Amos 1:3

¹ The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

² And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:

⁴ But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Ben-hadad.

⁵ I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they threshed Gilead with sledges of iron.
KJV: Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:
WEB: The LORD says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron;
ASV: Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Damascus, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:
DARBY: Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke [my sentence], because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron.
BLB: Thus says YHWH: “Over three transgressions of Damascus, even over four, I will not turn back—over their threshing Gilead with sledges of iron.

ÅB: Så sier Herren: For tre misgjerninger av Damaskus, ja for fire vil jeg ikke ta det[^1] tilbake - fordi de tresket Gilead med treskesleder av jern[^2];
OTB: Så sier Herren:
"For tre overtredelser av Damaskus, ja, for fire,
vil jeg ikke ta det tilbake.
Fordi de tresket Gilead med treskesleder av jern,
B1930: Så sier Herren: For tre misgjerninger av Damaskus, ja for fire vil jeg ikke ta det tilbake - fordi de tresket Gilead med treskesleder av jern; / < hvad jeg har besluttet; AMO 1, 4. 5.> / < 2SA 12, 31. JES 28, 27. 28; 41, 15.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

2 Kings 10:32–33
In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;
Read in context
Isaiah 8:4
For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.
Read in context
Jeremiah 49:23–27
Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
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Amos 2:6
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
Read in context
2 Kings 8:12
And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.
Read in context
Amos 1:9
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:
Read in context
Isaiah 17:1–3
The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.
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Zechariah 9:1
The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.
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