Amos 6:12
Shall horses runne vpon the rocke? wil one plow there with oxen? for ye haue turned iudgement into gall, and the fruite of righteousnesse into hemlocke. Amos 6:12 (KJV)
Shall horses run upon the rock? will
one plow
there
with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock: Amos 6:12 (KJV)
Amos was a prophet who lived during the reign of Jeroboam II in the northern kingdom of Israel, around the eighth century BC. His ministry focused on denouncing the social injustices and moral decay that had taken root in Israel at that time. The quotation that follows is correctly found in Amos 5:12‑13, not in Amos 6:12, and it forms part of a larger passage in which the prophet pronounces judgment on the wealthy and powerful individuals who had corrupted the nation.
“For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.” This declaration emphasizes God’s omniscience—He is fully aware of the multitude (“manifold”) and severity (“mighty”) of the people’s sins. The phrase “they afflict the just” reveals how those in authority were oppressing the righteous, causing hardship and suffering for those who sought to live uprightly.
“They take a bribe” exposes the corruption that had infiltrated the judicial system. The powerful accepted bribes, thereby compromising the fairness of legal decisions and allowing personal gain to override God’s law. “They turn aside the poor in the gate from their right” points to the manipulation of the city gate—the place where legal matters were settled—to deny the poor their rightful protection and judgment. By perverting justice, the elite showed partiality toward themselves and exploitation toward the vulnerable.
Overall, Amos 5:12‑13 highlights the moral and social decay present in Israel during the prophet’s day. Through this vivid indictment, God, through Amos, confronts the powerful who oppress the righteous, engage in bribery, and exploit the poor. The passage serves as a timeless reminder of God’s deep concern for justice and His condemnation of any system that perpetuates injustice and mistreats fellow human beings.
