Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version You lie on beds adorned with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves. New Living Translation How terrible for you who sprawl on ivory beds and lounge on your couches, eating the meat of tender lambs from the flock and of choice calves fattened in the stall. English Standard Version “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, Berean Standard Bible You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. Berean Literal Bible those laying down on beds of ivory and stretching out on their couches, and eating lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, King James Bible That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; New King James Version Who lie on beds of ivory, Stretch out on your couches, Eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall; New American Standard Bible Those who lie on beds of ivory, And lounge around on their couches, And eat lambs from the flock, And calves from the midst of the fattened cattle, NASB 1995 Those who recline on beds of ivory And sprawl on their couches, And eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall, NASB 1977 Those who recline on beds of ivory And sprawl on their couches, And eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall, Legacy Standard Bible Those who lay down on beds of ivory And sprawl on their couches And eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall, Amplified Bible Those who lie on [luxurious] beds of ivory And lounge around out on their couches, And eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall, Berean Annotated Bible You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. Christian Standard Bible They lie on beds inlaid with ivory, sprawled out on their couches, and dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. Holman Christian Standard Bible They lie on beds inlaid with ivory, sprawled out on their couches, and dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. American Standard Version that lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; Contemporary English Version You rich people lounge around on beds with ivory posts, while dining on the meat of your lambs and calves. English Revised Version that lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; GOD'S WORD® Translation How horrible it will be for those who sleep on ivory beds. They sprawl out on their couches and eat lambs from their flocks and calves from their stalls. Good News Translation How terrible it will be for you that stretch out on your luxurious couches, feasting on veal and lamb! International Standard Version lying on ivory beds, stretching out on your couches, eating lambs from the flock, and fattened calves from the stall, NET Bible They lie around on beds decorated with ivory, and sprawl out on their couches. They eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the middle of the pen. New Heart English Bible Who lie on beds of ivory, and stretch themselves on their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; Webster's Bible Translation That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the midst of the stall; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleYou lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. World English Bible who lie on beds of ivory, and stretch themselves on their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the middle of the stall, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWho are lying down on beds of ivory, "" And are spread out on their couches, "" And are eating lambs from the flock, "" And calves from the midst of the stall, Berean Literal Bible those laying down on beds of ivory and stretching out on their couches, and eating lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, Young's Literal Translation Who are lying down on beds of ivory, And are spread out on their couches, And are eating lambs from the flock, And calves from the midst of the stall, Smith's Literal Translation Lying upon beds of ivory, and stretching out upon their couches, and eating the lambs from the flock, and the calves from the midst of the stall. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleYou that sleep upon beds of ivory, and are wanton on your couches: that eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the herd; Catholic Public Domain Version You sleep on beds of ivory, and you are lustful on your couches. You devour lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the herd. New American Bible Those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge upon their couches; Eating lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall; New Revised Standard Version Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the stall; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWho lie upon beds of ivory, and give themselves to pleasures upon their couches, and eat the fatlings from the flock and calves from the midst of the herd; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they lie on beds of ivory and they seize greedily on their couches who eat fatlings of the flocks and calves from within the herds OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917That lie upon beds of ivory, And stretch themselves upon their couches, And eat the lambs out of the flock, And the calves out of the midst of the stall; Brenton Septuagint Translation who sleep upon beds of ivory, and live delicately on their couches, and eat kids out of the flocks, and sucking calves out of the midst of the stalls; Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Woe to those at Ease in Zion…3You dismiss the day of calamity and bring near a reign of violence. 4You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. 5You improvise songs on the harp like David and invent your own musical instruments.… Cross References You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, Ezekiel 27:6 Of oaks from Bashan they made your oars; of wood from the coasts of Cyprus they made your deck, inlaid with ivory. 