Micah 7:19
He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Original Language Analysis
יָשׁ֣וּב
He will turn again
H7725
יָשׁ֣וּב
He will turn again
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
1 of 9
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
יְרַֽחֲמֵ֔נוּ
he will have compassion
H7355
יְרַֽחֲמֵ֔נוּ
he will have compassion
Strong's:
H7355
Word #:
2 of 9
to fondle; by implication, to love, especially to compassionate
יִכְבֹּ֖שׁ
upon us he will subdue
H3533
יִכְבֹּ֖שׁ
upon us he will subdue
Strong's:
H3533
Word #:
3 of 9
to tread down; hence, negatively, to disregard; positively, to conquer, subjugate, violate
וְתַשְׁלִ֛יךְ
and thou wilt cast
H7993
וְתַשְׁלִ֛יךְ
and thou wilt cast
Strong's:
H7993
Word #:
5 of 9
to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)
יָ֖ם
of the sea
H3220
יָ֖ם
of the sea
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
7 of 9
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
Cross References
Isaiah 38:17Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.Jeremiah 50:20In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.Romans 6:14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.Isaiah 43:25I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.Jeremiah 31:34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.Psalms 103:12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.Titus 2:14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.1 John 3:8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.Psalms 130:8And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.Romans 8:13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Historical Context
The image of casting sins into the sea resonated powerfully with an ancient people for whom the sea represented chaos, danger, and the unknowable deep (Exodus 15:1-10). What sinks to the ocean's depths is irretrievable, gone forever. This became the basis for the Jewish Tashlich ceremony on Rosh Hashanah when Jews symbolically cast breadcrumbs into water, representing sins being cast away. The prophecy found ultimate fulfillment in Christ who bore our sins away forever through His sacrifice.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's promise to cast sins into the sea's depths provide assurance against guilt and condemnation?
- What does it mean that God "subdues" rather than excuses our iniquities?
- How should the completeness of God's forgiveness affect our self-condemnation and accusations against others?
Analysis & Commentary
Continuing Micah's closing hymn: "He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." The verb shub ("turn again") emphasizes God's returning favor. "Have compassion" (yerachamenu) uses tender mercy language. "Subdue" (yikhbosh) means conquer—God doesn't excuse sin but defeats it. "Cast into sea's depths" (mashlich bi-metsulot yam) describes complete, irrecoverable removal. This anticipates Christ's substitutionary atonement where sins are remembered no more (Hebrews 8:12, 10:17). Our sins, laid on Christ, are removed "as far as the east is from the west" (Psalm 103:12).