Amos 5:15

שִׂנְאוּ־רָע֙ וְאֶ֣הֱבוּ טֹ֔וב וְהַצִּ֥יגוּ בַשַּׁ֖עַר מִשְׁפָּ֑ט אוּלַ֗י יֶֽחֱנַ֛ן יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־צְבָאֹ֖ות שְׁאֵרִ֥ית יֹוסֵֽף׃ ס

Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; perhaps YHWH, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Yosef.

Morphology

1. שִׂנְאוּ (sinʾu) – Root: שׂנא (saneʾ); Form: Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Hate”; Notes: A command demanding moral rejection and detestation of evil behavior.
2. רָע (raʿ) – Root: רעע (raʿaʿ); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “evil”; Notes: Refers to moral wickedness or injustice that must be opposed.
3. וְאֶהֱבוּ (veʾehvu) – Root: אהב (ʾahav); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “and love”; Notes: Calls for active affection and commitment toward what is good.
4. טֹוב (tov) – Root: טוב (tov); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “good”; Notes: Refers to ethical righteousness, fairness, and deeds pleasing to YHWH.
5. וְהַצִּיגוּ (ve-hatsigu) – Root: יצג (yatsag); Form: Conjunction וְ + Hifil imperative masculine plural; Translation: “and establish”; Notes: Means to set firmly or make stand—here, to uphold justice in the public domain.
6. בַּשַּׁעַר (ba-shaʿar) – Root: שׁער (shaʿar); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the gate”; Notes: The gate was the place of civic judgment and legal decisions in ancient towns.
7. מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) – Root: שׁפט (shafat); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “justice”; Notes: Denotes fair judgment or righteous governance according to divine law.
8. אוּלַי (ʾulai) – Root: —; Form: Particle; Translation: “perhaps”; Notes: Expresses hopeful uncertainty regarding divine mercy or reversal of judgment.
9. יֶחֱנַן (yekhenan) – Root: חנן (ḥanan); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He will be gracious”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s potential act of showing favor or mercy to the repentant.
10. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (hvh); Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of God, the source of justice and mercy.
11. אֱלֹהֵי־צְבָאֹות (Elohei-tsevaʾot) – Root: אלה (ʾeloh) + צבא (tsavaʾ); Form: Construct noun masculine plural; Translation: “God of hosts”; Notes: Title emphasizing YHWH’s sovereignty over celestial and earthly powers.
12. שְׁאֵרִית (sheʾerit) – Root: שׁאר (shaʾar); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “remnant”; Notes: Refers to the surviving faithful portion of the people of Yisraʾel after judgment.
13. יֹוסֵף (Yosef) – Root: יסף (yasaf); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yosef”; Notes: Represents the northern tribes descended from Yosef, especially Ephraim; symbolic of the nation’s hope for mercy.