Micah 7:12-20

12 It will be a day when they will ¹come to you From Assyria and the cities of Egypt, From Egypt even to the Euphrates, Even from sea to sea and mountain to mountain.

13 And the earth will become ²desolate because of her inhabitants, On account of the ³fruit of their deeds.

14 ⁴Shepherd Your people with Your ⁵scepter, The flock of Your possession Which dwells by itself in the woodland, In the midst of a fruitful field. Let them feed in ⁶Bashan and Gilead ⁷As in the days of old.

15 "As in the days when you came out from the land of Egypt, I will show ⁸you miracles."

16 Nations ⁹will see and be ashamed Of all their might. They will ¹⁰put their hand on their mouth, Their ears will be deaf.

17 They will ¹¹lick the dust like a serpent, Like ¹²reptiles of the earth. They will come ¹³trembling out of their fortresses; To the LORD our God they will come in ¹⁴dread And they will be afraid before You.

18 Who is a God like You, who ¹⁵pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the ¹⁶remnant of His possession? He does not ¹⁷retain His anger forever, Because He ¹⁸delights in unchanging love.

19 He will again have compassion on us; ¹⁹He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will ²⁰cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea.

20 You will give ²¹truth to Jacob And unchanging love to Abraham, Which You ²²swore to our forefathers From the days of old.

Micah 7:12-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO MICAH 7

This chapter begins with a lamentation of the prophet, in the name of the church and people of God, concerning the general depravity and corruption of the times in which he lived, Mic 7:1-6; then declares what he was determined to do for his relief in such circumstances, Mic 7:7; comforts himself and the church with a good hope and firm belief of its being otherwise and better with them, to the shame and confusion of their enemies that now rejoiced, though without just reason for it, Mic 7:8-10; with promises of deliverance, after a desolation of the land for some time, Mic 7:11-13; and with the answer returned to the prayers of the prophet, Mic 7:14,15; which would issue in the astonishment of the world, and their subjection to the church of God, Mic 7:16,17; and the chapter is concluded with admiration at the pardoning grace and mercy of God, and his faithfulness to his promises, Mic 7:18-20.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 19:23-25; Isaiah 60:4, 9
• 2. Jeremiah 25:11; Micah 6:13
• 3. Isaiah 3:10, 11; Micah 3:4
• 4. Psalms 95:7; Isaiah 40:11; Isaiah 49:10; Micah 5:4
• 5. Leviticus 27:32; Psalms 23:4
• 6. Jeremiah 50:19
• 7. Amos 9:11
• 8. Exodus 3:20; Exodus 34:10; Psalms 78:12
• 9. Isaiah 26:11
• 10. Micah 3:7
• 11. Psalms 72:9; Isaiah 49:23
• 12. Deuteronomy 32:24
• 13. Psalms 18:45
• 14. Isaiah 25:3; Isaiah 59:19
• 15. Exodus 34:7, 9; Isaiah 43:25
• 16. Micah 2:12; Micah 4:7; Micah 5:7, 8
• 17. Ps 103:8, 9, 13
• 18. Jeremiah 32:41
• 19. Jeremiah 50:20
• 20. Isaiah 38:17; Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah 31:34
• 21. Genesis 24:27; Genesis 32:10
• 22. Deuteronomy 7:8, 12

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "he"
• [b] Lit "River"
• [c] Or "inheritance"
• [d] Or "Carmel"
• [e] Lit "him"
• [f] Lit "fastnesses"
• [g] Or "inheritance"
• [h] Or "lovingkindness"
• [i] Several ancient versions read "our"
• [j] Or "faithfulness"
• [k] Or "lovingkindness"