Micah1
New International Version
1The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
2Hear, you peoples, all of you, listen, earth and all who live in it, that the Sovereign Lord may bear witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
3Look! The Lord is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads on the heights of the earth.
4The mountains melt beneath him and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope.
5All this is because of Jacob’s transgression, because of the sins of the people of Israel. What is Jacob’s transgression? Is it not Samaria? What is Judah’s high place? Is it not Jerusalem?
6“Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble, a place for planting vineyards. I will pour her stones into the valley and lay bare her foundations.
7All her idols will be broken to pieces; all her temple gifts will be burned with fire; I will destroy all her images. Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes, as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used.”
8Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl.
9For Samaria’s plague is incurable; it has spread to Judah. It has reached the very gate of my people, even to Jerusalem itself.
10Tell it not in Gath; weep not at all. In Beth Ophrah roll in the dust.
11Pass by naked and in shame, you who live in Shaphir. Those who live in Zaanan will not come out. Beth Ezel is in mourning; it no longer protects you.
12Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain, waiting for relief, because disaster has come from the Lord, even to the gate of Jerusalem.
13You who live in Lachish, harness fast horses to the chariot. You are where the sin of Daughter Zion began, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
14Therefore you will give parting gifts to Moresheth Gath. The town of Akzib will prove deceptive to the kings of Israel.
15I will bring a conqueror against you who live in Mareshah. The nobles of Israel will flee to Adullam.
16Shave your head in mourning for the children in whom you delight; make yourself as bald as the vulture, for they will go from you into exile.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Micah 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The wrath of God against Israel. (1–7). Also against Jerusalem and other cities, Their precautions vain. (8–16).
vv1-7
The earth is called upon, with all that are therein, to hear the prophet. God's holy temple will not protect false professors. Neither men of high degree, as the mountains, nor men of low degree, as the valleys, can secure themselves or the land from the judgments of God. If sin be found in God's people he will not spare them; and their sins are most provoking to him, for they are most reproaching. When we feel the smart of sin, it behoves us to seek what is the sin we smart for. Persons and places most exalted, are most exposed to spiritual diseases. The vices of leaders and rulers shall be surely and sorely punished. The punishment answers the sin. What they gave to idols, never shall prosper, nor do them any good. What is got by one lust, is wasted on another.
vv8-16
The prophet laments that Israel's case is desperate; but declare it not in Gath. Gratify not those that make merry with the sins or with the sorrows of God's Israel. Roll thyself in the dust, as mourners used to do; let every house in Jerusalem become a house of Aphrah, “a house of dust.” When God makes the house dust it becomes us to humble ourselves to the dust under his mighty hand. Many places should share this mourning. The names have meanings which pointed out the miseries coming upon them; thereby to awaken the people to a holy fear of Divine wrath. All refuges but Christ, must be refuges of lies to those who trust in them; other heirs will succeed to every inheritance but that of heaven; and all glory will be turned into shame, except that honour which cometh from God only. Sinners may now disregard their neighbours' sufferings, yet their turn to be punished will some come.
Key Words
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
מִיכָה: Micah, the name of seven Israelites
מוֹרַשְׁתִּי: a Morashtite or inhabitant of Moresheth-Gath
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
יוֹתָם: Jotham, the name of three Israelites
אָחָז: Achaz, the name of a Jewish king and of an Israelite
יְחִזְקִיָּה: Jechizkijah, the name of five Israelites
מֶלֶךְ: a king
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
Cross References
Micah 1Micah uses the identical opening warning of his predecessor Micaiah son of Imlah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Solemn covenant appeal summoning the heaven, earth, and all creatures to witness Israel's judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel description of complete ruin, where the city becomes a heap of field stones.
Supported by JFB
Israel credits her idolatrous hires to false gods, which will be consumed as harlot's wages.
Supported by JFB
Verbal echo of crying out with the wailing of jackals (dragons) and ostriches (owls).
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Echoes David's famous lament 'tell it not in Gath' to avoid enemy rejoicing.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Same imagery of mountains melting like wax before the presence of the Lord.
Supported by JFB
Going stripped and barefoot as a visible prophetic sign of shameful captivity and mourning.
Supported by JFB
Verbal and geographic connection to Adullam, where David hid and Israel's glory was brought low.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Explicit historical confirmation of Micah's prophetic ministry in the days of King Hezekiah.
Identifies the Lord's witness originating from His holy temple in heaven.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel imagery of completely uncovering and discovering the foundations of the judged city.
Supported by JFB
Lachish featured as the critical fortress during Sennacherib's invasion of Judah.
Establishes Isaiah as Micah's contemporary prophet ministering during the same reigns.
Supported by John Calvin
Similar depiction of the sovereign Creator stepping forth and treading upon the high places.