Micah Chapter 6

The Case against Israel

1Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.

2Hear 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.

3O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.

4For 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.

5O 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.

6Wherewith 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?

7Will 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?

8He 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?

The Punishment of Israel

9The 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.

10Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?

11Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?

12For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

13Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.

14Thou 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.

15Thou 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.

16For 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.

The Case against Israel

1 Listen now to what Yahweh says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear what you have to say.

2 Hear, you mountains, Yahweh’s controversy, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for Yahweh has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.

3 My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me!

4 For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage. I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

5 My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of Yahweh.”

6 How shall I come before Yahweh, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?

7 Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams? With tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience? The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

The Punishment of Israel

9 Yahweh’s voice calls to the city, and wisdom sees your name: “Listen to the rod, and he who appointed it.

10 Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a short ephah that is accursed?

11 Shall I be pure with dishonest scales, and with a bag of deceitful weights?

12 Her rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their speech.

13 Therefore I also have struck you with a grievous wound. I have made you desolate because of your sins.

14 You shall eat, but not be satisfied. Your humiliation will be in your midst. You will store up, but not save; and that which you save I will give up to the sword.

15 You will sow, but won’t reap. You will tread the olives, but won’t anoint yourself with oil; and crush grapes, but won’t drink the wine.

16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab. You walk in their counsels, that I may make you a ruin, and her inhabitants a hissing; And you will bear the reproach of my people.”

The Case against Israel

1 Hear now what the LORD says:

“Arise, plead your case before the mountains,

and let the hills hear your voice.

2 Hear, O mountains, the LORD’s indictment,

you enduring foundations of the earth.

For the LORD has a case against His people,

and He will argue it against Israel:

3 ‘My people, what have I done to you?

Testify against Me how I have wearied you!

4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt

and redeemed you from the house of slavery.

I sent Moses before you,

as well as Aaron and Miriam.

5 My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled

and what Balaam son of Beor answered.

Remember your journey from Shittim a to Gilgal,

so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’ ”

6 With what shall I come before the LORD

when I bow before the God on high?

Should I come to Him with burnt offerings,

with year-old calves?

7 Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,

with ten thousand rivers of oil?

Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression,

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good.

And what does the LORD require of you

but to act justly, to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with your God?

The Punishment of Israel

9 The voice of the LORD calls out to the city

(and it is sound wisdom to fear Your name):

“Heed the rod

and the One who ordained it.

10 Can I forget any longer,

O house of the wicked,

the treasures of wickedness

and the short ephah, which is accursed?

11 Can I excuse dishonest scales

or bags of false weights?

12 For the wealthy of the city

are full of violence,

and its residents speak lies;

their tongues are deceitful in their mouths.

13 Therefore I am striking you severely,

to ruin you because of your sins.

14 You will eat but not be satisfied,

and your hunger will remain with you.

What you acquire, you will not preserve;

and what you save, I will give to the sword.

15 You will sow but not reap;

you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil;

you will tread grapes but not drink the wine.

16 You have kept the statutes of Omri

and all the practices of Ahab’s house;

you have followed their counsel.

Therefore I will make you a desolation,

and your inhabitants an object of contempt;

you will bear the scorn of the nations. b”

Footnotes:

5 a Or Acacia Grove
16 b LXX; Hebrew scorn of My people

The Case against Israel

1Hear, I pray you, that which Jehovah is saying: 'Rise -- strive thou with the mountains, And cause thou the hills to hear thy voice.'

2Hear, O mountains, the strife of Jehovah, Ye strong ones -- foundations of earth! For a strife is to Jehovah, with His people, And with Israel He doth reason.

3O My people, what have I done to thee? And what -- have I wearied thee? Testify against Me.

4For I brought thee up from the land of Egypt, And from the house of servants I have ransomed thee, And I send before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

5O My people, remember, I pray you, What counsel did Balak king of Moab, What answer him did Balaam son of Beor, (From Shittim unto Gilgal,) In order to know the righteous acts of Jehovah.'

6With what do I come before Jehovah? Do I bow to God Most High? Do I come before Him with burnt-offerings? With calves -- sons of a year?

7Is Jehovah pleased with thousands of rams? With myriads of streams of oil? Do I give my first-born for my transgression? The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8He hath declared to thee, O man, what is good; Yea, what is Jehovah requiring of thee, Except -- to do judgment, and love kindness, And lowly to walk with thy God?

The Punishment of Israel

9A voice of Jehovah to the city calleth, And wisdom doth fear Thy name, Hear ye the rod, and Him who appointed it.

10Are there yet in the house of the wicked Treasures of wickedness, And the abhorred scanty ephah?

11Do I reckon it pure with balances of wickedness? And with a bag of deceitful stones?

12Whose rich ones have been full of violence, And its inhabitants have spoken falsehood, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

13And I also, I have begun to smite thee, To make desolate, because of thy sins.

14Thou -- thou eatest, and thou art not satisfied, And thy pit is in thy midst, And thou removest, and dost not deliver, And that which thou deliverest, to a sword I give.

15Thou -- thou sowest, and thou dost not reap, Thou -- thou treadest the olive, And thou pourest not out oil, And new wine -- and thou drinkest not wine.

16And kept habitually are the statutes of Omri, And all the work of the house of Ahab, And ye do walk in their counsels, For My giving thee for a desolation, And its inhabitants for a hissing, And the reproach of My people ye do bear!

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Micah 6?

1.1Introduction to Micah 6

1.2Context of Micah 6

1.3Ancient Key Word Study

1.4Compare & Contrast

1.5Micah 6 Unique Insights

1.6Micah 6 Connections to Yeshua

1.7Micah 6 Scriptural Echoes

1.8Micah 6 Devotional

1.9Did You Know

What is the meaning of Micah 6?

