unfoldingWord_en_tn/amo/03/15.md

# the winter house with the summer house

Some of the wealthy people had two houses: one that they lived in during the winter and one that they lived in during the summer. This refers to any winter and summer houses. Alternate translation: "the houses they live in during the winter and the houses they live in during the summer" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-genericnoun]])

# The houses of ivory will perish

God speaks of the houses being destroyed as if they were alive and would die. Alternate translation: "The houses of ivory will be destroyed" or "The houses of ivory will collapse" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]])

# The houses of ivory

"the houses that are decorated with ivory." This refers to houses that had decorations made of ivory on the walls and furniture. Ivory was very expensive, so only the wealthy people had things decorated with ivory.

# ivory

the teeth and horns of large animals

# the large houses will vanish

"the large houses will exist no more." Here "vanish" represents being destroyed. Alternate translation: "the large houses will be destroyed" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# this is Yahweh's declaration

Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in [Amos 2:11](../02/11.md). Alternate translation: "this is what Yahweh has declared" or "this is what I, Yahweh, have declared" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]])