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Micah 3

BSB·12 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Then I saidוָאֹמַ֗רwā·’ō·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →: “Hearשִׁמְעוּ־šim·‘ū- — to hear, listen, obeyH8085 — Full Word Study → nowנָא֙nā — Please, I beseech, I prayH4994 — Full Word Study →, O leadersרָאשֵׁ֣יrā·šê — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study → of Jacobיַעֲקֹ֔בya·‘ă·qōḇ — He grasps the heelH3290 — Full Word Study →, you rulersוּקְצִינֵ֖יū·qə·ṣî·nê — Chief, ruler, commander, or leader in authorityH7101 — Full Word Study → of the houseבֵּ֣יתbêṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לyiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study →. Should you notהֲל֣וֹאhă·lō·w — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → knowלָדַ֖עַתlā·ḏa·‘aṯ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → justiceהַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃ham·miš·pāṭ — Justice, judgment, or legal decisionH4941 — Full Word Study →? 2You hateשֹׂ֥נְאֵיśō·nə·’ê — to hate, despise, regard with hostilityH8130 — Full Word Study → goodט֖וֹבṭō·wḇ — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study → and loveוְאֹ֣הֲבֵיwə·’ō·hă·ḇê — To love; affection, attachment, or preferenceH157 — Full Word Study → evilרָעָהrå̄·ʿå̄h — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study →. You tearגֹּזְלֵ֤יgō·zə·lê — to seize or rob by force; to plunderH1497 — Full Word Study → the skinעוֹרָם֙‘ō·w·rām — Skin, hide, leather coveringH5785 — Full Word Study → from my peopleמֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֔םmê·‘ă·lê·hem — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → and strip the fleshוּשְׁאֵרָ֖םū·šə·’ê·rām — Flesh; kinship; blood relativeH7607 — Full Word Study → fromמֵעַ֥לmê·‘al — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → their bonesעַצְמוֹתָֽם׃‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯām — bone; body; substance; strengthH6106 — Full Word Study →. 3You eatאָכְלוּ֮’ā·ḵə·lū — to eat, consume, devourH398 — Full Word Study → the fleshשְׁאֵ֣רšə·’êr — Flesh; kinship; blood relativeH7607 — Full Word Study → of my peopleעַמִּי֒‘am·mî — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → after stripping offהִפְשִׁ֔יטוּhip̄·šî·ṭū — to strip, plunder, or invadeH6584 — Full Word Study → their skinוְעוֹרָם֙wə·‘ō·w·rām — Skin, hide, leather coveringH5785 — Full Word Study → and breakingפִּצֵּ֑חוּpiṣ·ṣê·ḥū — to break forth, burst outH6476 — Full Word Study → their bonesעַצְמֹֽתֵיהֶ֖ם‘aṣ·mō·ṯê·hem — bone; body; substance; strengthH6106 — Full Word Study →. You chop them upוּפָרְשׂוּ֙ū·p̄ā·rə·śū — to spread, stretch out, or extendH6566 — Full Word Study → like flesh for the cooking pot, like meatוּכְבָשָׂ֖רū·ḵə·ḇā·śār — Flesh; body; meat; human natureH1320 — Full Word Study → inבְּת֥וֹךְbə·ṯō·wḵ — midst, among, between, throughH8432 — Full Word Study → a cauldronקַלָּֽחַת׃qal·lā·ḥaṯ — Large cooking pot or caldronH7037 — Full Word Study →.” 4Thenאָ֚ז’āz — Then; at that time; thereforeH227 — Full Word Study → they will cry outיִזְעֲק֣וּyiz·‘ă·qū — To cry out, call for help, summonH2199 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, but He will notוְלֹ֥אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → answerיַעֲנֶ֖הya·‘ă·neh — To answer, respond, or testifyH6030 — Full Word Study → themאוֹתָ֑ם’ō·w·ṯām — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study →. At thatהַהִ֔יאha·hî — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study → timeבָּעֵ֣תbā·‘êṯ — Time, season, or appointed momentH6256 — Full Word Study → He will hideוְיַסְתֵּ֨רwə·yas·têr — To hide, conceal, or keep secretH5641 — Full Word Study → His faceפָּנָ֤יוpā·nāw — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → from them because ofכַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka·’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → the evilהֵרֵ֖עוּhê·rê·‘ū — to break, spoil, or do evilH7489 — Full Word Study → they have doneמַעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃פma·‘al·lê·hem — deed, work, or actionH4611 — Full Word Study →. 