Amos 3:15

← Amos 3:14 →

Amos 3:15 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

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 Version KJV

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.

American Standard Version ASV

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.

Bible in Basic English BBE

And I will send destruction on the winter house with the summer house; the ivory houses will be falling down and the great houses will come to an end, says the Lord.

Free Bible Version FBV

I will tear down their winter houses and their summer houses as well, their houses filled with ivory will be ruined—their many houses will be destroyed.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

And I wil smite the winter house with the sommer house, and the houses of yuorie shall perish, and the great houses shalbe consumed, sayth the Lord.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

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!

World English Bible WEB

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.

Noah Webster Bible WBS

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.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

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.

Translation for Translators T4T

I will cause the houses that they live in during the ◄winter/rainy season► and those in which they live during the ◄summer/dry season► to be torn down. Beautiful big houses and houses that are decorated with ivory will be destroyed. That will surely happen because I, Yahweh, have said it!”

Study Highlights

Key words in the translations above are automatically highlighted. Names of God and Jesus are marked in purple, the Holy Spirit in orange, divine action verbs are underlined, and repeated key words are highlighted in yellow.

Enable Study Highlights

God & Jesus

Holy Spirit

Divine Actions

Repeated Words

Berean Amplified Bible — Amos 3:15

BAB

Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Amos 3:15 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

HEB וְ/הִכֵּיתִ֥י בֵית הַ/חֹ֖רֶף עַל בֵּ֣ית הַ/קָּ֑יִץ וְ/אָבְד֞וּ בָּתֵּ֣י הַ/שֵּׁ֗ן וְ/סָפ֛וּ בָּתִּ֥ים רַבִּ֖ים נְאֻם יְהוָֽה

וְ/הִכֵּיתִ֥י nâkâh H5221 to smite Conj | V-Hiphil-1cs

בֵית bayith H1004 place N-ms

הַ/חֹ֖רֶף chôreph H2779 autumn Art | N-ms

עַל ʻal H5921 upon Prep

בֵּ֣ית bayith H1004 place N-ms

הַ/קָּ֑יִץ qayits H7019 summer Art | N-ms

וְ/אָבְד֞וּ ʼâbad H6 to perish Conj | V-Qal-3cp

בָּתֵּ֣י bayith H1004 place N-mp

הַ/שֵּׁ֗ן shên H8127 tooth Art | N-cs

וְ/סָפ֛וּ çûwph H5486 to cease Conj | V-Qal-3cp

בָּתִּ֥ים bayith H1004 place N-mp

רַבִּ֖ים rab H7227 many Adj

נְאֻם nᵉʼum H5002 utterance N-ms

יְהוָֽה Yᵉhôvâh H3068 The Lord N-proper

Hebrew Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.

Hebrew Word Reference — Amos 3:15

וְ/הִכֵּיתִ֥י nâkâh H5221 "to smite" Conj | V-Hiphil-1cs

In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to strike or hit something, and it's used in many different ways, like in Exodus when God strikes down the Egyptians. It can also mean to punish or destroy, as seen in Isaiah. The word is used to describe God's judgment.

Definition: 1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill 1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten 1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust 1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast) 1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage 1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy 1d) (Hophal) to be smitten 1d1) to receive a blow 1d2) to be wounded 1d3) to be beaten 1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain 1d5) to be attacked and captured 1d6) to be smitten (with disease) 1d7) to be blighted (of plants)

Usage: Occurs in 461 OT verses. KJV: beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound. See also: Genesis 4:15; Joshua 10:20; 1 Samuel 29:5.

בֵית bayith H1004 "place" N-ms

The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.

Definition: nm place, origin, between

Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.

הַ/חֹ֖רֶף chôreph H2779 "autumn" Art | N-ms

Choreph refers to autumn or harvest time, also implying ripeness of age. In the Bible, it is used to describe the changing of seasons. The KJV translates it as cold, winter, or youth.

Definition: 1) harvest time, autumn 2) (CLBL) winter

Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: cold, winter (-house), youth. See also: Genesis 8:22; Proverbs 20:4; Psalms 74:17.

עַל ʻal H5921 "upon" Prep

This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.

Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)

Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.

בֵּ֣ית bayith H1004 "place" N-ms

Definition: nm place, origin, between

הַ/קָּ֑יִץ qayits H7019 "summer" Art | N-ms

The Hebrew word for summer refers to the harvest season or the fruit of that season, and is also used to describe the dry summer months, as seen in its Aramaic equivalent.

