“But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, and commanded the prophets, saying, ‘Don’t prophesy!’
Parallel translations
- KJV But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.
- BSB “But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.
- NKJV “But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, And commanded the prophets saying, ‘Do not prophesy!’
- NASB “But you made the Nazirites drink wine, And you commanded the prophets, saying, ‘You shall not prophesy!’
- NLT “But you caused the Nazirites to sin by making them drink wine, and you commanded the prophets, ‘Shut up!’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Israel corrupted the Nazirites with wine and silenced the prophets. They actively suppressed the holiness and truth God had given them.
Overview
Rather than honoring God's gifts, Israel defiled the Nazirites by breaking their vow of abstinence and commanded the prophets to stop speaking. This is willful resistance to God's word and witness. Silencing the prophets is among the gravest sins of a people. It anticipates the rejection of Christ and his messengers, yet God's word cannot ultimately be silenced.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Amos 7:13but don’t prophesy again any more at Bethel; for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a royal house!”
- Isa 30:10who tell the seers, “Don’t see!” and to the prophets, “Don’t prophesy to us right things. Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy deceits.
- Mic 2:6“Don’t prophesy!” They prophesy. “Don’t prophesy about these things. Disgrace won’t overtake us.”
- Jer 11:21“Therefore Yahweh says concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, ‘You shall not prophesy in Yahweh’s name, that you not die by our hand;’
- Amos 7:16Now therefore listen to Yahweh’s word: ‘You say, Don’t prophesy against Israel, and don’t preach against the house of Isaac.’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Amid judgment on injustice, Amos promises the raising up of David's fallen tent — read by James in Acts 15 as the ingathering of the nations into the kingdom of the risen Christ.
How Amos 2:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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