Micah 3:8-12

8 But as for me, ¹I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob ²his transgression and to Israel his sin.

9 ³Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, ⁴who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight,

10 ⁵who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity.

11 ⁶Its heads give judgment for a bribe; ⁷its priests teach for a price; ⁸its prophets practice divination for money; ⁹yet they lean on the LORD and ¹⁰say, "Is not the LORD in the midst of us? ¹¹No disaster shall come upon us."

12 Therefore because of you ¹²Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem ¹³shall become a heap of ruins, and ¹⁴the mountain of the house ¹⁵a wooded height.

Micah 3:8-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO MICAH 3

In this chapter the prophet reproves and threatens both princes and prophets, first separately, and then conjunctly; first the heads and princes of the people, civil magistrates, for their ignorance of justice, and hatred of good, and love of evil, and for their oppression and cruelty; and they are threatened with distress when they should cry unto the Lord, and should not be heard by him, Mic 3:1-4; next the prophets are taken to task, for their voraciousness, avarice, and false prophesying; and are threatened with darkness, with want of vision, and of an answer from the Lord, and with shame and confusion, Mic 3:5-7; and the prophet being full of the Spirit and power of God, to declare the sins and transgressions of Jacob and Israel, Mic 3:8, very freely declaims against princes, priests, and prophets, all together; who, though guilty of very notorious crimes, yet were in great security, and promised themselves impunity, Mic 3:9-11; wherefore the city and temple of Jerusalem are threatened with an utter desolation, Mic 3:12.

Cross References

• 1. [Jeremiah 6:11]
• 2. Micah 1:5; Isaiah 58:1; [Ezekiel 23:36]
• 3. See Micah 1:2
• 4. [ver. 2]
• 5. Jeremiah 22:13; Ezekiel 22:27; Habakkuk 2:12
• 6. Micah 7:3; Isaiah 1:23
• 7. See Jeremiah 6:13
• 8. [ver. 5; Ezekiel 22:25]
• 9. Isaiah 48:2
• 10. Jeremiah 7:4; [Amos 5:14]
• 11. [Jeremiah 23:17; Amos 9:10]
• 12. Cited Jeremiah 26:18
• 13. [Micah 1:6]
• 14. Micah 4:2
• 15. [Luke 13:35]