Amos 5:24 (BSB)
But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Commentary on Amos 5:24
- John Calvin (Reformed), Calvin's Commentaries on Amos 5:24: Interpreters variously expound this verse. To some it seems an exhortation, as though the Prophet said, “Ye thrust on me victims of beasts and various ceremonies; but I regard not these things; for the interior purity of heart alone pleases me: take away then all these things, which are of no moment with me, and bring what I especially require and demands even a pure...
- Matthew Henry (Presbyterian), Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on Amos 5:21-27: The scope of these verses is to show how little God valued their shows of devotion, nay, how much he detested them, while they went on in their sins. Observe, I. How unpleasing, nay, how displeasing, their hypocritical services were to God. They had their feast-days at Bethel, in imitation of those at Jerusalem, in which they pretended to rejoice before God.
- John Gill (Reformed Baptist), Exposition of the Old and New Testaments on Amos 5:24: But let judgments run down as waters,.... Or "roll" (o); in abundance, with great rapidity, bearing down all before them, which nothing can resist; signifying the plenty of justice done in the land, the full and free exercise of it, without any stoppage or intermission: and righteousness as a mighty stream; the same thing expressed in different words; though some think that not the execution...
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (Reformed), Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible on Amos 5:24: judgment--justice. run down--literally, "roll," that is, flow abundantly (Isa 48:18). Without the desire to fulfil righteousness in the offerer, the sacrifice is hateful to God (Sa1 15:22; Psa 66:18; Hos 6:6; Mic 6:8).