One ought to desire what is really good and only what is really good.
Amos 5:15: “Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate” (KJV). Scripture repeats this call in several places:
- Romans 12:9 — “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
- Psalm 97:10 — “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil.”
- Proverbs 8:13 — “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way… do I hate.”
- Hebrews 1:9 (cf. Psalm 45:7) — Of Christ: “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity.”
- Romans 12:21 — “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
- Isaiah 1:16–17 — “Cease to do evil; learn to do well… judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.”
Dake’s notes emphasize that “hate” here means moral revulsion toward sin and injustice—not hatred of people—while “love the good” requires actively cleaving to righteousness and establishing just judgment “in the gate” (public life and courts). In practice: reject what God calls evil, pursue what He calls good, and let justice, mercy, and integrity shape both private character and public actions.
In addition
Here are the main cross‑reference threads the Dake Bible links to at Amos 5:15 (“Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate …”), with representative passages. I’ve grouped them by the phrases in the verse so one can trace them quickly.
“Hate the evil”
- Psalm 97:10 — Ye that love the LORD, hate evil.
- Proverbs 8:13 — The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.
- Psalm 101:3; Psalm 119:104, 128 — Hating every false way.
- Romans 12:9 — Abhor that which is evil.
- Hebrews 1:9 (with Psalm 45:7) — Christ loved righteousness and hated iniquity.
“Love the good”
- Psalm 34:14; 37:27 — Depart from evil, and do good.
- Micah 6:8 — Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly.
- Romans 12:9 — Cleave to that which is good.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 — Hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.
- 3 John 11 — He that does good is of God.
- Philippians 4:8 — Think on things that are true, just, pure, lovely.
- Amos 5:14 — Seek good, and not evil (the companion command to v. 15).
“Establish judgment in the gate” (justice in public life and courts)
- Deuteronomy 16:18–20; 1:16–17 — Judges in all your gates; do not wrest judgment.
- Leviticus 19:15 — Judge in righteousness; no partiality.
- Zechariah 8:16 — Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates.
- Proverbs 21:3, 15; 24:23–25 — Justice delights the righteous; partiality is not good.
- Psalm 82:3–4 — Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted.
- Isaiah 1:17, 23; 59:14–15 — Restore justice; truth is fallen in the street.
- Amos 5:10, 12, 24 — Injustices at the gate condemned; let judgment run down as waters.
- Habakkuk 1:4 — The law is slacked; judgment does not go forth.
- Ruth 4:1–11; Proverbs 31:23 — “Gate” as the place of legal decisions.
“…it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph” (the remnant theme and conditional mercy)
- Isaiah 10:20–22 — A remnant shall return.
- Micah 2:12; Zephaniah 3:12–13 — God gathers and preserves a humble remnant.
- Joel 2:12–14 — Who knows if He will turn and leave a blessing? (conditional appeal).
- Amos 9:8–15 — Judgment yet restoration for Israel.
- Jeremiah 31:7 — Save thy people, the remnant of Israel.
- Romans 9:27; 11:5 — A remnant according to the election of grace.
Paired commands (hate/avoid evil; love/do good; overcome evil with good)
- Psalm 34:14; 37:27 — Turn from evil, do good.
- Romans 12:21 — Overcome evil with good.
- 1 Peter 3:11 — Eschew evil, do good.
- Isaiah 5:20 — Woe to those who call evil good and good evil (moral discernment).
Dake’s emphasis across these threads:
- “Hate” targets sin and injustice, not people; “love” is active adherence to what God calls good.
- “Gate” highlights the public square and courts—justice must be established structurally, not only privately.
- Mercy to the “remnant” is held out conditionally to those who repent and return to righteousness.
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