth of the lion a couple of legs or a piece of the [sheep’s] ear [to prove to the owner that he has not stolen the animal], So will the [remaining] children of Israel living in Samaria be snatched away With the corner of a bed and [part of] the damask covering of a couch. Christian Standard Bible The LORD says: As the shepherd snatches two legs or a piece of an ear from the lion’s mouth, so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be rescued with only the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch. Holman Christian Standard Bible The LORD says: As the shepherd snatches two legs or a piece of an ear from the lion’s mouth, so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be rescued with only the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch. American Standard Version Thus saith Jehovah: As the shepherd rescueth out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be rescued that sit in Samaria in the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed. Aramaic Bible in Plain English Thus says LORD JEHOVAH: as a Shepherd snatches from the mouth of a lion two legs or the lobe of an ear, in this way the children of Israel who dwell in Samaria shall suddenly be saved with a rod and by the people from Darmsuq Brenton Septuagint Translation Thus saith the Lord; As when a shepherd rescues from the mouth of a lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so shall be drawn forth the children of Israel who dwell in Samaria in the presence of a foreign tribe, and in Damascus. Contemporary English Version The LORD has promised that only a few from Samaria will escape with their lives and with some broken pieces of their beds and couches. It will be like when a shepherd rescues two leg bones and part of a sheep's ear from the jaws of a lion. Douay-Rheims Bible Thus saith the Lord: As if a shepherd should get out of the lion's mouth two legs, or the tip of the ear: so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria, in a piece of a bed, and in the couch of Damascus. English Revised Version Thus saith the LORD: As the shepherd rescueth out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be rescued that sit in Samaria in the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed. GOD'S WORD® Translation This is what the LORD says: As a shepherd rescues two legs or a piece of an ear out of a lion's mouth, so the Israelites living in Samaria will be rescued, [having only] a corner of a bed or a piece of a couch. Good News Translation The LORD says, "As a shepherd recovers only two legs or an ear of a sheep that a lion has eaten, so only a few will survive of Samaria's people, who now recline on luxurious couches. International Standard Version This is what the LORD says: "Just as a shepherd might save from the lion's mouth only two leg bones or a scrap of an ear, the Israelis will be saved in a similar manner— those in Samaria who sit on the remains of their broken beds, and those in Damascus who lie on the edge of their couches." JPS Tanakh 1917 Thus saith the LORD: As the shepherd rescueth out of the mouth of the lion Two legs, or a piece of an ear, So shall the children of Israel that dwell in Samaria Escape with the corner of a couch, and the leg of a bed. Literal Standard Version Thus said YHWH: “As the shepherd delivers from the lion’s mouth | Two legs, or a piece of an ear, | So the sons of Israel are delivered, | Who are sitting in Samaria on the corner of a bed, | And in Damascus [on that of] a couch. Majority Standard Bible This is what the LORD says: “As the shepherd snatches from the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites dwelling in Samaria will be rescued having just the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch. New American Bible Thus says the LORD: As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion a pair of sheep’s legs or the tip of an ear, So shall the Israelites escape, those who dwell in Samaria, With the corner of a couch or a piece of a cot. NET Bible This is what the LORD says: "Just as a shepherd salvages from the lion's mouth a couple of leg bones or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be salvaged. They will be left with just a corner of a bed, and a part of a couch." New Revised Standard Version Thus says the LORD: As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who live in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed. New Heart English Bible Thus says the LORD: "As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be rescued who sit in Samaria on the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed." Webster's Bible Translation Thus saith the LORD: As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch. World English Bible Yahweh says: “As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be rescued who sit in Samaria on the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed.” Young's Literal Translation Thus said Jehovah: As the shepherd delivereth from the lion's mouth Two legs, or a piece of an ear, So delivered are the sons of Israel, Who are sitting in Samaria on the corner of a bed, And in Damascus on that of a couch. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Witnesses Against Israel…11Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “An enemy will surround the land; he will pull down your strongholds and plunder your citadels.” 12This is what the LORD says: “As the shepherd snatches from the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites dwelling in Samaria will be rescued having just the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch. 13Hear and testify against the house of Jacob, declares the Lord GOD, the God of Hosts.… Cross References 1 Samuel 17:34 David replied, "Your servant has been tending his father's sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, 1 Samuel 17:35 I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. Esther 1:6 Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones. Esther 7:8 Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, "Would he actually assault the queen while I am in the palace?" As soon as the words had left the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. Psalm 132:3 "I will not enter my house or get into my bed, Amos 6:4 You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. Amos 9:8 Surely the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the face of the earth. Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob," declares the LORD. Treasury of Scripture Thus said the LORD; As the shepherd takes out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch. As the. 1 Samuel 17:34-37 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: … Isaiah 31:4 For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. taketh. Amos 9:2,3 Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down: … 1 Kings 20:30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber. 1 Kings 22:25 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. in Damascus in a couch. 