Amos 5 10

Amos 5:10 kjv

They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.

Amos 5:10 nkjv

They hate the one who rebukes in the gate, And they abhor the one who speaks uprightly.

Amos 5:10 niv

There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court and detest the one who tells the truth.

Amos 5:10 esv

They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth.

Amos 5:10 nlt

How you hate honest judges!
How you despise people who tell the truth!

Amos 5 verses

Amos 5 10 meaning

Amos 5:10 exposes the deep moral perversion within ancient Israel's powerful class. It reveals that the nation's leaders and wealthy elite had not only embraced injustice but actively despised and rejected anyone who dared to speak truthfully, offer correction, or uphold righteousness, especially in public forums where legal and civic matters were decided. Their intense aversion to accountability and integrity underscored a profound spiritual sickness, leading to inevitable divine judgment.

Amos 5 10 Context

Amos 5:10 appears within a section where the prophet Amos pronounces a series of laments and judgments against Israel, particularly the Northern Kingdom. The overarching theme of Amos 5 is a strong call for justice and righteousness as the only true way to seek the Lord, contrasting it sharply with Israel's reliance on superficial religious rituals while rampant social injustice flourished. Verses 4-9 invite Israel to "seek the Lord and live," but then directly expose their hypocrisy. The people had corrupted the judicial system, oppressed the poor, and reveled in luxury attained through unrighteous means. Their actions, including their hatred for truth-speakers in verse 10, clearly demonstrate why the judgment described later in the chapter (e.g., v.16-17) was imminent and necessary. Historically, during the prosperous reign of Jeroboam II, this wealth often fueled a decline in moral and spiritual standards, leading to the societal decay Amos passionately condemns.

Amos 5 10 Word analysis

• They: Refers collectively to the corrupt, wealthy, and powerful elite within Israel, including officials, judges, and landowners, who benefited from the unjust system and thus fiercely resisted any challenge to it.
• hate (שָׂנְאוּ, sane'u): Denotes a deep, intense, and active aversion. It is not merely disagreement but a profound personal and moral opposition, viewing the object as hostile or intrinsically evil to their way of life.
• him who reproves (מוֹכִיחַ, mokhiakh): A corrector or one who argues a case, bringing forth evidence for a wrongdoing. In a judicial setting, this person would expose injustice or wrongdoing. This word implies a direct, pointed confrontation with their sin.
• in the gate (בַּשַּׁעַר, basha'ar): The city gate was the central public space in ancient Israel, serving as the primary location for legal proceedings, judicial pronouncements, commercial transactions, public assembly, and important civic discussions. Speaking "in the gate" meant speaking publicly, formally, and with authority where justice was supposed to be administered.
• and they abhor (וְתָעֲבוּ, ve'ta'avu): A stronger, more visceral term than "hate," implying detestation, loathing, and disgust. To "abhor" signifies that they found truth-speaking morally repellent and offensive, seeing it as something anathema.
• him who speaks uprightly (דּוֹבֵר תָּמִים, dover tamim): Literally "one who speaks blamelessly/completely/perfectly." This refers to someone whose speech is characterized by integrity, sincerity, and straightforward honesty, free from deceit, partiality, or corruption. Such a person articulates pure truth, contrasting sharply with their twisted ways.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "They hate him who reproves in the gate": This phrase pinpoints the precise object of their hatred: the act of publicly challenging their injustice and exposing their moral failings in the very arena where justice ought to be upheld. Their hatred isn't merely for an individual but for the principle of accountability.
• "and they abhor him who speaks uprightly": The parallelism intensifies the condemnation. "Abhor" elevates their feeling to outright moral disgust. "Speaks uprightly" broadens the target from formal "reproof" to any sincere, unblemished truthfulness that contrasts with their corrupted system. They reject not just legal challenges but the very essence of honesty.

Amos 5 10 Bonus section

The intense aversion to correction and truth expressed in Amos 5:10 foreshadows a recurring theme throughout biblical history: the consistent persecution of God's prophets and ultimately of Christ himself. When the human heart hardens against God's standards, truth becomes offensive, and those who embody or speak it are treated as enemies. This verse illustrates the dangerous spiritual state of loving unrighteousness and detesting righteousness, which is diametrically opposed to the character of God, who is just and loves justice (Psa 11:7). It also serves as a perpetual warning against spiritual apathy and corruption within any community that professes to follow God.

Amos 5 10 Commentary

Amos 5:10 vividly paints a picture of a society whose moral compass is severely broken. It's not just that injustice occurs; it's that justice is actively suppressed, and those who champion it are reviled. The ruling class's profound hatred and abhorrence for public correction and honest speech demonstrate a heart utterly resistant to God's standards. Their preference for darkness over light meant that their religious rituals, despite outward show, were a hollow mockery in the eyes of a God who demands justice and righteousness (Amos 5:24). This rejection of truth and integrity at the very heart of their civic life guaranteed their coming judgment, revealing a profound spiritual blindness where light was perceived as a threat.