Amos 6:5 - Exposition

That chant. The word parat ( ἅπαξ λεγόμενον ) means rather "to prattle," "to sing idle songs," as the Revised Version translates it. The reading of the Septuagint varies between ἐπικρατοῦντες . "excelling," and ἐπικροτοῦντες , the latter of which words might mean "applauding." Viol (see note on Amos 5:23 ). Invent to themselves instruments of music, like David. As David devised stringed instruments and modes of singing to do honour to God and for the service of his sanctuary, so these debauchees invented new singing and playing to grace their luxurious feasts. The Septuagint rendering, which Jerome calls "sensus pulcherrimus," is not to be explained by the present Hebrew text, however true to fact it may be considered, ὡς ἑστηκότα ἐλογίσαντο καὶ οὐχ ὡς φεύγοντα . "Regarded them as abiding and not as fleeting things."