Micah 3:5

False Prophets Judged

5 This is what the Lord says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray,^[a] who proclaim peace when they have [food] to sink their teeth into but declare war against the one who puts nothing in their mouths.

Micah 3:5 Meaning and Commentary

Micah 3:5

Thus saith the Lord, concerning the prophets that make my
people err
The false prophets, as the Targum; and as the description given of them shows; who, instead of directing the people in the right way, as by their office and characters as prophets they should have done, they led them into mistakes about matters of religion and civil government, and out of the way of their duty to God and men, and exposed them to great danger and distress; and this was the more aggravating, as they were the Lord's people by name and profession, whom they caused to err from his ways and worship, which brought his displeasure upon them: that bite with their teeth, and cry, peace;
prophesy smooth things, promise all kind of prosperity and plenty, and bite their lips, and keep in those distresses and calamities which they could not but see coming upon the people; or, while they are prophesying good things, they gnash their teeth against the prophets of the Lord, and bitterly inveigh against them for threatening with war, destruction, and captivity; or, by flattering the people with their lips, they bite them, devour their substance, and are the cause of their hurt and ruin; or rather, so long as the people fed them well, and they had a sufficiency to bite and live upon, they foretold happy days unto them, So the Targum,

``he that feeds them with a feast of flesh, they prophesy peace to him;''

which sense is confirmed by what follows, and he that putteth not into their mouth, they even declare war against
him;
who do not give them what they ask, or do not feed them according to their desire, do not keep a good table for them, and cram and pamper them, but neglect them, and do not provide well for them; these they threaten with one calamity or another that shall befall them; and endeavour to set their neighbours against them, and even the government itself, and do them all the mischief they can by defamation and slander.

Micah 3:5 In-Context

3 You eat the flesh of my people after you strip their skin from them and break their bones. You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a caldron."

4 Then they will cry out to the Lord, but He will not answer them. He will hide His face from them at that time because of the crimes they have committed.

5 This is what the Lord says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who proclaim peace when they have [food] to sink their teeth into but declare war against the one who puts nothing in their mouths.

6 Therefore, it will be night for you- without visions; it will grow dark for you- without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them.

7 Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners disappointed. They will all cover their mouths because there will be no answer from God.

Footnotes

• [a]. Isa 3:12; 9:15-16