Amos 1:11

This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Edom, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and stifled all compassion; his anger raged continually, and his fury flamed incessantly.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet Amos delivers a divine oracle pronouncing judgment on neighboring nations, specifically targeting Edom immediately after condemning Tyre in the preceding verse. The message functions as the fourth declaration in a sequential series of judgments against Israel's neighbors.

The words — כֹּ֚ה (koh) translates as "thus," anchoring the declaration in direct divine speech. פִּשְׁעֵ֣י (pish.'Ei) means "transgressions," marking the specific breaches that trigger the stated refusal to revoke judgment.

The thread — The condemnation of Edom for violence against Judah recurs in Ezekiel 25:12, while the historical tension between the two nations is recorded in Numbers 20:14 and 2 Chronicles 28:17. This pattern establishes Edom as a recurring biblical example of covenantal hostility.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that sustained, unrepentant violence against kin provokes definitive divine judgment. It requires the reader to confront the consequence of refusing compassion when wielding power.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

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:

Cross-references

Ezekiel 25:12 This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and in so doing incurred grievous guilt,
Numbers 20:14 From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us,
2 Chronicles 28:17 The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away captives.
Joel 3:19 Egypt will become desolate, and Edom a desert wasteland, because of the violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood.
Malachi 1:4 Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever.
Psalms 137:7 Remember, O LORD, the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell: “Destroy it,” they said, “tear it down to its foundations!”
Jeremiah 49:7 Concerning Edom, this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed?
Ezekiel 35:1 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Obadiah 1:1 This is the vision of Obadiah: This is what the Lord GOD says about Edom—We have heard a message from the LORD; an envoy has been sent among the nations to say, “Rise up, and let us go to battle against her!”—
Deuteronomy 2:4 and command the people: ‘You will pass through the territory of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so you must be very careful.