Bible Strands
Amos 5:10
There are those who hate the one who reproves in the gate and despise him who speaks with integrity.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Amos addresses Israel during a period of systemic injustice, positioned between a warning of God’s destruction on the strong (Amos 5:9) and a condemnation of their exploitation of the poor (Amos 5:11). He identifies a societal pattern where the ruling class actively rejects those who correct them at the judicial gate.
The words — The text highlights מוֹכִ֑יחַ (mo.Khi.ach), meaning [one who] reproves, and תָּמִ֖ים (ta.Mim), meaning blameless. These terms specify the character of the person despised for speaking integrity in public judgment.
The thread — This pattern of rejecting truth-tellers appears in 1 Kings 22:8, Isaiah 29:21, and John 8:45. Each reference documents leaders or crowds opposing prophetic or divine voices that expose their wrongdoing.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that integrity consistently provokes hostility from those invested in unjust systems. It requires the reader to evaluate their own response to correction rather than align with those who despise it.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 22:8 The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.
- Isaiah 29:21 those who indict a man with a word, who ensnare the mediator at the gate, and who with false charges deprive the innocent of justice.
- John 8:45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!
- Jeremiah 17:16 But I have not run away from being Your shepherd; I have not desired the day of despair. You know that the utterance of my lips was spoken in Your presence.
- 1 Kings 18:17 When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”
- 1 Kings 21:20 When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 24:20 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has forsaken you.’”
- 2 Chronicles 25:16 While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”
- 2 Chronicles 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.
- Proverbs 9:7 He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.