Micah 3

Leaders and Prophets Rebuked

1 And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgmentJudgment: מִשְׁפָּט (Mishpat). The Hebrew mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט) means judgment or justice—God's righteous decisions and ordinances. God is the Judge of all the earth who 'shall do right' (Genesis 18:25), executing perfect justice.? Judgment: Hosea 5:1. Parallel theme: Isaiah 1:10

2 Who hate the good, and loveLove: אַהֲבָה / חֶסֶד (Ahavah / Chesed). Hebrew uses ahavah (אַהֲבָה) for love generally, but the covenant term chesed (חֶסֶד) describes God's steadfast, loyal love—faithful covenant commitment beyond mere emotion. the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; Evil: 1 Kings 21:20, Proverbs 28:4. Love: 2 Chronicles 19:2, Romans 12:9. Parallel theme: Psalms 53:4, Isaiah 3:15, Ezekiel 22:27 +2

3 Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron. Parallel theme: Psalms 14:4, Ezekiel 11:3, Zephaniah 3:3

4 Then shall they cry unto the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty., but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings. References Lord: Psalms 18:41, Matthew 7:22. Parallel theme: Proverbs 1:28, Isaiah 1:15, 3:11, Ezekiel 8:18, James 2:13 +2

5 Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. Prophecy: Micah 2:11, 3:11, Jeremiah 23:32, Matthew 7:15. References Lord: Malachi 2:8, Romans 16:18. Peace: Jeremiah 6:14. Parallel theme: Isaiah 3:12, Jeremiah 23:27, Matthew 15:14 +5

6 Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. Prophecy: Isaiah 29:10. Parallel theme: Isaiah 59:10

7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of GodGod: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim). The Hebrew Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is a plural form denoting majesty and fullness of deity. Though grammatically plural, it takes singular verbs when referring to the one true God, suggesting the Trinity's plurality within unity.. References God: Amos 8:11. Parallel theme: Leviticus 13:45, 1 Samuel 28:6, Isaiah 44:25, Ezekiel 24:17, 24:22, Zechariah 13:4 +2

8 But truly I am full of power by the spiritSpirit: רוּחַ (Ruach). The Hebrew ruach (רוּחַ) means spirit, wind, or breath—invisible but powerful. It describes both the Holy Spirit and the human spirit. God's Spirit gives life and empowers His people. of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. Judgment: Ezekiel 22:2. Sin: Isaiah 58:1. Spirit: Job 32:18, Ezekiel 3:14, 1 Corinthians 2:4. References Israel: Ezekiel 43:10. Parallel theme: Jeremiah 1:18, 20:9, Ezekiel 16:2, Matthew 7:29 +5

9 Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgmentJudgment: מִשְׁפָּט (Mishpat). The Hebrew mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט) means judgment or justice—God's righteous decisions and ordinances. God is the Judge of all the earth who 'shall do right' (Genesis 18:25), executing perfect justice., and pervert all equity. Judgment: Deuteronomy 27:19, Isaiah 1:23. Parallel theme: Proverbs 17:15

10 They build up Zion with bloodBlood: דָּם (Dam). The Hebrew dam (דָּם) means blood—representing life itself. 'The life of the flesh is in the blood' (Leviticus 17:11), and blood was required for atonement, foreshadowing Christ's sacrifice., and Jerusalem with iniquity.

11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us. Prophecy: Micah 3:5, Jeremiah 6:13, 8:10. Judgment: Micah 7:3, Isaiah 1:23. References Lord: Numbers 16:15, Isaiah 48:2, Jeremiah 7:4. Parallel theme: Titus 1:11, 1 Peter 5:2 +5

12 Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest. References Jerusalem: Psalms 79:1, Jeremiah 26:18. Parallel theme: Micah 1:6, Psalms 107:34, Matthew 24:2