They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that "the gate" wasn't just a physical place, but the public square where justice and truth were supposed to be administered. It reveals a society so corrupt that they despised anyone — whether a judge, a prophet, or just an honest person — who dared to speak or act with integrity in the very heart of their community. This isn't just about hating criticism; it's about despising the core values of justice and truth themselves.
They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Amos is detailing the rampant injustice and corruption in Israel, moving from the luxurious oppressors to the people's reaction to truth. The prophet explains that in the public places where justice should be administered—the city gates—people despise anyone who dares to correct them. They particularly hate and revile those who speak honestly and without compromise, revealing the people's deep-seated rejection of righteousness.
Imagine walking into the heart of your city, the place where justice is supposed to be served, and finding that speaking truth is the most dangerous act. This is the scene Amos paints.
The 'gate' in ancient Israel was more than just an entrance; it was the center of public life, the courthouse, the marketplace, and the place where important decisions were made. It's where judges sat, elders deliberated, and justice was—or should have been—administered.
But in Amos's day, the gate had become a symbol of corruption. Instead of upholding truth and defending the innocent, the people and their leaders hated anyone who dared to challenge their wickedness.
What does it mean to speak 'perfectly' or 'uprightly'? And why would anyone utterly despise such a thing?
The verse speaks of those who 'speak the truth' or, more literally, 'speak perfectly.' This isn't just about being honest; it's about speaking with integrity, without compromise, and with complete sincerity. It’s the kind of speech that aligns perfectly with God's standards and calls out sin without holding back.
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But this radical honesty was precisely what the people of Amos's day detested. They didn't just dislike it; they 'abhorred' it—a much stronger word indicating disgust and revulsion.
Understand the original words
yakach · Hebrew Verb
The act of revealing what is hidden, correcting error, or confronting sin; it is a vital part of biblical wisdom and love aimed at turning people back to God.
sha'ar · Hebrew Noun
The space at the entrance of a city where legal proceedings, business transactions, and public discourse took place; it represents the seat of societal authority and judgment.
emet · Hebrew Noun
Conformity to reality, honesty, or the character of God; it is the absolute standard by which all human claims and actions must be measured.
c. 760-750 BC— this verse
Amos prophesies in Israel
Amos, a prophet from the southern Kingdom of Judah, delivers his oracles against the northern Kingdom of Israel during a period of outward prosperity but deep social and spiritual corruption. He confronts the people and their leaders directly.
c. 8th century BC
Assyrian Empire's growing influence
The powerful Neo-Assyrian Empire was a significant force in the ancient Near East, influencing regional politics and posing a looming threat. This geopolitical context often played a role in the internal decisions and foreign policies of Israel and Judah.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom
Though occurring after Amos's ministry, the conquest of the northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians under Sargon II served as the ultimate fulfillment of the judgment that prophets like Amos foretold.
This passage directly parallels Amos's language, describing those who ensnare and pervert justice for the one who speaks truthfully in public spaces, highlighting the deep-seated corruption Amos is addressing.
Proverbs 1:20-22Here, wisdom itself cries out in public places, seeking to correct and confront ignorance and rebellion, mirroring the prophet's role as a truth-teller that the people of Amos's day so violently rejected.
Jeremiah 17:19-20God commands Jeremiah to stand in the gates of Jerusalem to deliver His message, showing that prophetic pronouncements and public rebuke were meant to happen in these very places where justice and the law were supposed to be upheld.
Matthew 23:37Jesus laments over Jerusalem, expressing a similar sorrow to Amos's condemnation, as He highlights their persistent rejection of God's messengers ('those who are sent') throughout their history.
John 3:20This verse explains that people 'hate the light and do not come to the light, lest their deeds should be exposed,' which captures the underlying reason why those involved in wrongdoing would detest and abhor anyone speaking truth.
pulpitAmos 5:10: "They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly."
Verses 10-12. - The prophet gives further instances of the people's corruption. Verse 10. - Him that rebuketh in the gate (Isaiah 29:21). The gate of Eastern cities was the place of public resort (Proverbs 1:21), either for business (Deuteronomy 25:7), or the administration of justice (2 Samuel 15:2), or for gossip. So "he that rebuketh in the gate" may be a judge, or a chief, or a prophet (Jeremia…
ellicottAmos 5:10: "They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly."
(10) Rebuker in the Gate.— The person so described might be the prophet himself. So also he that speaketh uprightly.
The verse highlights that "the gate" wasn't just a physical place, but the public square where justice and truth were supposed to be administered. It reveals a society so corrupt that they despised anyone — whether a judge, a prophet, or just an honest person — who dared to speak or act with integrity in the very heart of their community. This isn't just about hating criticism; it's about despising the core values of justice and truth themselves.
Amos is detailing the rampant injustice and corruption in Israel, moving from the luxurious oppressors to the people's reaction to truth. The prophet explains that in the public places where justice should be administered—the city gates—people despise anyone who dares to correct them. They particularly hate and revile those who speak honestly and without compromise, revealing the people's deep-seated rejection of righteousness.
Amos is detailing the rampant injustice and corruption in Israel, moving from the luxurious oppressors to the people's reaction to truth. The prophet explains that in the public places where justice should be administered—the city gates—people despise anyone who dares to correct them. They particularly hate and revile those who speak honestly and without compromise, revealing the people's deep-seated rejection of righteousness.
"They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth." — The verse highlights that "the gate" wasn't just a physical place, but the public square where justice and truth were supposed to be administered. It reveals a society so corrupt that they despised a…
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Last reviewed October 2026