Amo 6:14 | CPDV | STEP | You rejoice in emptiness. You say, “Have we not, by our own strength, taken horns for ourselves?”

‏ Amos 6:14

14 You rejoice in emptiness. You say, “Have we not, by our own strength, taken horns for ourselves?” ^{▼▼6:14The word ‘Numquid’ introduces a question whose answer is in the negative. But the speaker in this quote (following ‘qui dicitis’) clearly expects the answer to be ‘yes.’ The reason, then, that Numquid is still used is that the one presenting the quote, God, is saying that the true answer is ‘no.’ So, the sinners say, ‘Haven’t we done all this by our own strength?’ They think the answer is ‘yes.’ But God quotes them and their attitude using the word, ‘Numquid’ because the truth is that they have not done these things by their own strength. Everything they have is from God.(Conte)
,} ^{▼▼6:14Horns in this context is metaphorical, standing for roles of leadership, or weapons, or other means (e.g. money) for obtaining things.(Conte)}