Amos 6:13 Meaning: Rejoicing in What Is Nothing
you who rejoice in a thing of nothing, who say, ‘Haven’t we taken for ourselves horns by our own strength?’
Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?
ye that rejoice in a thing of nought, that say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?
O ye who are rejoicing at nothing, Who are saying, `Have we not by our strength taken to ourselves horns?'
— ye that rejoice in a thing of nought, that say, Have we not taken to us power by our own strength?
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Amos call their joy empty? The wordplay on Lo-debar and Karnaim rebukes pride in self-made strength.
Context
Amos spoke to the northern kingdom of Israel during a time of prosperity under King Jeroboam II. Borders had been expanded, trade was strong, and the powerful felt secure in their wealth and military success. But behind the success, the prophet saw a rotting soul: judges took bribes, the poor were crushed, and the people trusted their own power rather than the God who gave them everything. Chapter 6 opens with a woe against those who feel safe in Zion and Samaria, living in luxury while ignoring the nation's decay. By verse 13, Amos turns his words like a blade: the very things they celebrate, their strength, their conquests, their achievements, are nothing. They are rejoicing in emptiness.
Key Words
Three phrases in this verse carry the full sting of Amos's message. First, the word for 'rejoice' (sāmeaḥ) describes a loud, celebratory joy, the kind you hear when people clink cups and toast their own success. But look at what they celebrate: 'a thing of nothing.' In Hebrew this is lo'davar, a deliberate pun on the town name Lo-debar, which means 'no pasture' or 'nothing.' They thought they were strong, but Amos says their power has no more substance than a word that cancels itself.
Then comes the boast: 'Haven’t we taken for ourselves horns by our own strength?' The horn (qeren, here dual form qarnayim) was the ancient symbol of power, the animal that tosses its enemies. But the Israelites claim they took this strength for themselves, by their own might. The word for 'strength' (ḥozeq) means raw force, the kind you flex to prove you do not need help. Amos is showing them, in their own language, that they are bragging about a stolen crown over an empty throne.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse in two main ways. Many older commentators, like Matthew Henry and Adam Clarke, take the 'thing of nothing' as a metaphor for idols, wealth, or self-righteousness. The 'horns' symbolize the power they thought they had earned. In this reading, the verse condemns all human boasting that ignores God.
Other interpreters, including the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges and some modern scholars, see a direct reference to two towns conquered by Jeroboam II: Lo-debar (a Gilead town) and Karnaim (a fortified city east of the Jordan). The Israelites bragged about taking these places by their own strength. But Amos turns their victory cry into a taunt: Lo-debar means 'nothing,' and Karnaim, while meaning 'horns,' will not protect them. God will raise a nation to humble them. Both readings agree on the core truth: what we claim as our own achievement, God calls empty.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think this verse condemns joy itself, as if God wants his people solemn and dour. But the problem is not that they rejoiced; it is what they rejoiced in. They celebrated conquests won by their own hands, ignoring the God who gave them breath and land. The Bible overflows with calls to rejoice, but only in the Lord. The mistake is to miss the target: the verse rebukes misplaced joy, not joy itself.
Living This Out
Take a quiet look at what you celebrate this week. A promotion, a win, a moment when your skill or hustle paid off. It feels good, and it should. But Amos asks a sharper question: do you secretly believe you did it alone? That your strength earned those 'horns'? You might not say it out loud. But when the credit is all yours, the thanks is thin. Try, just for one day, to say under your breath after every small success: 'Not my strength, Yours.' See how that changes the joy.
Main takeaway: Rejoicing in anything you think you earned by your own strength is rejoicing in a thing of nothing; real joy starts with knowing where the strength came from.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Have you ever built a really tall tower with blocks and then shouted, 'Look what I made!'? Amos says that is how the people acted. They forgot God gave them the blocks. Let's say thank you to God for every good thing, because He is the one who helps us.
For ages 9, 12
It is easy to feel proud when you win a game or get a good grade. But this verse is a warning: when you start thinking you did it all by yourself, you are celebrating something that will not last. The people in Amos's time boasted about conquering cities like Lo-debar and Karnaim. But God said those victories were empty because they forgot Him. Real strength comes from God. You can still be happy about your success, just remember to thank the One who gave you the ability.
Questions People Ask
What does 'rejoice in a thing of nothing' mean in Amos 6:13?
The phrase 'thing of nothing' translates the Hebrew lo' davar, which literally means 'no thing' or 'not a word.' It is a pun on the town name Lo-debar, which the Israelites had conquered. They celebrated their victory as if it proved their strength, but Amos says what they are so proud of is empty, it has no real substance because it came from their own pride, not from God.
Is Amos 6:13 talking about actual towns or using a metaphor?
There are two common interpretations. Many Christians see 'a thing of nothing' and 'horns' as metaphors for empty boasting and self-made power. But the Hebrew words Lo-debar and Karnaim are also names of two cities east of the Jordan that Israel had conquered. So Amos may be using a wordplay: the places they brag about have names that mean 'nothing' and 'horns,' exposing the emptiness of their pride.
What do the 'horns' symbolize in this verse?
In the Bible, horns often symbolize strength and power, like the horns of a bull that tosses enemies. The Israelites are saying, 'We have taken horns for ourselves by our own strength', meaning they think they have become powerful through their own efforts. Amos mocks this because they are attributing to themselves what only God can give, and their power will not last.
What was the historical background of Amos 6:13?
Amos prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II (about 790, 740 BC), a time when Israel expanded its borders and enjoyed economic prosperity. But the wealthy grew complacent, ignored injustice, and credited their own military might for their success. Amos confronts this arrogance, warning that God would raise a nation to humble them because they trusted in themselves instead of in Him.
How should I apply Amos 6:13 to my own life?
This verse challenges you to examine what you celebrate and why. When you succeed, do you silently give yourself all the credit? Amos invites you to recognize that every ability, every opportunity, and every 'victory' comes from God. Instead of boasting in your own strength, you can learn to rejoice humbly, thanking the One who holds everything together.
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