Amos 5:10

10 ¹They hate him who reproves ²in the gate, and they ³abhor him who speaks the truth.

Amos 5:10 Meaning and Commentary

Amos 5:10

They hate him that rebuketh in the gate
Openly and publicly in the courts of judicature: wicked judges hated the prophets of the Lord, such as Amos, who faithfully reproved them for the perversion of justice, even when they were upon the bench: or the people were so corrupt and degenerate, that they hated those faithful judges who reproved them for their vices in the open courts of justice, when they came before them, The former sense seems best, and more agreeable to the context: and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly;
not only hate him, but abhor him, cannot bear the sight of him, or to hear his name mentioned that speaks out his mind freely and honestly, and tells them of their sins, and advises them to repent of them, and leave them.

Amos 5:10 In-Context

8 He who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the LORD is his name;

9 who makes destruction flash forth against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress.

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

11 Therefore because you trample on the poor and you exact taxes of grain from him, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.

12 For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins-- you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 29:21; [Proverbs 15:5, 10]
• 2. See Ruth 4:1
• 3. [1 Kings 22:8]