Lexical Summary demesheq: cover Original Word: דְּמֶשֶׁק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance in Damascus By orthographical variation from Dammeseq; damask (as a fabric of Damascus) -- in Damascus. see HEBREW Dammeseq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition perhaps silk NASB Translation cover (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs דְּמֶשֶׁק noun [masculine] ? Amos 3:12 עָ֑רֶשׂ ׳וּבִד; punctuation & meaning dubious: all ancient Vrss דַּמֶּשֶׂק, and so Pusey HoffmZAW iii. 102 ('in Damascus on a couch') al., yet this hardly suitable in context; Thes Hi Ew Baer Ke Gunning RV and others follow ᵑ0, & render damask, silk, etc. (Arabic  , connection with city דַּמֶּשֶׂק (Arabic  ) disputed; according to Frä40. 288 Arabic  is by metath. from  , & this a loan-word from Syriac  , & this from Greek μέταξα (Old Latin metaxa)). דָּן see below דין. דָּנִאֵל see below דין. דנג (√ of following, meaning unknown). Topical Lexicon Overview The term דְּמֶשֶׁק in Amos 3:12 is a spelling variant of “Damascus,” the ancient Aramean capital situated on the main caravan route linking Mesopotamia, Canaan, and Egypt. Though the particular form occurs only once, the city itself is mentioned frequently in Scripture and carries layers of historical, prophetic, and theological meaning. Geographical and Historical Profile Damascus lies on a well-watered oasis fed by the Barada River at the foot of the Anti-Lebanon range. Its fertile environs, strategic crossroads, and proximity to the coastal ports of Phoenicia made it an enduring commercial hub. Archaeology confirms occupation from the third millennium BC, corroborating the Bible’s picture of an old and influential city. Damascus in the Patriarchal and Monarchical Periods • Genesis 15:2 records Abraham’s steward “Eliezer of Damascus,” showing the city’s prominence even in the patriarchal age. Prophetic Oracles Concerning Damascus Several prophets speak against Damascus: The Unique Reference in Amos 3:12 “As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites dwelling in Samaria will be rescued—with only the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch” (Amos 3:12). 1. Setting: Amos confronts the northern kingdom’s elite, who lounge in luxury while oppression spreads. Spiritual Themes and Ministry Significance • False Security: Wealth, comfort, and international alliances (embodied by Damascus exports) cannot shield a nation from the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness. Damascus in the New Testament The city re-enters salvation history when Saul of Tarsus encounters the risen Christ on the “road to Damascus” (Acts 9; 22; 26). This dramatic transformation of a persecutor into an apostle illustrates the prophetic vision of nations once hostile to God becoming instruments of the gospel. Lessons for Contemporary Discipleship 1. Reject complacency—luxury can dull spiritual vigilance. Summary דְּמֶשֶׁק in Amos 3:12 serves as a poignant reminder that no fortress of prosperity can withstand the verdict of a righteous God. Yet Damascus’s later role in the spread of the gospel testifies that divine judgment and mercy together fulfill God’s redemptive purposes. Forms and Transliterations וּבִדְמֶ֥שֶׁק ובדמשק ū·ḇiḏ·me·šeq ūḇiḏmešeq uvidMeshekLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Amos 3:12 HEB: בִּפְאַ֥ת מִטָּ֖ה וּבִדְמֶ֥שֶׁק עָֽרֶשׂ׃ NAS: of a bed and [the] cover of a couch! KJV: of a bed, and in Damascus [in] a couch. INT: With corner of a bed and cover of a couch 1 Occurrence |
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