1 Kings 10:18 Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. Psalm 45:8 All your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces of ivory the harps make you glad. and lounge upon your couches. 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. Ezekiel 23:41 You sat on a couch of luxury with a table spread before it, on which you had set My incense and My oil, Luke 16:19 Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. 1 Kings 4:23 ten fat oxen, twenty range oxen, and a hundred sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened poultry. Genesis 18:7-8 Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. / Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate. Luke 15:23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate. Isaiah 5:11-12 Woe to those who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, who linger into the evening, to be inflamed by wine. / At their feasts are the lyre and harp, tambourines and flutes and wine. They disregard the actions of the LORD and fail to see the work of His hands. Ezekiel 16:49 Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy. James 5:1-5 Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days. … Isaiah 22:12-14 On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called for weeping and wailing, for shaven heads and the wearing of sackcloth. / But look, there is joy and gladness, butchering of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” / The LORD of Hosts has revealed in my hearing: “Until your dying day, this sin of yours will never be atoned for,” says the Lord GOD of Hosts. Jeremiah 5:26-28 For among My people are wicked men; they watch like fowlers lying in wait; they set a trap to catch men. / Like cages full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become powerful and rich. / They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy. Hosea 4:7-10 The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace. / They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity. / And it shall be like people, like priest. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. … 1 Timothy 5:6 But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive. Treasury of Scripture That lie on beds of ivory, and stretch themselves on their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the middle of the stall; lie. Isaiah 5:11,12 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! … Isaiah 22:13 And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die. Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: beds. stretch themselves upon their couches. 1 Samuel 25:36-38 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light… Psalm 73:7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. Luke 12:19,20 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry… Jump to Previous Beds Calves Choice Couches Dine Eat Eating Fattened Feasting Flock Inlaid Ivory Lie Lying Midst Oxen Recline Resting Seats Soft Spread Stall Stretch Stretched Themselves Woe YoungJump to Next Beds Calves Choice Couches Dine Eat Eating Fattened Feasting Flock Inlaid Ivory Lie Lying Midst Oxen Recline Resting Seats Soft Spread Stall Stretch Stretched Themselves Woe YoungAmos 6 1. The wantonness of Israel,7. shall be plagued with desolation; 12. and their incorrigibleness shall end in affliction. You lie on beds inlaid with ivory This phrase highlights the opulence and luxury enjoyed by the wealthy in Israel during Amos's time. Ivory was a rare and expensive material, often imported from distant lands, indicating significant wealth and trade connections. Archaeological findings in Samaria have uncovered ivory carvings, supporting the historical context of such luxury. The use of ivory in furniture suggests a focus on comfort and indulgence, contrasting with the call for justice and righteousness in the prophetic tradition. This opulence is condemned as it reflects a disregard for the poor and needy, aligning with the broader biblical theme of social justice found in passages like Isaiah 3:14-15 and James 5:1-6. and lounge upon your couches You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall Persons / Places / Events 1. AmosA prophet from Tekoa, a small town in Judah, who was called by God to deliver messages of judgment to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. 2. Israel The Northern Kingdom, which was experiencing a time of prosperity and complacency, leading to moral and spiritual decay. 3. Ivory Beds and Couches Symbols of luxury and excess, representing the opulence and self-indulgence of the wealthy elite in Israel. 4. Choice Lambs and Fattened Calves Indicative of extravagant feasting and indulgence, highlighting the disparity between the rich and the poor. 5. Judgment The impending consequence of Israel's complacency and neglect of justice and righteousness. Teaching Points Complacency in ProsperityProsperity can lead to spiritual complacency and a false sense of security. Believers must remain vigilant and prioritize their relationship with God over material wealth. Social Responsibility Wealth and resources should be used to promote justice and support those in need, rather than for self-indulgence. Judgment and Accountability God holds individuals and nations accountable for their actions, especially when they neglect justice and righteousness. Contentment and Stewardship Christians are called to be content with what they have and to be good stewards of their resources, using them to glorify God and serve others. Awareness of Spiritual Decay It is crucial to recognize signs of spiritual decay in our lives and communities and to address them through repentance and renewal. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Amos 6:4?2. How does Amos 6:4 warn against complacency in our spiritual lives today? 3. What does "lie on beds of ivory" reveal about Israel's priorities and ours? 4. How can we avoid the self-indulgence criticized in Amos 6:4? 