Amos 3:14"For in the day that I visit the transgressions of Israel on him, I will also visit the altars of Bethel; and the horns of the altar will be cut off, and fall to the ground.
The setting
Bethel, Northern Israel, ~760 BC. Amos points to the sacred altar where people sacrifice while oppressing the poor...
The emotion here: shepherd watching wolves destroy the flock while wearing shepherd's clothing
The original word
qarnôt (קרנות) — horns of the altar, where people grabbed for sanctuary and mercy
Why it matters
The altar horns were the holiest part — criminals could grab them and claim asylum
Read with care
What most readers miss in Amos 3:14
Destroying the horns means no more sanctuary — even the place of mercy becomes powerless.
Common misconceptionPeople think this is just about pagan idols, but Bethel was where Jacob met God. Amos is saying even your most sacred places can become corrupt when divorced from justice.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Amos 3:14
Bible Genome reading
Amos 3:14 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Amos 3:14 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 10% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include false worship, judgment. Notable phrases: visit transgressions; altars of Bethel. 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 3:14 mean to you, today?
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