1 Kings 20:34 And Benhadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away. 2 Kings 16:9 And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin. Jump to Previous Bed Children Corner Couch Couple Cover Cushions Damascus Dwell Dwelling Ear Israel Lion Mouth Part Piece Rescued Rescues Rescueth Samaria Saves Shepherd Sit Snatched SnatchesJump to Next Bed Children Corner Couch Couple Cover Cushions Damascus Dwell Dwelling Ear Israel Lion Mouth Part Piece Rescued Rescues Rescueth Samaria Saves Shepherd Sit Snatched SnatchesAmos 3 1. The necessity of God's judgment against Israel.9. The publication of it, with the causes thereof. (12) Taketh out . . . taken out.--Should be (as in margin) delivereth . . . be delivered. The agricultural image, used by Amos, is very impressive. The shanks and pieces of the ear, worthless portions, saved from the lion's jaws, represent the remnants of Samaria's population that shall escape. In Damascus in a couch.--Some would render "in Damascus on that of (i.e., corner of) a couch," Damascus corresponding to Samaria in the parallel clause. But this construction is very questionable, and it would be much simpler and safer to adopt the reading of most Hebrew texts, and render on a couch's damask (so Gesenius and Ewald), referring to the silken (?) or white woollen fabric for which Damascus, even in that early age, was famous. The relations between Syria and Israel at this moment were intimate. The meaning is that even the noblest and wealthiest will be regarded, if saved, as worthless salvage. Verse 12. - The prophet shows that the chastisement is inevitable, and that only the smallest remnant, the most worthless among the inhabitants, and they with much difficulty, can escape. The illustration from a common incident in a shepherd's life is very natural in Amos. Taketh; better, rescueth. So below, shall be taken out; shall be rescued. The usual explanation is that a shepherd attacks the lion which has seized one of his sheep (comp. 1 Samuel 17:34, etc.), and rescues from it the most worthless parts - "a couple of shank bones or a bit, or tip, of an ear." But as an attack on a lion would be an abnormal act of courage on the part of a shepherd, and the comparison is with things likely and usual, it is probable that the meaning is that the shepherd finds only these poor remnants after the lion has left his prey. So such a poor remnant shall be rescued from the ten tribes of Israel. That dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed; that sit at ease, lounging in the cosiest corner of the divan, an image of indolent ease and careless security in the face of impending judgment. And in Damascus in a couch; LXX., καὶ ἐν Δαμασκῷ: Vulgate, et in Damasci grabato. The Syriac and Jewish Versions agree in considering the word "Damascus" to be a proper name. The other modern rendering takes it to mean the material which we call "damask," or something similar. Hence our Revised Version gives, "on the silken cushions of a bed;" and others, "on the damask of a couch." Dr. Pusey retains the old rendering, on the grounds that there is no evidence to prove that the manufactures for which Damascus was celebrated in after time existed at this period, its exports being then wine and white wool (Ezekiel 27:18), and that the Arabic word dimakso (which critics have cited as connected with the term "damask") has nothing to do with Damascus, and meant raw, not manufactured, "silk." He translates, "in Damascus, a couch," and explains this to mean that Damascus, which Jeroboam II had won for Israel (2 Kings 14:28), "was a canopied couch to them, in which they stayed themselves." This agrees with the ancient Jewish interpretation, which explains the clause to mean that the Israelites would some day depend for help on the Syrians represented by Damascus A third exposition, favoured by the Latin Vulgate, makes the words to mean, "on a couch of Damascus;" i.e. a Syrian couch of a costly and luxurious nature. This comes to the same as the modern rendering given, above and seems to be the easiest explanation of the expression. The difficulty depends chiefly on the punctuation of the word דמשך; or them may be some corruption in the text. What the LXX. meant by their rendering is problematical,Κατέναντι τῆς φυλῆς καὶ ἐν Δαμασκῷ, "The children of Israel who dwell in Samaria in the presence of the tribe and in Damascus."Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew This is whatכֹּה֮ (kōh) Adverb Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now the LORD יְהוָה֒ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel says: אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “As כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ (ka·’ă·šer) Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that the shepherd הָרֹעֶ֜ה (hā·rō·‘eh) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with snatches יַצִּ֨יל (yaṣ·ṣîl) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5337: To strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered, snatch away, deliver from the mouth מִפִּ֧י (mip·pî) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to of the lion הָאֲרִ֛י (hā·’ă·rî) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 738: A lion two שְׁתֵּ֥י (šə·tê) Number - fdc Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number) legs כְרָעַ֖יִם (ḵə·rā·‘a·yim) Noun - fd Strong's 3767: The leg, of men, locusts or א֣וֹ (’ōw) Conjunction Strong's 176: Desire, if a piece בְדַל־ (ḇə·ḏal-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 915: A piece, severed piece of an ear, אֹ֑זֶן (’ō·zen) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 241: Broadness, the ear so כֵּ֣ן (kên) Adverb Strong's 3651: So -- thus the Israelites בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son dwelling הַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙ (hay·yō·šə·ḇîm) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry in Samaria בְּשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן (bə·šō·mə·rō·wn) Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 8111: Samaria -- capital of northern kingdom of Israel will be snatched away יִנָּצְל֞וּ (yin·nā·ṣə·lū) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5337: To strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered, snatch away, deliver with the corner בִּפְאַ֥ת (bip̄·’aṯ) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 6285: Mouth, direction, region, extremity of a bed מִטָּ֖ה (miṭ·ṭāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4296: A bed, for, sleeping, eating, a sofa, litter, bier or the cushion וּבִדְמֶ֥שֶׁק (ū·ḇiḏ·me·šeq) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1833: Perhaps silk of a couch. עָֽרֶשׂ׃ (‘ā·reś) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 6210: A couch, divan Links Amos 3:12 NIVAmos 3:12 NLT Amos 3:12 ESV Amos 3:12 NASB Amos 3:12 KJV Amos 3:12 BibleApps.com Amos 3:12 Biblia Paralela Amos 3:12 Chinese Bible Amos 3:12 French Bible Amos 3:12 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Amos 3:12 Thus says Yahweh: As the shepherd rescues (Amo. 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