Definition: 1) summer, summer-fruit 1a) summer 1b) summer-fruit Aramaic equivalent: qa.yit (קַ֫יִט "summer" H7007)

Usage: Occurs in 20 OT verses. KJV: summer (fruit, house). See also: Genesis 8:22; Isaiah 28:4; Psalms 32:4.

וְ/אָבְד֞וּ ʼâbad H6 "to perish" Conj | V-Qal-3cp

To perish means to be destroyed or lost, whether it's a person, animal, or thing, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.

Definition: 1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) perish, die, be exterminated 1a2) perish, vanish (fig.) 1a3) be lost, strayed 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate 1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.) 1b3) cause to stray, lose 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to destroy, put to death 1c1a) of divine judgment 1c2) object name of kings (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)

Usage: Occurs in 174 OT verses. KJV: break, destroy(-uction), [phrase] not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, [idiom] and surely, take, be undone, [idiom] utterly, be void of, have no way to flee. See also: Exodus 10:7; Psalms 112:10; Psalms 1:6.

בָּתֵּ֣י bayith H1004 "place" N-mp

Definition: nm place, origin, between

הַ/שֵּׁ֗ן shên H8127 "tooth" Art | N-cs

The Hebrew word for tooth can also mean ivory or a sharp cliff. It is used in the Bible to describe the teeth of humans and animals, as well as sharp rocks, and is often translated as tooth or ivory.

Definition: : tooth 1) tooth, ivory 1a) tooth 1a1) of man, lex talionis, beast 1b) tooth, tine (of fork) 1c) ivory 1c1) as material 1c2) of commerce 1d) sharp pointed rock

Usage: Occurs in 48 OT verses. KJV: crag, [idiom] forefront, ivory, [idiom] sharp, tooth. See also: Genesis 49:12; Psalms 57:5; Psalms 3:8.

וְ/סָפ֛וּ çûwph H5486 "to cease" Conj | V-Qal-3cp

This Hebrew word means to cease or come to an end, often used to describe the end of something, like a period of time or a life. It is used in the Bible to describe the end of a season or a person's life, as seen in the book of Psalms.

Definition: 1) to cease, come to an end 1a) (Qal) to come to an end 1b) (Hiphil) to make an end Aramaic equivalent: suph (סוּף "be fulfilled" H5487)

Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: consume, have an end, perish, [idiom] be utterly. See also: Esther 9:28; Jeremiah 8:13; Psalms 73:19.

בָּתִּ֥ים bayith H1004 "place" N-mp

Definition: nm place, origin, between

רַבִּ֖ים rab H7227 "many" Adj

This Hebrew word means a chief or captain, someone in charge. It is used in 2 Samuel 23:19 to describe a great and powerful man. The idea is one of leadership and authority.

Definition: adj 1) much, many, great 1a) much 1b) many 1c) abounding in 1d) more numerous than 1e) abundant, enough 1f) great 1g) strong 1h) greater than adv 1i) much, exceedingly

Usage: Occurs in 443 OT verses. KJV: (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent). See also: Genesis 6:5; 1 Kings 11:1; Psalms 3:2.

נְאֻם nᵉʼum H5002 "utterance" N-ms

This word refers to an utterance or declaration from God, often through a prophet. It is used in the Bible to describe a revelation or message from God, like in Exodus or Numbers.

Definition: 1) (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet) 1a) utterance, declaration, revelation (of prophet in ecstatic state) 1b) utterance, declaration (elsewhere always preceding divine name)

Usage: Occurs in 358 OT verses. KJV: (hath) said, saith. See also: Genesis 22:16; Jeremiah 22:16; Psalms 36:2.

יְהוָֽה Yᵉhôvâh H3068 "The Lord" N-proper

Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.

Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.

Study Notes — Amos 3:15

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
Amos 3:15 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Amos 3:15
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Amos 3:15
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Amos 3:15
Trapp's Commentary on Amos 3:15
Ellicott's Commentary on Amos 3:15
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Amos 3:15
Cambridge Bible on Amos 3:15
Barnes' Notes on Amos 3:15
Whedon's Commentary on Amos 3:15
Sermons on Amos 3:15

Context — Witnesses against Israel

13Hear and testify against the house of Jacob, declares the Lord GOD, the God of Hosts. 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

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	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	Jeremiah 36:22	Since it was the ninth month, the king was sitting in his winter quarters with a fire burning before him.
3	Amos 6:11	For the LORD gives a command: “The great house will be smashed to pieces, and the small house to rubble.”
4	Isaiah 5:9	I heard the LORD of Hosts declare: “Surely many houses will become desolate, great mansions left unoccupied.
5	Judges 3:20	Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in the coolness of his upper room. “I have a word from God for you,” Ehud said, and the king rose from his seat.
6	Psalms 45:8	All your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces of ivory the harps make you glad.
7	Amos 3:11	Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “An enemy will surround the land; he will pull down your strongholds and plunder your citadels.”