5This is whatכֹּ֚הkōh — thus, so, in this mannerH3541 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → saysאָמַ֣ר’ā·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →: “As forעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the prophetsהַנְּבִיאִ֖יםhan·nə·ḇî·’îm — Prophet; one who speaks God's wordH5030 — Full Word Study → who lead My peopleעַמִּ֑י‘am·mî — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → astrayהַמַּתְעִ֣יםham·maṯ·‘îm — to stray, wander, or go astrayH8582 — Full Word Study →, who proclaimוְקָרְא֣וּwə·qā·rə·’ū — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study → peaceשָׁל֔וֹםšā·lō·wm — Peace, wholeness, well-being, prosperityH7965 — Full Word Study → while they chewהַנֹּשְׁכִ֤יםhan·nō·šə·ḵîm — To bite or sting; to oppress through usuryH5391 — Full Word Study → with their teethבְּשִׁנֵּיהֶם֙bə·šin·nê·hem — Tooth; ivory; sharp edge; cragH8127 — Full Word Study →, but declareוְקִדְּשׁ֥וּwə·qid·də·šū — to set apart as holy; to consecrate or sanctifyH6942 — Full Word Study → warמִלְחָמָֽה׃mil·ḥā·māh — Battle, warfare, combat, military conflictH4421 — Full Word Study → against oneעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → who putsיִתֵּ֣ןyit·tên — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → nothingלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → inעָלָ֖יו‘ā·lāw — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → their mouthsפִּיהֶ֔םpî·hem — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study →: 6Thereforeלָכֵ֞ןlā·ḵên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study → nightלַ֤יְלָהlay·lāh — Night, darkness, the period of darknessH3915 — Full Word Study → will come over you without visionsמֵֽחָז֔וֹןmê·ḥā·zō·wn — A divinely revealed vision or sightH2377 — Full Word Study →, and darknessוְחָשְׁכָ֥הwə·ḥā·šə·ḵāh — To darken, obscure, or hideH2821 — Full Word Study → without divinationמִקְּסֹ֑םmiq·qə·sōm — to divine, practice divination, or use occult meansH7080 — Full Word Study →. The sunהַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙haš·še·meš — The sun; sunlight; dayH8121 — Full Word Study → will setוּבָ֤אָהū·ḇā·’āh — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → onעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → these prophetsהַנְּבִיאִ֔יםhan·nə·ḇî·’îm — Prophet; one who speaks God's wordH5030 — Full Word Study →, and the daylightהַיּֽוֹם׃hay·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → will turn blackוְקָדַ֥רwə·qā·ḏar — to be dark; to mourn; to grow gloomyH6937 — Full Word Study → over themעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם‘ă·lê·hem — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →. 7Then the seersהַחֹזִ֗יםha·ḥō·zîm — A seer; one who sees visionsH2374 — Full Word Study → will be ashamedוּבֹ֣שׁוּū·ḇō·šū — to be ashamed; to feel shame or disgraceH954 — Full Word Study → and the divinersהַקֹּ֣סְמִ֔יםhaq·qō·sə·mîm — to divine, practice divination, or use occult meansH7080 — Full Word Study → will be disgracedוְחָֽפְרוּ֙wə·ḥā·p̄ə·rū — to be ashamed, brought to shameH2659 — Full Word Study →. They will allכֻּלָּ֑םkul·lām — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → coverוְעָט֥וּwə·‘ā·ṭū — to wrap, cover, or clotheH5844 — Full Word Study → their mouthsשָׂפָ֖םśā·p̄ām — Upper lip or mustache; beard regionH8222 — Full Word Study → becauseכִּ֛יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → there is no answerמַעֲנֵ֖הma·‘ă·nêh — answer, response, replyH4617 — Full Word Study → from Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →.” 8As for meאָנֹכִ֞י’ā·nō·ḵî — I, myself (first-person singular pronoun)H595 — Full Word Study →, howeverוְאוּלָ֗םwə·’ū·lām — but, however, surely, indeedH199 — Full Word Study →, I am filledמָלֵ֤אתִיmā·lê·ṯî — to fill, fulfill, completeH4390 — Full Word Study → with powerכֹ֙חַ֙ḵō·aḥ — Strength, power, might, or abilityH3581 — Full Word Study → byאֶת־’eṯ- — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study → the Spiritר֣וּחַrū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, with justiceוּמִשְׁפָּ֖טū·miš·pāṭ — Justice, judgment, or legal decisionH4941 — Full Word Study → and courageוּגְבוּרָ֑הū·ḡə·ḇū·rāh — Mighty power, strength, or valorH1369 — Full Word Study →, to declareלְהַגִּ֤ידlə·hag·gîḏ — to tell, declare, make knownH5046 — Full Word Study → to Jacobלְיַֽעֲקֹב֙lə·ya·‘ă·qōḇ — He grasps the heelH3290 — Full Word Study → his transgressionפִּשְׁע֔וֹpiš·‘ōw — Willful rebellion or transgression against God's lawH6588 — Full Word Study → and to Israelוּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לū·lə·yiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study → his sinחַטָּאתֽוֹ׃סḥaṭ·ṭā·ṯōw — sin; sin offering; sinfulnessH2403 — Full Word Study →. 