Micah 2:1-6

Woe to the Oppressors

1 1Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil 2on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in the power of their hand.
2 They covet fields and 3seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.
3 Therefore thus says the LORD: behold, against 4this family I am devising disaster,[a] from which you cannot remove your necks, and you 5shall not walk haughtily, 6for it will be a time of disaster.
4 In that day 7they shall take up a taunt song against you and moan bitterly, and say, "We are utterly ruined; 8he changes the portion of my people; 9how he removes it from me! 10To an apostate he allots our fields."
5 Therefore you will have none 11to cast the line by lot in the assembly of the LORD.
6 12"Do not preach"--thus they preach-- 13"one should not preach of such things; 14disgrace will not overtake us."

Micah 2:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO MICAH 2

In this chapter complaint is made of the sins of the people of Israel, and they are threatened with punishment for them. The sins they are charged with are covetousness, oppression, and injustice, which were premeditated, and done deliberately, Mic 2:1,2; therefore the Lord devised evil against them, they should not escape; and which would bring down their pride, and cause them to take up a lamentation, because they should not enjoy the portion of land that belonged to them, Mic 2:3-5; they are further charged with opposing the prophets of the Lord, the folly and wickedness of which is exposed, Mic 2:6,7; and with great inhumanity and barbarity, even to women and children, Mic 2:8,9; and therefore are ordered to expect and prepare for a removal out of their land, Mic 2:10; and the rather, since they gave encouragement and heed to false prophets, and delighted in them, Mic 2:11; and the chapter is concluded with words of comfort to the remnant among them, and with precious promises of the Messiah, and the blessings of grace by him, Mic 2:12,13.

Cross References 14

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. The same Hebrew word can mean evil or disaster, depending on the context
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.