That on the day I punish/On the day when I punish. This is not a simple time reference, and should not be translated merely as “when I punish” (see 2.16).

Punish/punish and destroy are translations of the same Hebrew word (see 3.2). The difference in English translation is necessary because you cannot “punish” altars in English (Revised Standard Version, Moffatt; compare Smith-Goodspeed). The same is true in many other languages. The only solution is to use an equivalent of such a verb as destroy because the immediate context makes clear that utter destruction is meant.

Altars may be hard to translate where no parallels to the “altar” of the Bible exist. Some possible translations include: “the thing on which (sacred) offerings are placed” or “places of sacrifice.”

Bethel should be called a “town” (“the town of Bethel”) so that it will not sound like the name of a God in this context.

Horns of the altar/the corners of every altar. These were horn-like projections at the corners of the altar. Although most English translations use the traditional expression horns of the altar, it makes little sense in modern English and will be completely possible in most languages. It would be possible to translate “the projections in the form of horns on the corners of the place of sacrifice (or: of the thing on which offerings are placed),” but there is no need for something so long and involved; the emphasis is not on the shape. For this reason Good News Translation translates the corners of every altar, which makes clear the location instead of the shape. This will be a good solution in many languages. However, much will depend on the word which is used for “altar.” The reader may need a picture to help him in cases where there is nothing in his own background which makes it possible for him to visualize the altar.

The importance of this act of destroying the “altar-horns” is that they represented a place of safety. The Hebrew means that even this way of escape will be destroyed. Such background information should be provided, and this can best be done in a footnote: “According to such Bible passages as 1 Kgs 1.50 and 2.28, a fugitive secured himself from arrest or violence by catching hold of altar-horns (the corners of the altar).” It may also be possible to translate: “Every hiding place will be destroyed.”

In many languages, God, who does the cutting down, will have to be mentioned: “I will cut off the corners of the altar and they will fall to the ground” or “I will destroy every hiding place.”

Quoted with permission from de Waard, Jan & Smalley, William A. A Handbook on Amos. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1979. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .