Micah 6 KJV
1 Hear ye now what the Lord saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
2 Hear ye, O mountains, the Lord's controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the Lord hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.
3 O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.
4 For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord.
6 Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
Micah 6 (Old Testament)
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
9 The Lord's voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.
10 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?
11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?
12 For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
Micah 6 (Old Testament)
13 Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.
14 Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.
15 Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.
16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| שִׁמְעוּ — shim‘ū | Verse 1 — “Hear now what the LORD says…” | “Hear,” listen. | Shim‘ū (“hear”) stresses obedient listening (“listen/hear”). Micah summons Israel to covenant court. The term requires moral attention. — C. F. Keil, Minor Prophets (1866) |
| רִיב — riv | Verse 1 — “…for the LORD has a controversy…” | “Lawsuit,” dispute. | Riv (“lawsuit”) describes covenant litigation (“controversy”). God indicts His people for breach. The term frames prophetic judgment. — Franz Delitzsch, Prophetic Commentary (1881) |
| הַרְאִיתִיךָ — har’ītikha | Verse 3 — “…what have I done unto thee?” | “Show,” reveal. | Har’ītikha (“to show”) marks God’s self-disclosure (“show/reveal”). He appeals to His faithful acts. The term highlights divine patience. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew Lexicon (1847) |
| הִגִּיד — higgid | Verse 8 — “…He has shown you, O man…” | “Declare,” make known. | Higgid (“to declare”) conveys authoritative revelation (“show/declare”). God clarifies true righteousness. The term underscores moral clarity. — Samuel Rolles Driver, OT Literature (1891) |
| חֶסֶד — chesed | Verse 8 — “…love mercy…” | “Mercy,” covenant loyalty. | Chesed (“covenant-love”) denotes loyal kindness (“mercy/steadfast love”). God demands this relational fidelity. The term is foundational to Hebrew ethics. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary (1881) |
| הַצְנֵעַ — hatznea‘ | Verse 8 — “…walk humbly…” | “Humbly,” modestly. | Hatznea‘ (“to be humble”) signifies lowly walking (“humbly”). Humility marks covenant obedience. The term balances justice with devotion. — A. B. Davidson, Hebrew Syntax (1894) |
| שֶׁקֶל — shekel | Verse 10 — “…wicked balances…” | “Weight,” measure. | Shekel (“weight”) symbolizes economic integrity (“weight/measure”). Corrupt commerce reflects social sin. The term critiques dishonesty. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon (1847) |
| אָוֶן — aven | Verse 12 — “…the rich men thereof are full of violence…” | “Iniquity,” wickedness. | Aven (“wickedness”) denotes destructive sin (“iniquity/evil”). Micah exposes systemic corruption. The term reveals moral decay. — C. F. Keil, Minor Prophets (1866) |
| תִּשָּׂא — tissā | Verse 16 — “…that you may bear the reproach…” | “Bear,” carry. | Tissā (“to bear”) implies enduring shame (“carry/bear”). Judgment becomes unavoidable. The term signals covenant consequence. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary (1881) |
| חַטֹּאת — chattot | Verse 7 — “…thousands of rams…” | “Sin offering.” | Chattot (“sin-offering”) reflects ritual atonement (“sin offering”). Micah contrasts outward sacrifice with inward righteousness. The term critiques hollow religion. — Samuel Rolles Driver, OT Literature (1891) |
Chapter 6
Verse: "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)
Lesson: This verse reminds us of our responsibilities as followers of God: to act justly, to show mercy, and to have a humble heart before him.
Conclusion: Our relationship with God should be characterized by obedience and a desire to do what is right. As we seek to live out these principles in our own lives, we can have a positive impact on the world around us.
Prayer points: Ask God to help you live a life of justice, mercy, and humility, and to show you how you can make a difference in the world.