Introduction to Micah 6

Micah 6 presents a dramatic courtroom scene where יהוה brings a legal case against His people Israel, exposing the deep spiritual corruption that lies beneath their religious practices. This chapter is a profound indictment of superficial religiosity, revealing the vast chasm between ritualistic worship and true heart-centered devotion. Through a powerful legal metaphor, the prophet exposes how external compliance can mask internal spiritual bankruptcy, challenging readers to examine the authenticity of their relationship with God.

Context of Micah 6

Situated within the prophetic discourse of Micah, this chapter continues the theme of judgment and covenant unfaithfulness introduced in previous chapters. The immediate context follows the hope-filled messianic prophecies of chapter 5, creating a stark contrast between divine promise and human failure. Micah speaks during a time of significant moral and spiritual decline in both Judah and Israel, when religious practices had become disconnected from genuine righteousness.

Within the broader biblical narrative, this chapter echoes the covenant relationship established at Sinai, particularly the Exodus 20 commandments and Deuteronomy 6:5‘s call to love יהוה with all one’s heart. It anticipates later prophetic critiques by figures like Isaiah and Amos, who similarly challenged the disconnect between ritual and true devotion.

Ancient Key Word Study

Contend (רִיב, riv): A legal term implying a formal lawsuit or dispute, suggesting יהוה approaches His people with judicial seriousness, not mere emotional frustration.
Mountains (הָרִים, harim): Used metaphorically to represent eternal witnesses to the covenant, recalling Deuteronomy 32:1‘s call to heaven and earth as testifiers.
Weary (הֶלְאֵתִי, he’leti): Implies exhaustion from persistent effort, suggesting divine patience has reached its limit with Israel’s repeated unfaithfulness.
Justice (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat): More than legal judgment, this term encompasses the entire concept of righteous living and divine order.
Kindness (חֶסֶד, chesed): The profound covenant love that goes beyond mere obligation, representing loyal, steadfast devotion.
Humble (הַצְנֵעַ, hatznea): Implies more than outward humility – a deep, internal posture of walking carefully with God.
Sin (חֵטְא, chet): Not just moral failure, but the deeper concept of missing the mark of God’s intended purpose.

Compare & Contrast

The chapter uses a courtroom metaphor, but unlike human legal proceedings, יהוה recalls acts of redemptive history to demonstrate His faithfulness, contrasting with Israel’s unfaithfulness.
The rhetorical questions about sacrifices highlight the stark difference between religious ritual and genuine heart transformation, challenging surface-level spirituality.
The mention of specific historical events like the Exodus demonstrates how divine redemption should inform current spiritual practice, not become a distant memory.
The progression from grand sacrificial offerings to the simple requirement of “doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly” represents a profound theological shift.

Micah 6 Unique Insights

The chapter reveals a profound theological truth about worship that transcends cultural and historical boundaries. יהוה is not seeking grand gestures or elaborate sacrificial systems, but a transformed heart. The famous verse about doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God represents a radical reimagining of spiritual devotion that cuts through religious performance.

Can a Bible Come to Life over a Coffee?

This biblical entry has a unique origin story. Find out how it came to be—and why your visit today is about so much more than words. Get your coffee ready—God’s about to visit. But will you open the door for Him?

I’m ready

Rabbinic commentary has long noted the depth of this passage. The phrase “walk humbly with your God” (הַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת עִם-אֱלֹהֶיךָ) suggests an intimate, personal relationship that goes beyond public displays of religiosity. This concept resonates with the Hasidic understanding of devekut – cleaving closely to God in every aspect of life.

The historical references to figures like Balak and Balaam (Numbers 22-24) remind readers of God’s consistent redemptive work, even in seemingly impossible situations. These references serve as a powerful reminder of divine faithfulness amidst human failure.

Micah 6 Connections to Yeshua

Yeshua’s ministry perfectly embodies the chapter’s core message. His critique of Pharisaical legalism in Matthew 23 mirrors Micah’s condemnation of empty religious practices. The call to “do justice, love kindness” finds its ultimate expression in Yeshua’s life and teachings, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount.

The emphasis on internal transformation over external ritual directly connects to Yeshua’s message of heart-level righteousness. His repeated challenges to religious performalism echo Micah’s prophetic critique, calling people to a genuine, transformative relationship with יהוה.

Micah 6 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter’s themes resonate throughout Scripture. 1 Samuel 15:22 similarly emphasizes obedience over sacrifice. Amos 5:21-24 provides a parallel prophetic critique of empty religious practices. James 1:27 in the New Testament continues this theme of pure, action-oriented faith.

Micah 6 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to move beyond religious performance to authentic spiritual transformation. It calls believers to examine the motives behind their worship, asking whether our spiritual practices stem from genuine love or mere obligation. God desires a relationship characterized by justice, kindness, and humility – not grand gestures or elaborate rituals.

Consider how you might “walk humbly with your God” today. This means embracing integrity in your daily interactions, showing compassion where it’s undeserved, and maintaining a posture of learning and dependence on God.

Did You Know

The legal metaphor in this chapter is a unique prophetic device, personifying the mountains and hills as covenant witnesses.
Ancient Near Eastern covenant documents often used similar legal language, making Micah’s approach culturally resonant.
The phrase “do justice, love kindness” appears in various forms in rabbinical literature, highlighting its foundational spiritual principle.
Archaeological evidence suggests that sacrificial practices were indeed elaborate during Micah’s time, making his critique particularly challenging.
The Hebrew understanding of “walking humbly” implies a daily, moment-by-moment relationship with God, not just occasional spiritual moments.
The chapter’s critique of religious hypocrisy was revolutionary for its time, challenging the established religious leadership.
The reference to Balak and Balaam serves as a reminder of God’s sovereignty over human schemes and plans.

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Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

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