Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
Amos 2:7 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 7. 7That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse adds trampling or craving dust on poor heads, obstruction of the meek, and sexual exploitation of one young woman by a man and his father.
Read It With
- Amos 2:6-8
Read Amos 2:7 with 2:6-8. This verse adds trampling or craving dust on poor heads, obstruction of the meek, and sexual exploitation of one young woman by a man and his father. The complete unit establishes this movement: Israel's courts, economy, sexuality, and sanctuary life converge in exploitation: people are sold cheaply, the poor and meek are crushed, a vulnerable young woman is used, and worship rests on seized goods.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The eight-oracle sequence reaches its intended hearers and shows their domestic social violence judged with the same seriousness as foreign atrocities. Within that movement, this verse adds trampling or craving dust on poor heads, obstruction of the meek, and sexual exploitation of one young woman by a man and his father.
Follow the Context
- The innocent or righteous and poor are sold for money and sandals.
- The poor and meek are crushed or diverted from justice.
- A man and his father exploit the same young woman and profane the holy name.
- Pledged garments and wine from fines are used at altars.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“go in unto the same maid”
In plain language: The wording describes a grave sexual violation or exploitation within a power-laden household setting.
adds trampling or craving dust on poor heads, obstruction of the meek, and sexual exploitation of one young woman by a man and his father. Economic and sexual power can converge in the profanation of vulnerable people.
Why it matters: The wording carries interpretive or ethical risk that requires the complete unit and stated limits.
How certain? probableWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
The verse does not authorize shaming the young woman, assuming consent, or identifying her as a cult prostitute without evidence.
What Remains True
Economic and sexual power can converge in the profanation of vulnerable people.
How It Can Shape Life
- Center consent, survivor safety, and independent investigation where power is unequal.
Teach It Back
Explain Amos 2:7's contribution to Amos 2:6-8: adds trampling or craving dust on poor heads, obstruction of the meek, and sexual exploitation of one young woman by a man and his father. Include what the surrounding verses add, the stated uncertainty, and what this verse does not authorize.
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Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Amos 2:6-8 — Israel Sells the Innocent and Profanes WorshipSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? probable
Where care is needed
The dust idiom and the young woman's exact status are uncertain.
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: Amos 2:6-8, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗hebrew text and morphology
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible: Amos
Open Scriptures
Open Scriptures, release 2.2
Supports: Masoretic Hebrew wording, morphology, clause relationships, wordplays, names, and the base text behind translation discussion.
Exact location: Open Scriptures MorphHB v.2.2, commit 6a5db284c715c18b239422e57bb89684e6a19f00, wlc/Amos.xml, 2:6-8
Open source ↗translation and translator notes
NET Bible: Amos with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2006
Supports: Verse-level translation, syntax, textual, literary, historical, and uncertainty notes.
Exact location: NET Bible Amos PDF, printed pp. 1708-1710, translation and notes on 2:6-8
Open source ↗