Micah 6:9-16

Verdict of Judgment

9 The voice of the Lord calls out to the city[a] (and it is wise to fear Your name): "Pay attention to the rod and the One who ordained it.[b]
10 Are there still[c] the treasures of wickedness and the accursed short measure in the house of the wicked?
11 Can I excuse wicked scales or bags of deceptive weights?
12 For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; the tongues in their mouths are deceitful.
13 "As a result, I have begun to strike you severely,[d] bringing desolation because of your sins.
14 You will eat but not be satisfied, for there will be hunger within you. What you acquire, you cannot save, and what you do save, I will give to the sword.[e]
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.
16 The statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab's house have been observed; you have followed their policies.[f] Therefore, I will make you a desolate place and the city's[g] residents an object of contempt;[h] you will bear the scorn of My people."[i]

Micah 6:9-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO MICAH 6

This chapter contains reproofs of the people of Israel for their sins, threatening them with punishment for them. The prophet is bid to tell them of the controversy the Lord had with them, which he did, Mic 6:1,2; and the Lord calls upon them to declare if they had any thing to object to his attitude towards them, Mic 6:3; and then puts them in mind of the favours they had received from him, in bringing them out of Egypt, and giving them such useful persons to go before them, lead and instruct them, as he had, Mic 6:4; and also reminds them of what passed between Balak, king of Moab, and Balaam the soothsayer; the questions of the one, and the answer of the other; whereby the designs of the former against them were frustrated, Mic 6:5-8; but since the voice of the Lord by his prophet was disregarded by them, they are called upon to hearken to the voice of his rod, Mic 6:9; which should be laid upon them for their fraudulent dealings, injustice, oppression, lies, and deceit, Mic 6:10-12; and therefore are threatened with sickness and desolation, and a deprivation of all good things, the fruit of their labours, Mic 6:13-15; and that because the statutes of Omri, the works of Ahab, and their counsels, were observed by them, Mic 6:16.

Footnotes 9

  • [a]. Jerusalem
  • [b]. Or attention, you tribe. Who has ordained it?; Hb obscure
  • [c]. Hb obscure
  • [d]. LXX, Aq, Theod, Syr, Vg; MT reads I have made [you] sick by striking you down
  • [e]. Hb obscure
  • [f]. 1 Kg 16:25-34; 2 Kg 21:3; 2 Ch 21:6,13
  • [g]. Lit and its
  • [h]. Lit residents a hissing
  • [i]. LXX reads of the peoples
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