Reference

Amos 1:6

Literal FulfillmentPunishment LanguageProphetic Methods of Communication
“Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:”
4

But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Ben–hadad.

5

I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the Lord.

6

Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:

7

But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:

8

And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord God.

Why This Verse Was Tagged

Literal Fulfillment
Keyword Match
80% relevance

This verse contains specific terms directly associated with this theme.

Punishment Language
Keyword Match
90% relevance

This verse contains specific terms directly associated with this theme.

Prophetic Methods of Communication
Keyword Match
70% relevance

This verse contains specific terms directly associated with this theme.

Counter-Arguments

The strongest case that this verse does not belong in this theme.

Literal Fulfillment

While the verse describes a past historical event, the "three transgressions... and for four" formula is a literary device indicating numerous offenses, not a literal count, which could be interpreted as a symbolic rather than strictly literal accounting of their sins.

Punishment Language

The verse does not explicitly use any of the keywords listed in the theme definition, such as "punish," "torment," or "vengeance."

Prophetic Methods of Communication

The verse states "Thus saith the Lord," indicating the *source* of the message, but it does not describe *how* Amos received this message (e.g., through a dream, vision, or audible voice). Therefore, it does not detail any specific prophetic method of communication.

Literal Fulfillment
Literal Fulfillment

Cross-References

1 Samuel 6:17Thematic

“And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the Lord; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;”

Obadiah 1:11Thematic

“In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.”

Amos 1:11Thematic

“Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:”

Amos 1:9Thematic

“Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:”

Zephaniah 2:4Thematic

“For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.”

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Thematic Connections

Literal FulfillmentPunishment LanguageProphetic Methods of Communication

Private Study Note