Micah 2:11

Authorized King James Version

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If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

Original Language Analysis

לוּ If H3863
לוּ If
Strong's: H3863
Word #: 1 of 14
a conditional particle; if; by implication (interj. as a wish) would that!
אִ֞ישׁ a man H376
אִ֞ישׁ a man
Strong's: H376
Word #: 2 of 14
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
הֹלֵ֥ךְ walking H1980
הֹלֵ֥ךְ walking
Strong's: H1980
Word #: 3 of 14
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
ר֙וּחַ֙ in the spirit H7307
ר֙וּחַ֙ in the spirit
Strong's: H7307
Word #: 4 of 14
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
וָשֶׁ֣קֶר and falsehood H8267
וָשֶׁ֣קֶר and falsehood
Strong's: H8267
Word #: 5 of 14
an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial)
כִּזֵּ֔ב do lie H3576
כִּזֵּ֔ב do lie
Strong's: H3576
Word #: 6 of 14
to lie (i.e., deceive), literally or figuratively
מַטִּ֖יף he shall even be the prophet H5197
מַטִּ֖יף he shall even be the prophet
Strong's: H5197
Word #: 7 of 14
to ooze, i.e., distil gradually; by implication, to fall in drops; figuratively, to speak by inspiration
לְךָ֔ H0
לְךָ֔
Strong's: H0
Word #: 8 of 14
לַיַּ֖יִן unto thee of wine H3196
לַיַּ֖יִן unto thee of wine
Strong's: H3196
Word #: 9 of 14
wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication
וְלַשֵּׁכָ֑ר and of strong drink H7941
וְלַשֵּׁכָ֑ר and of strong drink
Strong's: H7941
Word #: 10 of 14
an intoxicant, i.e., intensely alcoholic liquor
וְהָיָ֥ה H1961
וְהָיָ֥ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 11 of 14
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
מַטִּ֖יף he shall even be the prophet H5197
מַטִּ֖יף he shall even be the prophet
Strong's: H5197
Word #: 12 of 14
to ooze, i.e., distil gradually; by implication, to fall in drops; figuratively, to speak by inspiration
הָעָ֥ם of this people H5971
הָעָ֥ם of this people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 13 of 14
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
הַזֶּֽה׃ H2088
הַזֶּֽה׃
Strong's: H2088
Word #: 14 of 14
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

Cross References

Jeremiah 5:31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?Jeremiah 14:14Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.Jeremiah 28:15Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.Jeremiah 23:17They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.Jeremiah 23:14I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.Jeremiah 23:25I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.Jeremiah 23:32Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.1 Kings 22:6Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.Isaiah 9:15The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.1 John 4:1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Analysis & Commentary

If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie (לוּ־אִישׁ הֹלֵךְ רוּחַ וָשֶׁקֶר כִּזֵּב, lu-ish holekh ruach wa-sheqer kizzev). The phrase הֹלֵךְ רוּחַ וָשֶׁקֶר (holekh ruach wa-sheqer) literally means "walking in wind/spirit and falsehood"—perhaps "walking in empty wind" or "following a spirit of deception." כִּזֵּב (kizzev, lie/deceive) describes deliberate falsehood, not mere error.

Saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink (אַטִּף לְךָ לַיַּיִן וְלַשֵּׁכָר, attif lekha layyayin we-lashekhar). נָטַף (nataph, drip/prophesy—same root as v. 6) means preach. יַיִן (yayin, wine) and שֵׁכָר (shekhar, strong drink/beer) represent prosperity, celebration, ease. False prophets promise material abundance without demanding repentance or obedience. He shall even be the prophet of this people (וְהָיָה מַטִּיף הָעָם הַזֶּה, we-hayah mattif ha'am hazzeh)—such prophets gain popularity.

This biting satire exposes Israel's preference for comforting lies over convicting truth. They reject prophets calling for justice (v. 6-7) but embrace false prophets promising prosperity. Jeremiah condemned similar false prophets: "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14, 8:11). Paul warned Timothy: "The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears" (2 Timothy 4:3). Popularity isn't prophecy's validation; conformity to God's word is (Deuteronomy 18:20-22; Isaiah 8:20).

Historical Context

False prophecy plagued Israel throughout its history. During Ahab's reign, 400 prophets promised victory while one true prophet (Micaiah) predicted defeat (1 Kings 22). Jeremiah battled false prophets promising peace when Babylon approached (Jeremiah 23:9-40, 27:1-28:17). Hananiah falsely prophesied quick return from exile (Jeremiah 28); Jeremiah predicted—and Hananiah died—within the year. Ezekiel condemned prophets who "see vanity, and divine lies" (Ezekiel 13:6-9).

False prophets gained support because they affirmed audiences' desires—prosperity, security, divine favor—without demanding repentance. They were hireling prophets (Micah 3:5, 11), adapting messages to patrons' preferences. Jesus warned of false prophets in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). The early church faced false teachers promoting comfortable doctrines (2 Peter 2:1-3; Jude 1:4). Discernment requires testing prophets against Scripture (1 John 4:1-3), examining their fruit (Matthew 7:15-20), and comparing predictions to outcomes (Deuteronomy 18:22).

Questions for Reflection