Micah 6:15

15 You will plant but not harvest; you will press olives but not use the oil, you will crush grapes but not drink the wine.

Micah 6:15 in Other Translations

KJV
15 Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.
ESV
15 You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.
NLT
15 You will plant crops but not harvest them. You will press your olives but not get enough oil to anoint yourselves. You will trample the grapes but get no juice to make your wine.
MSG
15 You'll plant grass but never get a lawn. You'll make jelly but never spread it on your bread. You'll press apples but never drink the cider.
CSB
15 You will sow but not reap; you will press olives but not anoint yourself with oil; and [you will tread] grapes but not drink the wine.

Micah 6:15 Meaning and Commentary

Micah 6:15

Thou shall sow, but thou shalt not reap
Either that which is sown shall not spring up, but rot in the earth; or if it does spring up, and come to maturity, yet, before that, they should be removed into captivity, or slain by the sword, and their enemies should reap the increase of their land, their wheat and their grain: thou shall tread the olives;
in the olive press, to get out the oil: but thou shalt not anoint with oil;
as at feasts for refreshment, and at baths for health, this becoming another's property; or, it being a time of distress and mourning, would not be used, it being chiefly at festivals, and occasions of joy, that oil was used: and sweet wine;
that is, shalt tread the grapes in the winepress, to get out the sweet or new wine: but shalt not drink wine;
for, before it is fit to drink, the enemy would have it in his possession; see ( Leviticus 26:16 ) ( Deuteronomy 28:30 ) ; these are the punishments or corrections of the rod they are threatened with for their sins.

Micah 6:15 In-Context

13 Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin you because of your sins.
14 You will eat but not be satisfied; your stomach will still be empty.You will store up but save nothing, because what you save I will give to the sword.
15 You will plant but not harvest; you will press olives but not use the oil, you will crush grapes but not drink the wine.
16 You have observed the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their traditions. Therefore I will give you over to ruin and your people to derision; you will bear the scorn of the nations. ”

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Deuteronomy 28:38; Jeremiah 12:13
  • 2. Job 24:11; S Amos 5:11; Zephaniah 1:13
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