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Time after Pentecost · Proper 20 · Year C

Amos 8:4-7

A Basket of Summer Fruit

September 24, 2028

Man Weighing Gold, Adriaen Isenbrant
Man Weighing Gold, Adriaen Isenbrant, c. 1515–1520The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
A sober merchant in a black cap stands at his counter with a small pair of scales, gold coins spread before him.Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land. The Lord has sworn: Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.Adriaen IsenbrantA painter of Bruges in the early 1500s, follower of Gerard David, known for devout panels of great refinement.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkThe Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, one of the largest art museums in the world.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 16:1-15Lk 16:1-15
Epistle1 Tim. 2:1-151 Tm 2:1-15
Old TestamentAmos 8:4-7Am 8:4-7
PsalterPs. 113Ps 113

Overview & Insights

"The end has come upon my people Israel; I will never again pass them by." (Amos 8:2)

God shows Amos a basket of ripe summer fruit, a wordplay in Hebrew signaling that Israel's time has ripened for judgment. Amos condemns merchants who cheat the poor and shrink the ephah while waiting impatiently for the Sabbath to end, and warns of a coming famine of hearing God's word.

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Commentary

Amos 8 CommentaryAm 8 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

Walks through the basket of summer fruit and the merchants' fraud verse by verse.

Amos 8 CommentaryAm 8 Commentary Precept Austin

Collects classic verse-by-verse commentary excerpts on the chapter.

Amos 8:4 CommentariesAm 8:4 Commentaries BibleHub

Lines up multiple historic commentaries side by side on the opening verse.

Amos 8 (Gill's Exposition)Am 8 (Gill's Exposition) StudyLight

Gives John Gill's full exposition of the oracle against dishonest merchants.

Commentary on Amos 8:4-7Commentary on Am 8:4-7 Working Preacher

The one Lutheran-tradition voice on Amos's indictment of economic exploitation.

Background & Word Study

Amos 8:4 InterlinearAm 8:4 Interlinear BibleHub

Shows the underlying Hebrew word by word.

Book of Amos OverviewBook of Am Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of Amos's message of justice for the poor.

Amos 8:4-7Am 8:4-7 Sefaria

Reads the oracle in the original Hebrew alongside an English translation.

Art & Music

Art, music and hymns for Amos 8:4-7Art, music and hymns for Am 8:4-7 Vanderbilt

The Vanderbilt Divinity Library index of visual art, hymns and music chosen for this reading.

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