Amos 3:15 Summary

In Amos 3:15, God declares that He will tear down the luxurious homes of the wealthy because of their corruption and idolatry. This verse reminds us that true security and comfort come from God, not from our possessions or wealth (Psalm 37:3-7). As we reflect on this verse, we can ask ourselves if we are trusting in God or in our own resources. By simplifying our lives and focusing on what is truly important, we can avoid the temptation to trust in wealth and material possessions, and instead trust in God's goodness and provision (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the 'winter house' and 'summer house' refer to in Amos 3:15?

The 'winter house' and 'summer house' likely refer to the luxurious homes of the wealthy in Israel, who had multiple residences for different seasons, as seen in the lifestyles of the rich in Isaiah 5:11 and Amos 6:1-6.

What are the 'houses of ivory' mentioned in this verse?

The 'houses of ivory' in Amos 3:15 symbolize the extravagant and luxurious lifestyles of the wealthy, who adorned their homes with expensive materials like ivory, as mentioned in 1 Kings 22:39 and Psalm 45:8.

Why does God declare that He will tear down these houses?

God declares that He will tear down these houses because of the corruption, idolatry, and social injustice prevalent among the wealthy and powerful in Israel, as seen in Amos 2:6-8 and Micah 3:9-12.

What is the significance of God saying 'the great houses will come to an end'?

The statement 'the great houses will come to an end' signifies that God will bring judgment upon the proud and the arrogant, who trust in their wealth and power rather than in Him, as seen in Proverbs 16:18 and Isaiah 2:12.

Reflection Questions

What are the 'winter houses' and 'summer houses' in my life, and how can I ensure that I am not trusting in them for security and comfort?
In what ways can I simplify my life and focus on what is truly important, rather than accumulating wealth and material possessions?
How can I use my resources to serve others and bring glory to God, rather than using them to indulge in luxury and excess?
What are the 'ivory' decorations in my life, and how can I remove them to focus on a more humble and servant-hearted lifestyle?

Gill's Exposition on Amos 3:15

And I will smite the winter house with the summer house,.... Both the one and, the other shall fall to the ground, being beat down by the enemy, or shook and made to fall by the earthquake predicted,

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Amos 3:15

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.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Amos 3:15

I will smite; by the greatness of the desolation it shall appear that God did smite, though by the Assyrian; or perhaps it may refer to the earthquake foretold two years before it came, . The winter house; which probably was in the chief city, where the rich and great men retired in the winter time, as more for their delight than the country, horrid and cold, and stripped of its glory. The summer house; the houses of pleasure, where the nobles and rich men of Israel spent the summer time. The houses of ivory; not built with, but beautified with ivory, or the elephant’ s tooth, called here and elsewhere, by way of eminency, the tooth. Shall perish; by the violence of the enemies, these stately houses shall be ransacked first, and pulled down next, and left in rubbish. The great houses; or many, for the word includes both. The magnificent palaces of princes and the nobles of Israel shall have an end; shall cease for ever, either be utterly wasted, or cease to be theirs whose once they were. Saith the Lord; all this shall infallibly come to pass and be fulfilled in due time.

Trapp's Commentary on Amos 3:15

Amos 3:15 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.Ver. 15. And I will smite the winter house with the summer house] Heb. upon the summer house, I will lay them both on one heap; they shall one dash against the other. To have change of houses or of rooms in one house fit for the several seasons is not unlawful, so we set them not up by wrong dealing, nor set our hearts upon them ( Haec sunt quae nos invitos faciunt mori); for so we are apt to do (as Charles V, emperor, told the Duke of Venice, who had showed him his stately palace), and this brings a curse. And the houses of ivory] i.e. decked and enamelled, checkered and entrailed with ivory ( eboratus), as some sense it. Ahab had made him an ivory house, Heb. a house of tooth, i.e. of elephant’ s tooth: so did other kings (likely) after him. The Porphyrogeniti in Constantinople were born in a room made of porphyry, a precious stone, &c. All must down together.

