Micah7
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat; my soul desireth the first-ripe fig.
2The godly man is perished out of the earth, and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.
3Their hands are upon that which is evil to do it diligently; the prince asketh, and the judge is ready for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth the evil desire of his soul: thus they weave it together.
4The best of them is as a brier; the most upright is worse than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen, even thy visitation, is come; now shall be their perplexity.
5Trust ye not in a neighbor; put ye not confidence in a friend; keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
6For the son dishonoreth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.
7But as for me, I will look unto Jehovah; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
8Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, Jehovah will be a light unto me.
9I will bear the indignation of Jehovah, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
10Then mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her who said unto me, Where is Jehovah thy God? Mine eyes shall see my desire upon her; now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.
11A day for building thy walls! in that day shall the decree be far removed.
12In that day shall they come unto thee from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, and from Egypt even to the River, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.
13Yet shall the land be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.
14Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thy heritage, which dwell solitarily, in the forest in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
15As in the days of thy coming forth out of the land of Egypt will I show unto them marvellous things.
16The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might; they shall lay their hand upon their mouth; their ears shall be deaf.
17They shall lick the dust like a serpent; like crawling things of the earth they shall come trembling out of their close places; they shall come with fear unto Jehovah our God, and shall be afraid because of thee.
18Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth over the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in lovingkindness.
19He will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities under foot; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
20Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the lovingkindness to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Micah 7.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The general prevalence of wickedness. (1–7). Reliance on God, and triumph over enemies. (8–13). Promises and encouragements for Israel. (14–20).
vv1-7
The prophet bemoans himself that he lived among a people ripening apace for ruin, in which many good persons would suffer. Men had no comfort, no satisfaction in their own families or in their nearest relations. Contempt and violation of domestic duties are a sad symptom of universal corruption. Those are never likely to come to good who are undutiful to their parents. The prophet saw no safety or comfort but in looking to the Lord, and waiting on God his salvation. When under trials, we should look continually to our Divine Redeemer, that we may have strength and grace to trust in him, and to be examples to those around us.
vv8-13
Those truly penitent for sin, will see great reason to be patient under affliction. When we complain to the Lord of the badness of the times, we ought to complain against ourselves for the badness of our hearts. We must depend upon God to work deliverance for us in due time. We must not only look to him, but look for him. In our greatest distresses, we shall see no reason to despair of salvation, if by faith we look to the Lord as the God of our salvation. Though enemies triumph and insult, they shall be silenced and put to shame. Though Zion's walls may long be in ruins, there will come a day when they shall be repaired. Israel shall come from all the remote parts, not turning back for discouragements. Though our enemies may seem to prevail against us, and to rejoice over us, we should not despond. Though cast down, we are not destroyed; we may join hope in God's mercy, with submission to his correction. No hinderances can prevent the favours the Lord intends for his church.
vv14-20
When God is about to deliver his people, he stirs up their friends to pray for them. Apply spiritually the prophet's prayer to Christ, to take care of his church, as the great Shepherd of the sheep, and to go before them, while they are here in this world as in a wood, in this world but not of it. God promises in answer to this prayer, he will do that for them which shall be repeating the miracles of former ages. As their sin brought them into bondage, so God's pardoning their sin brought them out. All who find pardoning mercy, cannot but wonder at that mercy; we have reason to stand amazed, if we know what it is. When the Lord takes away the guilt of sin, that it may not condemn us, he will break the power of sin, that it may not have dominion over us. If left to ourselves, our sins will be too hard for us; but God's grace shall be sufficient to subdue them, so that they shall not rule us, and then they shall not ruin us. When God forgives sin, he takes care that it never shall be remembered any more against the sinner. He casts their sins into the sea; not near the shore-side, where they may appear again, but into the depth of the sea, never to rise again. All their sins shall be cast there, for when God forgives sin, he forgives all. He will perfect that which concerns us, and with this good work will do all for us which our case requires, and which he has promised. These engagements relate to Christ, and the success of the gospel to the end of time, the future restoration of Israel, and the final prevailing of true religion in all lands. The Lord will perform his truth and mercy, not one jot or tittle of it shall fall to the ground: faithful is He that has promised, who also will do it. Let us remember that the Lord has given the security of his covenant, for strong consolation to all who flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them in Christ Jesus.
Key Words
אַלְלַי: alas!
קַיִץ: harvest (as the crop), whether the product (grain or fruit) or the (dry) season
אֹסֶף: a collection (of fruits)
בָּצִיר: clipped, i.e. the grape crop
עֹלֵלָה: only in plural gleanings; by extension gleaning-time
אֶשְׁכּוֹל: a bunch of grapes or other fruit
אָכַל: to eat (literally or figuratively)
בִּכּוּרָה: the early fig
נֶפֶשׁ: properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
אָוָה: to wish for
Cross References
Micah 7Jesus directly alludes to this verse when describing the domestic division of those who follow Him.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The foundational declaration of God's name (merciful, gracious, forgiving transgression) echoed in Micah's praise of God's character.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel lament over the perishing of the godly and faithful from among the children of men.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The description of the sons of Belial being like thrust-away thorns, matching Micah's brier and thorn comparison.
Supported by JFB
Identifies "her that lieth in thy bosom" as the wife, reinforcing the depth of societal breakdown.
Supported by JFB
The mocking question "Where is the Lord thy God?" is explicitly hurled at Messiah on the cross.
Supported by JFB
Licking the dust like a serpent alludes to the ultimate subjugation of God's enemies under the Edenic curse.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel exclamation of "Woe is me" and lean barrenness in a time of widespread spiritual decay.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Internal Micah parallel of princes judging for reward and leaders building up Zion with blood.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Expresses the identical posture of patiently waiting and quietly hoping for the salvation of the Lord.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates the penitent acceptance of the Lord's indignation and "accepting the punishment of their iniquity."
Supported by JFB
Prophetic parallel of the enemies of the Lord licking the dust in complete submission.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels Micah's statement that God "retaineth not his anger for ever" because He delights in mercy.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Zacharias celebrates the fulfillment of this very oath sworn to Abraham in the coming of Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry