Micah 6

King James Version

Full text for Micah Chapter 6

1¶ Hear 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.

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?

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?

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.

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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The LORD brings a legal case against Israel, reminding them of His past deliverance and faithfulness. He challenges their superficial offerings, declaring His true requirement is to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him. However, the city is condemned for its pervasive wickedness, including deceitful practices and violence, leading to divine judgment and desolation for their disobedience.

Medium Summary

Micah 6 opens with the LORD calling the mountains and earth to witness His controversy with Israel, recounting His faithful acts from their deliverance out of Egypt through the time of Balak and Balaam. The people then question how they should approach God, suggesting elaborate sacrifices like burnt offerings, thousands of rams, or even their firstborn. The LORD responds by revealing His true demand: not ritualistic offerings, but rather to "do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." Following this, the LORD's voice addresses the city, exposing its deep-seated corruption, including dishonest business practices, violence, and widespread deceit among its inhabitants. Consequently, divine judgment is pronounced, promising sickness, desolation, and futility in their labors, as a direct result of their adherence to the wicked statutes of Omri and the house of Ahab.

Long Summary

The chapter begins with the LORD initiating a legal dispute against His people, calling upon the mountains and the strong foundations of the earth to bear witness to His controversy with Israel. He tenderly questions their weariness, reminding them of His steadfast love and powerful acts of deliverance, such as bringing them out of Egypt, sending Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, and thwarting Balak's curse through Balaam. This historical recounting serves to highlight God's unwavering righteousness and their lack of gratitude. In response, the people inquire about the appropriate way to approach the LORD, suggesting increasingly extravagant sacrifices, from year-old calves and thousands of rams to rivers of oil, and even the offering of their firstborn. The LORD then provides a profound answer, clarifying that He has already shown humanity what is good, and His true requirement is not external ritual, but internal transformation expressed through ethical living: "to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." The focus then shifts to the city, where the LORD's voice exposes the pervasive moral corruption. He condemns the presence of wicked treasures, scant and deceitful measures, dishonest balances, and the violence and lies spoken by its rich men and inhabitants. Due to these widespread transgressions and their adherence to the idolatrous statutes of Omri and the works of Ahab, the LORD declares a series of severe judgments. These include sickness, desolation, an inability to find satisfaction, futility in their efforts to save, unfulfilled harvests, and the inability to enjoy the fruits of their labor, ultimately leading to their reproach and destruction.

Core Concepts

  • The LORD's ControversyGod initiates a legal case against Israel, calling creation to witness His just complaint against His unfaithful people, despite His past acts of deliverance.
  • True Worship vs. RitualThe chapter contrasts Israel's proposed elaborate sacrifices (burnt offerings, firstborn) with God's actual requirement, which is ethical living rather than mere ritual.
  • Divine RequirementsGod explicitly states what He requires of humanity: "to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God," emphasizing moral conduct over ceremonial acts.
  • Societal CorruptionThe city is condemned for widespread wickedness, including dishonest business practices (scant measures, deceitful weights), violence, and lies among its inhabitants.
  • Consequences of DisobedienceAs a result of their sins and adherence to wicked practices (like those of Omri and Ahab), Israel faces divine judgment, including sickness, desolation, and futility in their labor.
  • Historical RemembranceThe LORD reminds Israel of key historical events, such as the Exodus and the incident with Balak and Balaam, to underscore His faithfulness and their lack of remembrance.