Micah 3:9-12

9 Now hear this, 1heads of the house of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel, Who 2abhor justice And twist everything that is straight,
10 Who 3build Zion with bloodshed And Jerusalem with violent injustice.
11 Her leaders pronounce 4judgment for a bribe, Her 5priests instruct for a price And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD saying, "6Is not the LORD in our midst? Calamity will not come upon us."
12 Therefore, on account of you 7Zion will be plowed as a field, 8Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, And the 9mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest.

Micah 3:9-12 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 9

  • 1. Micah 1:1
  • 2. Psalms 58:1, 2; Isaiah 1:23
  • 3. Jeremiah 22:13, 17; Habakkuk 2:12
  • 4. Isaiah 1:23; Micah 7:3
  • 5. Jeremiah 6:13
  • 6. Isaiah 48:2
  • 7. Jeremiah 26:18
  • 8. Psalms 79:1; Jeremiah 9:11
  • 9. Micah 4:1

Footnotes 1

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