Ellicott's Commentary on Amos 3:15

(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.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Amos 3:15

Verse 15. I will smite the winter house with the summer house] I will not only destroy the poor habitations and villages in the country, but I will destroy those of the nobility and gentry as well as the lofty palaces in the fortified cities in which they dwell in the winter season, as those light and elegant seats in which they spend the summer season. Dr. Shaw observes that "the hills and valleys round about Algiers are all over beautified with gardens and country seats, whither the inhabitants of better fashion retire during the heats of the summer season. They are little white houses, shaded with a variety of fruit trees and evergreens, which beside shade and retirement, afford a gay and delightful prospect toward the sea. The gardens are all well stocked with melons, fruits, and pot herbs of all kinds; and (which is chiefly regarded in these hot countries) each of them enjoys a great command of water." And the houses of ivory] Those remarkable for their magnificence and their ornaments, not built of ivory, but in which ivory vessels, ornaments, and inlaying abounded. Thus, then, the winter houses and the summer houses, the great houses and the houses of uncommon splendour, shall all perish. There should be a total desolation in the land. No kind of house should be a refuge, and no kind of habitation should be spared. Ahab had at Samaria a house that was called the ivory house, 1Kg 22:39. This may be particularly referred to in this place. We cannot suppose that a house constructed entirely of ivory can be intended.

Cambridge Bible on Amos 3:15

15. the winter house] See Jeremiah 36:22. with the summer house] Eglon (Judges 3:20) had a “cool upper story,” i.e. an additional apartment, built on the flat roof of the house, with latticed windows, allowing free circulation for the air (cf. Moore, Judges, pp. 96, 97 f.); but here separate buildings, such as the wealthy might be able to indulge in, appear to be intended. Both terms are to be understood collectively, and not confined to the royal palaces alone. An interesting illustration of the passage has been supplied recently by an almost contemporary inscription from Zinjirli, near Aleppo, in which Bar-rekϋb, king of Sham’al, vassal (lit. servant, 2 Kings 16:7) of Tiglath-pileser (ϊβμϊτμιρψ), says he has beautified his father’s house in honour of his ancestors, the kings of Sham’al (i.e. as a mausoleum), “and it is for them a summer-house and a winter-house[149]” (i.e. for perpetual use). [149] τδΰαιϊωϊεΰμδνεδΰαιϊλιφΰ (Sachau in the Sitzungsberichte of the Berlin Academy, 22 Oct. 1896, p.1052).houses of ivory] i.e. houses of which the walls were panelled or inlaid with ivory (cf. Psalms 45:8; also ch. Amos 6:4). Ahab (1 Kings 22:39), it seems, had found imitators. the great houses] rather many houses (R.V. marg.): cf. Isaiah 5:9. “The desolation should be wide as well as mighty” (Pusey).

Barnes' Notes on Amos 3:15

And I will smite the winter house with the summer house - Upon idolatry, there follow luxury and pride.

Whedon's Commentary on Amos 3:15

11-15. The sentence. Jehovah will speedily send an enemy to avenge the wrongdoing; he will lay waste the corrupt city; even the altars of Beth-el will be overthrown.

Sermons on Amos 3:15

	Sermon	Description
	Our Daily Homily - Judges by F.B. Meyer	F.B. Meyer emphasizes the persistent nature of evil habits in our lives, likening them to the Canaanites who resisted being dislodged from the land. He reminds us that as believers
	The Success of the Gospel by the Divine Power Upon the Souls of Men by Samuel Davies	Samuel Davies preaches about the success of the gospel by the divine power upon the souls of men, emphasizing the ongoing war between Jesus Christ and the rebellious sons of men. H
	Revival - Part 1 by Doc Greenway	In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience from a convention in Wales. He was unsure which text to preach from, but felt led to choose a passage from the book of Psal
	Unity by Doc Greenway	In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of spiritual unity among believers. He highlights the threat of disunity and the need for Christians to think the same way and
	Exposition on Psalm 45 by St. Augustine	St. Augustine preaches about the sacred Marriage-feast, symbolizing the union of the Bridegroom (Christ) and the Bride (the Church), emphasizing the transformation from old to new,
	Psalm 45 by Henry Law	Henry Law preaches on the beauty and majesty of Christ as the spiritual Bridegroom, emphasizing the believer's fervent commendation of Jesus and the eloquence in expressing due pra
	Marked by Christly Fragrance by A.W. Tozer	A.W. Tozer emphasizes the transformative power of experiencing the presence of Christ, likening it to the exquisite fragrance of myrrh and aloes. He reflects on how the scent of Ch