Micah 3:9-11

9 Hear this, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel, who despise justice and distort all that is right;
10 who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness.
11 Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the LORD’s support and say, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us.”

Micah 3:9-11 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. Psalms 58:1-2; S Isaiah 1:23
  • 2. S Jeremiah 22:13
  • 3. Isaiah 59:7; Micah 7:2; Nahum 3:1; Habakkuk 2:12
  • 4. Jeremiah 22:17; S Ezekiel 22:27
  • 5. S Exodus 23:8; S Leviticus 19:15; Malachi 2:9
  • 6. S Ezekiel 13:19
  • 7. Isaiah 1:23; S Isaiah 56:11; Jeremiah 6:13; S Lamentations 4:13; S Hosea 4:8,18
  • 8. S Isaiah 10:20
  • 9. Jeremiah 7:4; S Ezekiel 34:2
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.