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 10 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Amos 5:10"They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks ofAmos 5:10 (OT context)
Proverbs 9:8"Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and heProverbs 9:8 (Wisdom/Folly)
Proverbs 15:12"A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not consult with the wise.Proverbs 15:12 (Rebuke/Wisdom)
Isaiah 29:20-21"For the ruthless shall come to nothing and the scoffers shall cease, and all who watch for iniquity shall be cut off-- those who make a man an offender by a word, and lay snares for him who administers the law in the gate, and with evil4 counsel turn aside the righteous."Isaiah 29:20-21 (Oppression/Justice)
Matthew 25:40, 45"And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ ... ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’"Matthew 25:40, 45 (Judgment/Justice)
Luke 10:16"The one who listens to you listens to me; the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”Luke 10:16 (Rejection of Messengers)
John 3:20"For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed."John 3:20 (Hate of Light/Truth)
John 15:18-19"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."John 15:18-19 (World's Hatred)
Acts 5:40-41"And they agreed with him. And when they had called the apostles, they flogged them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name."Acts 5:40-41 (Suffering for Truth)
1 Timothy 5:19-20"Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. Those who sin are to be rebuked in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear."1 Timothy 5:19-20 (Public Rebuke)
2 Timothy 3:12"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."2 Timothy 3:12 (Persecution)
James 4:11"Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks evil against a brother or judges his brother speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge."James 4:11 (Speaking Evil)
Psalm 11:5"The Lord tests the righteous, and his soul hates the wicked and him who loves violence."Psalm 11:5 (God's Hatred of Wickedness)
Psalm 140:1-2"Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who plan evil in their hearts and stir up wars continually. They make their tongues sharp like a serpent; the poison of asp is under their lips."Psalm 140:1-2 (Persecution of the Good)
Jeremiah 20:10"For I heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Betray ‘him’; let us betray him!” Even all my close friends are watching for my stumbling, saying, “Perhaps he will be induced, and we can overcome him, and take our revenge on him.”"Jeremiah 20:10 (Betrayal of Prophet)
Revelation 12:10-11"And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."Revelation 12:10-11 (Accuser)
Leviticus 19:15"“You shall not do injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness you shall judge your neighbor."Leviticus 19:15 (Just Judgment)
Deuteronomy 16:18-20"You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall govern the people with justice. You shall not pervert justice, or show partiality, or take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous."Deuteronomy 16:18-20 (Justice/Bribes)
Proverbs 24:23-24"These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good."Proverbs 24:23-24 (Partiality)
Ecclesiastes 7:7"Surely, oppression drives wisdom mad."Ecclesiastes 7:7 (Oppression)

Amos 5 verses

Amos 5 10 Meaning

This verse denounces the oppressors of the poor for their unjust practices and disregard for righteousness. It highlights the severity of their actions, indicating they actively “hate him who reproves in the gate.” This refers to honest individuals who speak truth and justice in public forums. Their hatred stems from the fact that righteous judgment exposes their own wickedness.

Amos 5 10 Context

Amos 5:10 is part of a larger prophetic oracle delivered by Amos to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The surrounding verses (Amos 5:7-13) describe God's judgment upon Israel for their sins. This section specifically targets the social injustice and the oppression of the poor prevalent in Israelite society. The prophet uses strong imagery to depict the leaders and powerful individuals who benefit from corrupt systems. The reference to "the gate" signifies a public place where justice was administered and business conducted, meaning their malfeasance was in the open and affected the community directly. This was a time of material prosperity for some, but it was built on the backs of the marginalized, creating a deep moral crisis that drew God's condemnation.

Amos 5 10 Word analysis

  • shane'u (שָׂנְאוּ): Verb, Qal perfect, 3rd person masculine plural of שָׂנֵא (sane'). Meaning "they hated." This signifies an intense aversion, a deep-seated dislike and rejection. It's not just a casual dislike but an active animosity.
  • gopheir (גֹּפֶר): Noun, masculine singular. Meaning "reproves," "rebukes," "admonishes," or "corrects." This word comes from a root implying to push, strike, or make pointed. The one reproving makes a firm statement for correction.
  • baa-shaa-reim (בַּשַּׁעֲרֵי): Prepositional phrase. בְּ (bĕ-) "in" + שַׁעַר (sha'ar) "gate." Meaning "in the gates." This refers to the public place where legal matters, commerce, and civic discourse occurred. It implies their hatred was directed at those who spoke truth and justice in public.
  • vë­ (וְ): Conjunction. Meaning "and."
  • töëb: Verb, Qal perfect, 3rd person masculine plural of תּוֹעַב (to'ab). Meaning "they abhorred," "they detested." This is a stronger form of dislike than 'hate', indicating intense disgust and revulsion.
  • modië­ (מֹדִיעַ): Participle, Piel active, masculine singular of יָדַע (yada'), meaning "one who informs" or "one who makes known." In this context, it's referring to someone who reveals truth or informs on wrongdoing.
  • badabar: Prepositional phrase. בְּ (bĕ-) "in" + דָּבָר (dabar) "word," "thing," "matter." Meaning "in speech" or "concerning a matter." The honest person speaks clearly and forthrightly.

words-group analysis

  • "They hate him who reproves in the gate": This phrase describes the rulers and powerful people of Israel who couldn't stand honest criticism, especially when it was delivered publicly at the city gate. Such criticism exposed their unjust actions and corrupt dealings, leading to their intense dislike for such individuals.
  • "and they abhor him who speaks of what is right": This elaborates on the hatred, highlighting their repulsion towards those who advocated for righteousness and moral integrity. The "speaking of what is right" implies bringing forth truth, justice, and righteous judgment.

Amos 5 10 Bonus section

The concept of hating those who reprove in the gate is also echoed in the New Testament's description of how the world rejects Christ and His followers. John 3:20 states, "everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." This spiritual principle of opposing truth when it exposes sin is a consistent theme throughout Scripture. Furthermore, the verse's emphasis on public justice finds parallels in Jesus’ teachings about acting righteously and the judgment that will follow for those who oppress others (Matthew 25:40-45). The prophet's condemnation of corruption at the gate highlights the communal responsibility to uphold justice.

Amos 5 10 Commentary

Amos confronts a society where justice has been perverted. The powerful elites actively despised and reviled those who dared to speak truth to power in public forums ("the gate"). Their abhorrence was directed at anyone who advocated for righteous dealings and condemned their exploitation of the vulnerable. This reveals a deep-seated corruption that resisted accountability. The prophetic word, meant to correct and guide, was instead met with intense animosity by those who benefited from the injustice. This hostility towards reproof underscores the spiritual bankruptcy and moral decay of the nation. It illustrates that sin creates a fierce opposition to truth and righteousness, especially when exposed publicly.