GEN859 We must speak out in defense of someone who is being disgraced. … Rashi cites the Midrash that interprets the term chomos as stealing.   Sara complained to Abram that he was stealing his words from her, for he had heard Hagar disgrace her and was silent (see Rashi on verse 4) and was silent.  These verses teach us an important principle.   Sara considered Abraham’s failure to speak on her behalf when Hagar spoke against her, as stealing.  The term stealing is used when someone takes away that which is legally and rightfully someone else’s.  If failure to defend another person’s honor is stealing, then we are obliged to speak up when we see someone being disgraced.   Words of defense are due to a person being disgraced, and it is considered stealing to withhold them.  (Nachalas Yosef, vol. 2).  PLYN 51