Amos 3:15
New International Version
I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed and the mansions will be demolished,” declares the LORD.

New Living Translation
And I will destroy the beautiful homes of the wealthy— their winter mansions and their summer houses, too— all their palaces filled with ivory,” says the LORD.

English Standard Version
I will strike the winter house along with the summer house, and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall come to an end,” declares the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses of ivory will also perish, and the great houses will come to an end,” declares the LORD.

King James Bible
And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.

New King James Version
I will destroy the winter house along with the summer house; The houses of ivory shall perish, And the great houses shall have an end,” Says the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
“I will also strike the winter house together with the summer house; The houses of ivory will also perish, And the great houses will come to an end,” Declares the LORD.

NASB 1995
“I will also smite the winter house together with the summer house; The houses of ivory will also perish And the great houses will come to an end,” Declares the LORD.

NASB 1977
“I will also smite the winter house together with the summer house; The houses of ivory will also perish And the great houses will come to an end,” Declares the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
I will also strike the winter house together with the summer house; The houses of ivory will also perish, And the great houses will come to an end,” Declares Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
“And I shall tear down the winter house with the summer house; And the houses of ivory shall also perish And the great houses shall come to an end,” Says the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
I will demolish the winter house and the summer house; the houses inlaid with ivory will be destroyed, and the great houses will come to an end. This is the LORD’s declaration.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will demolish the winter house and the summer house; the houses inlaid with ivory will be destroyed, and the great houses will come to an end. This is the LORD’s declaration.

American Standard Version
And I will smite the winter-house with the summer-house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
I will tear down winter homes and summer homes. Houses decorated with ivory and all other mansions will be gone forever. I, the LORD, have spoken!

English Revised Version
And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will tear down winter houses as well as summer houses. Houses [decorated] with ivory will be destroyed. Mansions will be demolished, declares the LORD.

Good News Translation
I will destroy winter houses and summer houses. The houses decorated with ivory will fall in ruins; every large house will be destroyed."

International Standard Version
I will wreck both the winter house and the summer house, and the ivory houses will fall. These palaces will surely fall," declares the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses of ivory will also perish, and the great houses will come to an end,? declares the LORD.

NET Bible
I will destroy both the winter and summer houses. The houses filled with ivory will be ruined, the great houses will be swept away." The LORD is speaking!

New Heart English Bible
I will strike the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory will perish, and the great houses will have an end," says the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I will smite the winter-house with the summer-house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.

World English Bible
I will strike the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory will perish, and the great houses will have an end,” says Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I have struck the winter-house with the summer-house, "" And houses of ivory have perished, "" And many houses have been consumed,” "" A declaration of YHWH!

Young's Literal Translation
And I have smitten the winter-house with the summer-house, And perished have houses of ivory, And consumed have been many houses, An affirmation of Jehovah!

Smith's Literal Translation
And I struck the house of autumn with the house of summer; and the houses of ivory perished, and the great houses were taken away, says Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will strike the winter house with the summer house: and the houses of ivory shall perish, and many houses shall be destroyed, saith the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I will strike the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory will perish, and many buildings will be torn apart, says the Lord.

New American Bible
I will strike the winter house and the summer house; The houses of ivory shall lie in ruin, and their many rooms shall be no more— oracle of the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
I will tear down the winter house as well as the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall come to an end, says the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I will destroy the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and great houses shall be demolished, says the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I shall destroy the winter house with the summer house, and the houses of ivory shall be destroyed and many households will cease to exist, says LORD JEHOVAH
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I will smite the winter-house with the summer-house; And the houses of ivory shall perish, And the great houses shall have an end, Saith the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I will crush and smite the turreted-house upon the summer-house; and the ivory-houses shall be destroyed, and many other houses also, saith the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Witnesses Against Israel
14On the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off, and they will fall to the ground. 15I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses of ivory will also perish, and the great houses will come to an end,” declares the LORD.

