Micah Chapter 1 — Judgment on Samaria and Jerusalem
Micah warns that God is coming to judge Samaria and Jerusalem for their disobedience. He expresses deep sorrow through a series of laments for various cities facing destruction.
1The LORD’s*When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh). word that came to Micah of Morasheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
2Hear, you peoples, all of you!
3For behold,‡“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. the LORD comes out of his place,
4The mountains melt under him,
5“All this is for the disobedience of Jacob,
6Therefore I will make Samaria like a rubble heap of the field,
7All her idols will be beaten to pieces,
8For this I will lament and wail.
9For her wounds are incurable;
10Don’t tell it in Gath.
11Pass on, inhabitant of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame.
12For the inhabitant of Maroth waits anxiously for good,
13Harness the chariot to the swift steed, inhabitant of Lachish.
14Therefore you will give a parting gift to Moresheth Gath.
15I will yet bring a conqueror to you, inhabitants of Mareshah.
16Shave your heads,
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Micah 1:3
“For behold, the LORD comes out of his place, and will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.”
This verse establishes the awesome power and authority of God as He intervenes in human history to bring judgment.
Micah 1:6
“Therefore I will make Samaria like a rubble heap of the field, like places for planting vineyards; and I will pour down its stones into the valley, and I will uncover its foundations.”
It vividly describes the total physical destruction that would come upon the capital of the Northern Kingdom.
Chapter Summary
Micah Chapter 1 introduces the prophetic vision of Micah of Morasheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. The chapter begins with a dramatic description of the Lord descending from His dwelling place to judge the earth, causing mountains to melt and valleys to split. This judgment is specifically directed at Samaria and Jerusalem because of their disobedience and idolatry. The prophet foretells that Samaria will be reduced to a rubble heap and its idols will be shattered. Overwhelmed by this vision, Micah laments and wails, describing an incurable wound that reaches even the gates of Jerusalem. The final section of the chapter lists several towns, using wordplay to describe the coming shame and displacement they will suffer as a conqueror approaches. The people are ultimately called to mourn and shave their heads in grief for the exile of their children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Micah was a prophet from a small town in Judah who served during the reigns of Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He spoke to both the northern kingdom of Israel (Samaria) and the southern kingdom of Judah (Jerusalem).
According to the text, Samaria was judged because of its disobedience and persistent idolatry. The prophet specifically mentions the destruction of their carved images and idols as a consequence of their spiritual unfaithfulness.
The list of cities represents a geographic path of destruction. In the original Hebrew, Micah uses wordplay on each city's name to describe the specific disaster or shame that would befall its inhabitants during an invasion.
Study Note
The latter half of the chapter contains a series of Hebrew puns where the name of each town sounds like the fate that will befall it, a literary device used to emphasize the certainty of the coming judgment.
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