Amos 5:25 – How can Amos assert that Israel did not offer sacrifices in the wilderness when Exodus and Leviticus detail extensive sacrificial ordinances?

I. Background of Amos 5:25

Amos 5:25 reads: “Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?” At first glance, this appears to conflict with multiple passages in Exodus and Leviticus that highlight Israel’s sacrificial system. Readers may wonder how Amos could assert that Israel was not sacrificing, when other parts of Scripture regulate and report on precisely those sacrifices.

Amos ministers during a time when the people are steeped in outward religious behavior but inwardly guilty of injustice and idolatry. This tension underlies his question and is consistent with the overall message of the prophets, who frequently stress that the heart condition of the worshiper is as critical—if not more so—than the outward act of sacrifice.

II. The Textual Context of Amos 5

Amos 5 contains a broader condemnation of Israel’s complacent and hypocritical worship. Verse 21 states, “I hate, I despise your feasts; I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies”, demonstrating divine displeasure with mere ritualism. Verse 24 calls for “justice” and “righteousness,” underscoring that sacrifices alone cannot atone for a rebellious heart or an unjust society. Amos 5:25 should be understood within this polemic against empty ritual and idolatry.

III. Comparative Passages in Exodus and Leviticus

1. Sacrificial Instructions

Exodus and Leviticus provide detailed instructions for burnt offerings, grain offerings, sin offerings, and more. Exodus 29:38–42, for example, addresses daily offerings on the altar. Leviticus 1–7 outlines the nature and method of various sacrifices. These texts confirm that sacrifices were indeed intended to be made while Israel journeyed and once they were in the land.

2. Observed Worship in the Wilderness

Reality also points to instances of actual wilderness sacrifices (e.g., Exodus 24:4–8, where young Israelite men make offerings at Sinai). Numbers 7 documents offerings from the chiefs of each tribe at the dedication of the Tabernacle. These snapshots underscore that sacrifices did take place.

The question arises: if Exodus and Leviticus detail regulations and actual sacrificial practice, what does Amos mean by suggesting sacrifices were not brought?

IV. Possible Explanations to Harmonize the Passages

1. Rhetorical Emphasis rather than Literal Denial

Many interpreters note that Amos is using emphatic language. The prophet’s question in 5:25 is rhetorical: it highlights that while limited sacrifices may have occurred, Israel’s hearts were not engaged in genuine worship of the true God. The phrase “Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings” can function to stress that they did not truly honor the Lord with their hearts.

2. Idolatry Overshadowing True Worship

Amos 5:26–27 continues by naming foreign gods like Sikkuth and Kaiwan, indicating Israel’s worship was mixed with idolatry. Archaeological and textual evidence from ancient Near Eastern cultures (such as recovered idol fragments and references in the Ras Shamra texts) confirm how quickly the Israelites were tempted by local deities. Sacrificial regulations might have been overshadowed by the people’s frequent lapses into idolatry, causing Amos to say that their offerings, for all practical purposes, were not genuine.

3. Relative Scarcity or Neglect of Sacrifices in the Wilderness

While the law was given, the actual practice might have been sporadic. The Tabernacle system was portable and newly established. Amos, focusing on the people’s hard-heartedness, points out that they failed to uphold the covenant in spirit. Some scholars argue the reference involves the bulk, consistency, or sincerity of sacrifices, rather than outright claiming no sacrifices occurred at all.

4. Divine Priority on Obedience over Ritual

Several prophetic passages mirror a similar sentiment. Jeremiah 7:22–23 reads, “For when I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to them or command them concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them: ‘Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people.’” This underscores that the heart of God’s covenant is faithfulness, which stands above ceremonial obligations. Amos 5:25 draws on the same idea, showing that a faithless people performing routine sacrifices are viewed as though they have not offered anything truly acceptable to God.

V. The Significance of Stephen’s Reference in Acts 7:42–43

In Acts 7:42–43, Stephen quotes directly from Amos 5:25–27, applying it to the history of Israel’s idolatry. He underscores that Israel repeatedly wandered into worship of pagan deities, even while God’s commands were in place. Stephen illustrates that true faith is not a matter of external ceremonies alone but of genuine loyalty to the divine will. This alignment with Amos further supports the rhetorical perspective: empty worship equates to no true worship at all.

VI. Historical and Theological Synthesis

1. Scripture’s Cohesive Message

Within Scripture’s overarching story, there is no contradiction between Amos and the books of Exodus and Leviticus. Rather, there is a unified theme: the Lord desires heartfelt devotion. Rhetorical or polemic language is often employed by the prophets to shock and convict. Amos 5:25 challenges Israel by highlighting that a nation indulging in idolatry and injustice effectively nullifies its offerings before God.

2. Consistency of Biblical Manuscripts

Textual scholarship on both Amos and the Pentateuch underscores remarkable consistency across ancient manuscripts (e.g., the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Septuagint traditions), showcasing the evidential reliability of the Bible. These witness streams preserve the same core messages: genuine worship must be accompanied by right attitude and moral obedience.

3. Application to Worship and Character

This question about apparent contradiction reminds readers that biblical teaching is layered. The external action of sacrifice cannot replace a consecrated heart. This was true for Israel and remains a principle for all time: outward religious activity without sincere internal devotion fails to honor the Creator.

VII. Conclusion

Amos 5:25 does not undermine the sacrificial narratives or commandments of Exodus and Leviticus; rather, it forcefully addresses the spiritual condition of the wilderness generation—and by extension, Amos’s own contemporaries—who offered sacrifices in form but often fell into idolatry and rebellion in practice. The question is framed to show that mechanical fulfillment of ritual does not constitute faithful obedience. The prophets, and later Jesus Himself, consistently reminded God’s people that authentic worship is anchored in devotion, purity of heart, and alignment with God’s righteousness.

Amos’s words remain pertinent: sincerity in worship must accompany any sacrifice or religious observance. The heart of the message is that the Lord desires faith and obedience, not mere ritual. Far from an inconsistency in Scripture, Amos 5:25 complements the broader biblical theme that genuine, God-centered devotion is the true goal of all offerings and sacrifices.