Amos 1:6Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Gaza, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they carried away captive the whole community, to deliver them up to Edom;
The setting
Gaza, Philistine stronghold on Mediterranean coast, ~760 BC. Amos condemns their slave trade empire...
The emotion here: moral outrage at dehumanization of entire communities
The original word
galah (גָּלָה) — exile or deportation, forcibly removing people from homeland
Why it matters
Gaza was the ancient world's major slave trading port - like a human trafficking hub
Read with care
What most readers miss in Amos 1:6
The 'three... yes, four' formula means the fourth crime was the final straw that triggered judgment
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about ancient warfare, but it's specifically about human trafficking - Gaza captured people and sold them like cargo to Edom.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Amos 1:6
Bible Genome reading
Amos 1:6 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Amos 1:6 comes from the book of Amos, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to God. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine judgment, human trafficking. Notable phrases: three transgressions; carried away captive. This verse contains a promise of God. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Amos 1:6 mean to you, today?
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