Amos 8:5Saying, 'When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may market wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel large, and dealing falsely with balances of deceit;
The setting
Samaria marketplace, ~760 BC. Sabbath evening. Merchants fidget in synagogue, mentally calculating tomorrow's profits. They've already prepared false weights and short measures for morning...
The emotion here: shepherd's disgust at religious pretense masking greed
The original word
ephah (אֵיפָה) — standard grain measure, about 22 liters; making it 'small' meant giving less while charging full price
Why it matters
Archaeological digs have found multiple sets of weights in merchant houses — heavy ones for buying, light ones for selling
Read with care
What most readers miss in Amos 8:5
The 'new moon' was also a religious holiday — they're frustrated by TWO sacred days blocking their greed
Common misconceptionThis isn't about Sabbath-keeping rules — it's about hearts so consumed with money that sacred time becomes an interruption rather than a gift.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Amos 8:5
Bible Genome reading
Amos 8:5 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Amos 8:5 comes from the book of Amos, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Amos. 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 greed, dishonesty. Notable phrases: new moon be gone; Sabbath; sell grain. 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 8:5 mean to you, today?
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