9Nowנָ֣אnā — Please, I beseech, I prayH4994 — Full Word Study → hearשִׁמְעוּ־šim·‘ū- — to hear, listen, obeyH8085 — Full Word Study → thisזֹ֗אתzōṯ — This, that; demonstrative pronounH2063 — Full Word Study →, O leadersרָאשֵׁי֙rā·šê — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study → of the houseבֵּ֣יתbêṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → of Jacobיַעֲקֹ֔בya·‘ă·qōḇ — He grasps the heelH3290 — Full Word Study → and rulersוּקְצִינֵ֖יū·qə·ṣî·nê — Chief, ruler, commander, or leader in authorityH7101 — Full Word Study → of the houseבֵּ֣יתbêṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לyiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study →, who despiseהַֽמֲתַעֲבִ֣יםha·mă·ṯa·‘ă·ḇîm — to abhor, regard with disgust or loathingH8581 — Full Word Study → justiceמִשְׁפָּ֔טmiš·pāṭ — Justice, judgment, or legal decisionH4941 — Full Word Study → and pervertיְעַקֵּֽשׁוּ׃yə·‘aq·qê·šū — to twist, make crooked, pervertH6140 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → that is rightהַיְשָׁרָ֖הhay·šā·rāh — upright, straight, righteous, justH3477 — Full Word Study →, 10who buildבֹּנֶ֥הbō·neh — to build, construct, establishH1129 — Full Word Study → Zionצִיּ֖וֹןṣî·yō·wn — The Lord's MountainH6726 — Full Word Study → with bloodshedבְּדָמִ֑יםbə·ḏā·mîm — blood; life force; bloodshed; guiltH1818 — Full Word Study → and Jerusalemוִירוּשָׁלִַ֖םwî·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study → with iniquityבְּעַוְלָֽה׃bə·‘aw·lāh — Moral evil, wickedness, unrighteousnessH5766 — Full Word Study →. 11Her leadersרָאשֶׁ֣יהָ׀rā·še·hā — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study → judgeיִשְׁפֹּ֗טוּyiš·pō·ṭū — to judge, govern, or execute justiceH8199 — Full Word Study → for a bribeבְּשֹׁ֣חַדbə·šō·ḥaḏ — A bribe; a gift given to corrupt or influenceH7810 — Full Word Study →, her priestsוְכֹהֲנֶ֙יהָ֙wə·ḵō·hă·ne·hā — priest; one who serves in God's sanctuaryH3548 — Full Word Study → teachיוֹר֔וּyō·w·rū — To shoot, throw, or teach; to direct or instructH3384 — Full Word Study → for a priceבִּמְחִ֣ירbim·ḥîr — Price, cost, or value exchanged in commerceH4242 — Full Word Study →, and her prophetsוּנְבִיאֶ֖יהָū·nə·ḇî·’e·hā — Prophet; one who speaks God's wordH5030 — Full Word Study → practice divinationיִקְסֹ֑מוּyiq·sō·mū — to divine, practice divination, or use occult meansH7080 — Full Word Study → for moneyבְּכֶ֣סֶףbə·ḵe·sep̄ — Silver; money; price; valueH3701 — Full Word Study →. Yet they leanיִשָּׁעֵ֣נוּyiš·šā·‘ê·nū — To lean on, rely upon, trust inH8172 — Full Word Study → uponוְעַל־wə·‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, sayingלֵאמֹ֔רlê·mōr — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “Is notהֲל֤וֹאhă·lō·w — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → among usבְּקִרְבֵּ֔נוּbə·qir·bê·nū — midst, inner part, heart, inward beingH7130 — Full Word Study →? Noלֹֽא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → disasterרָעָֽה׃rā·‘āh — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → can comeתָב֥וֹאṯā·ḇō·w — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → upon usעָלֵ֖ינוּ‘ā·lê·nū — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →.” 12Thereforeלָכֵן֙lā·ḵên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study →, because of youבִּגְלַלְכֶ֔םbiḡ·lal·ḵem — Because of, on account of, for the sake ofH1558 — Full Word Study →, Zionצִיּ֖וֹןṣî·yō·wn — The Lord's MountainH6726 — Full Word Study → will be plowedתֵֽחָרֵ֑שׁṯê·ḥā·rêš — to engrave, plow, devise, or keep silentH2790 — Full Word Study → like a fieldשָׂדֶ֣הśā·ḏeh — A field; cultivated or open landH7704 — Full Word Study →, Jerusalemוִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙wî·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study → will becomeתִּֽהְיֶ֔הtih·yeh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → a heap of rubbleעִיִּ֣ין‘î·yîn — heap of ruins; desolate placeH5856 — Full Word Study →, and the templeהַבַּ֖יִתhab·ba·yiṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → mountוְהַ֥רwə·har — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study → a woodedיָֽעַר׃פyā·‘ar — Forest; woodland; honeycombH3293 — Full Word Study → ridgeלְבָמ֥וֹתlə·ḇā·mō·wṯ — High place; elevated worship siteH1116 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Micah 3
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Micah 3 is a scathing indictment of Israel's leadership—judges, rulers, false prophets, and priests—who have abandoned justice and exploited the vulnerable for personal gain. The prophet contrasts the corruption of human leaders with his own empowerment by God's Spirit to speak truth. This chapter demonstrates that religious profession without righteous conduct is spiritually bankrupt, and that God will judge those who use their authority to oppress rather than serve His people.