5. Compare Amos 6:4 with Luke 12:19. What similar warnings do they provide? 6. How should Amos 6:4 influence our use of wealth and resources? 7. How does Amos 6:4 challenge the pursuit of luxury and comfort in modern society? 8. What historical context in Amos 6:4 reveals about Israel's social and economic conditions? 9. How does Amos 6:4 reflect God's view on social justice and inequality? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Amos 6? 11. Why did Assyria conquer Israel? 12. How do we reconcile the portrayal of lavish banquets in Esther 1 with other biblical condemnations of excess and opulence? 13. How does Amos 8:9’s prediction of the sun going dark align with scientific understanding of solar events? 14. Is there historical or archaeological evidence confirming Amos’s warnings to complacent leaders in Zion and Samaria (Amos 6:1)? What Does Amos 6:4 Mean You lie on beds inlaid with ivory“Beds inlaid with ivory” (Amos 6:4) paints a vivid picture of extravagant wealth. The LORD singles out furniture that only the richest could afford, showing how far the leaders of Samaria and Jerusalem had drifted into self-indulgence. • Their comfort contrasts sharply with the ruins God promised to bring on their “winter house and summer house” (Amos 3:15). • Like the complacent women of Zion who lived “at ease” (Isaiah 32:9-11), these leaders thought luxury meant divine favor, ignoring the warning signs of approaching judgment. The point: prosperity is a stewardship, not a shield. When privilege dulls spiritual sensitivity, judgment follows. and lounge upon your couches The image moves from ornate beds to plush couches—more scenes of idle ease. • “Lounging” suggests a life given to leisure rather than labor, the very opposite of Nehemiah’s example of sacrificial leadership (Nehemiah 5:14-18). • God had called His people to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly” (Micah 6:8); instead they reclined in self-satisfaction. This laziness toward righteousness fostered neglect of the poor, the widow, and the orphan—those the Law repeatedly protected (Deuteronomy 15:7-11). You dine on lambs from the flock Feasting on tender lambs signals more than enjoying a good meal; it spotlights excess. • The regular diet of common Israelites was simple bread, oil, and occasional meat at festivals (Leviticus 23). Here, select lambs are consumed any day of the week. • Such constant feasting echoes the revelry condemned in Hosea 4:11: “Harlotry, wine, and new wine take away understanding.” When the appetite rules, discernment withers. Leaders who should have shepherded the nation instead devoured its resources. and calves from the stall Calves “from the stall” were grain-fed, the choicest meat reserved for special celebrations (cf. the “fattened calf” in Luke 15:23). Making that luxury routine exposed callous disregard for those in need. • While these elites gorged themselves, the poor “sold themselves for a pair of sandals” (Amos 2:6). • Their banquets paralleled Belshazzar’s feast on the eve of Babylon’s fall (Daniel 5:1-4), a party oblivious to God’s impending judgment. Their unchecked indulgence hastened the moment when the LORD would “turn your feasts into mourning” (Amos 8:10). summary Amos 6:4 condemns the ruling class’s lavish lifestyle, not because material blessings are evil, but because comfort had bred complacency, injustice, and spiritual apathy. Ivory beds, lounging couches, daily lamb, and grain-fed calves symbolize a people so absorbed in luxury that they ignored God’s covenant demands. The verse warns every generation: unchecked affluence, detached from compassion and obedience, invites divine judgment just as surely today as it did in Amos’s day. (4) Of ivory--i.e., inlaid with that material.Verse 4. - That lie upon beds of ivory; couches inlaid with ivory (see note on Amos 3:15) at meals. The prophet substantiates his denunciation by describing their selfish luxury and debauchery. Stretch themselves literally, are poured out; Septuagint, κατασπαταλῶντες, "wantoning." Out of the midst of the stall. Calves put up to be fattened. They do this presumably net on festivals, when it would have been proper and excusable, but every day.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew You lieהַשֹּֽׁכְבִים֙ (haš·šō·ḵə·ḇîm) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 7901: To lie down on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against beds מִטּ֣וֹת (miṭ·ṭō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural construct Strong's 4296: A bed, for, sleeping, eating, a sofa, litter, bier inlaid with ivory, שֵׁ֔ן (šên) Noun - common singular Strong's 8127: A tooth, ivory, a cliff and lounge וּסְרֻחִ֖ים (ū·sə·ru·ḥîm) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 5628: To go free, be unrestrained, overrun, exceed upon עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against your couches; עַרְשׂוֹתָ֑ם (‘ar·śō·w·ṯām) Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 6210: A couch, divan You dine on וְאֹכְלִ֤ים (wə·’ō·ḵə·lîm) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 398: To eat lambs כָּרִים֙ (kā·rîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3733: A ram, a, battering-ram, a meadow, a pad, camel's saddle from the flock מִצֹּ֔אן (miṣ·ṣōn) Preposition-m | Noun - common singular Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock and calves וַעֲגָלִ֖ים (wa·‘ă·ḡā·lîm) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 5695: A, calf, one nearly grown from מִתּ֥וֹךְ (mit·tō·wḵ) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre the stall. מַרְבֵּֽק׃ (mar·bêq) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4770: A stall Links Amos 6:4 NIVAmos 6:4 NLT Amos 6:4 ESV Amos 6:4 NASB Amos 6:4 KJV Amos 6:4 BibleApps.com Amos 6:4 Biblia Paralela Amos 6:4 Chinese Bible Amos 6:4 French Bible Amos 6:4 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Amos 6:4 Who lie on beds of ivory (Amo. 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