Cross References
Isaiah 5:8-9
Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field until no place is left and you live alone in the land. / I heard the LORD of Hosts declare: “Surely many houses will become desolate, great mansions left unoccupied.

Micah 2:2
They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.

Zephaniah 1:13
Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine.

Jeremiah 5:27-29
Like cages full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become powerful and rich. / They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy. / Should I not punish them for these things?” declares the LORD. “Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?

Hosea 8:14
Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; Judah has multiplied its fortified cities. But I will send fire upon their cities, and it will consume their citadels.

Isaiah 9:10
“The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with finished stone; the sycamores have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.”

Isaiah 32:13-14
and for the land of my people, overgrown with thorns and briers—even for every house of merriment in this city of revelry. / For the palace will be forsaken, the busy city abandoned. The hill and the watchtower will become caves forever—the delight of wild donkeys and a pasture for flocks—

Ezekiel 7:24
So I will bring the most wicked of nations to take possession of their houses. I will end the pride of the mighty, and their holy places will be profaned.

1 Kings 22:39
As for the rest of the acts of Ahab, along with all his accomplishments and the ivory palace and all the cities he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

2 Kings 21:13
I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab, and I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes out a bowl—wiping it and turning it upside down.

Luke 12:18-20
Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. / Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ / But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

James 5:1-3
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 16:19-31
Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. / And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores / and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. ...

Revelation 18:14-17
And they will say: “The fruit of your soul’s desire has departed from you; all your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be seen again.” / The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn, / saying: “Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! ...


Treasury of Scripture

And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, said the LORD.

the winter.

Jeremiah 36:22
Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.

the summer.

Judges 3:20
And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.

the houses.

1 Kings 22:39
Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

the great.

Amos 3:11
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.

Amos 6:11
For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts.

Isaiah 5:9
In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.

Jump to Previous
Adorned Affirmation Consumed Declares Demolished Destroyed Destruction End Falling Great House Houses Ivory Mansions Perish Perished Smite Smitten Strike Summer Summer-House Tear Together Winter Winter-House
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Adorned Affirmation Consumed Declares Demolished Destroyed Destruction End Falling Great House Houses Ivory Mansions Perish Perished Smite Smitten Strike Summer Summer-House Tear Together Winter Winter-House
Amos 3
1. The necessity of God's judgment against Israel.
9. The publication of it, with the causes thereof.














I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house;
This phrase indicates the wealth and luxury of the Israelites during the time of Amos. Wealthy individuals often had multiple residences, including separate houses for different seasons. The winter house would be designed to retain heat, while the summer house would be built to stay cool. This reflects the opulence and complacency of the upper class, who were living in comfort while neglecting justice and righteousness. The tearing down of these houses symbolizes God's judgment against their materialism and moral decay. This judgment is consistent with the broader theme of Amos, where God condemns the social injustices and idolatry of Israel.

the houses of ivory will also perish,
Houses of ivory refer to homes adorned with ivory decorations, a sign of extreme wealth and luxury. Archaeological findings in Samaria have uncovered ivory inlays, confirming the historical accuracy of such descriptions. This opulence was often gained at the expense of the poor, highlighting the social injustices prevalent in Israel. The destruction of these houses signifies the end of an era of indulgence and the divine retribution for the exploitation and idolatry that characterized the society. This imagery is echoed in other prophetic books, such as Isaiah and Ezekiel, where God condemns the pride and excess of the people.

and the great houses will come to an end,”
The great houses symbolize not only physical structures but also the societal structures and power of the elite. Their end signifies a complete upheaval of the social order, where the powerful and wealthy will face the consequences of their actions. This is a common theme in prophetic literature, where God promises to humble the proud and exalt the humble. The phrase also foreshadows the eventual fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom to the Assyrians in 722 BC, fulfilling the prophetic warnings of Amos and other prophets.