Verses 1-3: The Brutality of Unjust Leaders

Micah opens by demanding that Jacob's heads and Israel's princes listen to a fundamental question: don't they know what judgment means? The answer is painfully clear—they do know but deliberately reject it. Their actions reveal hearts that "hate the good, and love the evil" (verse 2). The imagery in verses 2-3 is deliberately grotesque: leaders who "pluck off" skin and "eat the flesh" of God's people. This is not literal cannibalism but vivid language depicting how these rulers devour the poor and defenseless through unjust courts, heavy taxation, and predatory practices. They reduce human beings to raw material for their own enrichment, showing no more regard for justice than a butcher has for his meat.

Application: This passage reminds us that abuse of authority—whether in government, business, or church—is a grave sin. God's leaders are called to protect the vulnerable, not exploit them.

Verses 4-7: The Silence of God Over False Prophets

The judgment begins in verse 4: when these corrupt leaders cry to the LORD in their distress, He will not answer. He will hide His face because they "have behaved themselves ill in their doings." Their own wickedness seals them off from God's mercy.

Verses 5-7 turn specifically to the false prophets—spiritual leaders who "make my people err." These charlatans "bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace" (verse 5), promising safety and prosperity to anyone who pays them ("he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him"). Their message is conditional on profit, not conviction. As judgment, God removes their light entirely: "night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision" (verse 6). These seers will be "ashamed" and "confounded," forced to "cover their lips" because "there is no answer of God" (verse 7). Their spiritual authority is stripped away.

Application: False teachers who prioritize money over truth, and who craft comfortable messages rather than faithful ones, separate themselves from God's blessing. Believers should test all spiritual instruction against Scripture.

Verses 8-12: The True Prophet and Final Judgment

In sharp contrast, verse 8 presents Micah himself: "truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might." His authority comes not from self-appointment or popularity but from God's Spirit. He boldly declares to Jacob his sin and transgression.

Verses 9-11 return to condemn the leaders once more—judges who "abhor judgment" and "pervert all equity," who "build up Zion with blood" through injustice, and whose priests and prophets serve for hire rather than the LORD. Most damning is their hypocrisy: "yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us." They invoke God's protection while violating His character.

The chapter closes (verse 12) with the consequence: Jerusalem itself will become "heaps," and "the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest"—a prophecy of destruction fulfilled in 586 BC when Babylon conquered Judah. Religious privilege and national identity cannot protect those who abandon righteousness.

Application: Outward religion without inward obedience is worthless. We cannot claim God's blessing while pursuing selfish gain or injustice.

Application for Today

Micah 3 calls modern believers to examine whether our institutions—churches, Christian organizations, charities—are truly serving others in Christ's name or subtly serving themselves. Do our leaders seek justice and protect the vulnerable, or rationalize compromise for convenience? The chapter assures us that God sees, God knows, and God will judge. We are invited instead to align ourselves with the Spirit-filled courage of Micah, speaking truth even when unpopular.

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