Micah 1:3

Judgment Against Samaria and Jerusalem

3 Look! The LORD is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads on the heights of the earth.

Micah 1:3 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
3 For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
3 For behold, the LORD is coming out of his place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth.
New Living Translation (NLT)
3 Look! The LORD is coming! He leaves his throne in heaven and tramples the heights of the earth.
The Message Bible (MSG)
3 Look, here he comes! God, from his place! He comes down and strides across mountains and hills.
American Standard Version (ASV)
3 For, behold, Jehovah cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
3 The LORD is going to come from his place. He is going to come down and step on the worship places of the earth.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
3 Look, the Lord is leaving His place and coming down to trample the heights of the earth.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
3 The LORD is about to come down from his home in heaven. He rules over the highest places on earth.

Micah 1:3 Meaning and Commentary

Micah 1:3

For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place
Out of heaven, the place of the house of his Shechinah or Majesty, as the Targum; where his throne is prepared; where he keeps his court, and displays his glory; from whence he removes, not by local motion, since he is everywhere; but by some manifest exertion of his power, either on the behalf of his people, or in taking vengeance on his and their enemies; or on them sinning against him, in which sense it is probably to be understood. It signifies not change of place, but of his dispensations; going out of his former customary method into another; removing, as Jarchi has it, from the throne of mercies to the throne of judgment; doing not acts of mercy, in which he delights, but exercising judgment, his strange work. So the Cabalistic writers F17 observe on the passage, that

``it cannot be understood of place properly taken, according to ( Isaiah 40:12 ) ( 1 Kings 8:27 ) ; for God is the place of the world, not the world his place; hence our wise men so expound the text, he cometh forth out of the measure of mercy, and goes into the measure of justice;''
or property of it. Some understand this of his leaving the temple at Jerusalem, and giving it up into the hands of the Chaldeans; but the former sense is best: and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth;
which are his footstool; Samaria and Jerusalem, built on mountains, and all other high towers and fortified places, together with men of high looks and haughty countenances, who exalt themselves like mountains, and swell with pride: these the Lord can easily subdue and humble, bring low and tread down like the mire of the street; perhaps there may be an allusion to the high places where idols were worshipped; and which were the cause of the Lord's wrath and vengeance, and of his coming forth, in this unusual way, in his providences.
FOOTNOTES:

F17 Kabala Denudata, par. 1. p. 408.

Micah 1:3 In-Context

1 The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
2 Hear, you peoples, all of you, listen, earth and all who live in it, that the Sovereign LORD may bear witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
3 Look! The LORD is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads on the heights of the earth.
4 The mountains melt beneath him and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope.
5 All this is because of Jacob’s transgression, because of the sins of the people of Israel. What is Jacob’s transgression? Is it not Samaria? What is Judah’s high place? Is it not Jerusalem?

Cross References 3

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