declares the LORD.
This declaration emphasizes the authority and certainty of the prophecy. It is not merely Amos speaking, but the LORD Himself, underscoring the divine origin and inevitability of the judgment. The use of "declares the LORD" is a common prophetic formula that assures the audience of the truth and seriousness of the message. It serves as a reminder that the words spoken are not human opinions but divine mandates, reinforcing the call to repentance and the warning of impending judgment.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Amos
A prophet from Tekoa, a small town in Judah, who was called by God to deliver messages of judgment to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

2. Israel
The Northern Kingdom, which had fallen into idolatry and social injustice, prompting God's judgment through Amos.

3. Winter House and Summer House
Symbols of wealth and luxury, indicating the opulence and complacency of the Israelite elite.

4. Houses of Ivory
Lavish homes adorned with ivory, representing excessive indulgence and the exploitation of the poor.

5. The LORD
The sovereign God who declares judgment on Israel for their sins and injustices.
Teaching Points
God's Judgment on Materialism
The destruction of the winter and summer houses signifies God's disapproval of excessive wealth and materialism. Believers are called to examine their own lives for areas where material possessions may have taken precedence over spiritual values.

Social Justice and Compassion
The opulence of the houses of ivory highlights the disparity between the rich and the poor. Christians are encouraged to pursue justice and show compassion to those in need, reflecting God's heart for the marginalized.

The Temporary Nature of Earthly Wealth
The end of the great houses serves as a reminder that earthly wealth is temporary. Believers should focus on storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth.

Repentance and Humility
The passage calls for repentance from pride and self-indulgence. Christians are urged to live humbly, recognizing their dependence on God rather than on material wealth.(15) Houses.--It is uncertain whether by "winter and summer houses" are meant two classes of royal abodes, or different chambers of the same house (Judges 3:20; Jeremiah 36:22, are compatible with either). "Ivory houses" mean mansions adorned with ivory. For "great houses" should be read many houses.

Verse 15. - The winter house. The luxurious habits of kings and princes had led them to have different houses for the various seasons of the year, facing north or south as the case might be (comp. Judges 3:20; Jeremiah 36:22). Septuagint, τὸν οϊκον τὸν περίπτερον, "the turreted house," which Jerome explains, Domum pinnatam, eo quod ostiola habeat per fenestras, et quasi pinnas, ad magnitudinem frigoris depellendam. Houses of ivory; panelled or inlaid with ivory, such as Ahab had (1 Kings 22:39). Solomon's throne was thus decorated (1 Kings 10:18; comp. Psalm 45:8). (For the Assyrian practice of veneering in ivory, see Rawlinson, 'Ancient Monarchies,' 1:463; comp. also Homer, 'Od.,' 4:73; Virgil, 'AEneid,' 6:895.) The great houses; better, many houses; Septuagint, ἕτεροι οϊκοι πολλοί, "many other houses." Not only palaces, but many private houses, shall be destroyed (comp. Isaiah 5:9, where the same words are used).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I will tear down
וְהִכֵּיתִ֥י (wə·hik·kê·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

the winter
הַחֹ֖רֶף (ha·ḥō·rep̄)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2779: The crop gathered, the autumn, season, ripeness of age

house
בֵית־ (ḇêṯ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

along with
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the summer
הַקָּ֑יִץ (haq·qā·yiṣ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7019: To awake

house;
בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

the houses
בָּתֵּ֣י (bāt·tê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of ivory
הַשֵּׁ֗ן (haš·šên)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 8127: A tooth, ivory, a cliff

will also perish,
וְאָבְד֞וּ (wə·’ā·ḇə·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6: To wander away, lose oneself, to perish

and the mansions
רַבִּ֖ים (rab·bîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

will come to an end,”
וְסָפ֛וּ (wə·sā·p̄ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5486: To snatch away, terminate

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT Prophets: Amos 3:15 I will strike the winter house (Amo. Am)
Amos 3:14
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