King James Version
Micah 2
13 verses with commentary
Woe to Oppressors
Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
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KJV Study Commentary
Micah pronounces woe on oppressors: 'Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.' The Hebrew emphasizes premeditation: 'hosheve aven' (devisers of wickedness) lying awake plotting evil, then executing it at dawn. 'Because it is in the power of their hand' (ki yesh le-el yadam) literally mean...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
II.
(1) **Woe to them that devise.**—The prophet proceeds to denounce the sins for which the country was to receive condign punishment at the hands of God. There is a gradation in the terms employed: they mark the deliberate character of the acts: there were no extenuating circumstances. In the night they *formed* the plan, they *thought it out* upon their beds, and *carried it out* into execution...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
15-17. The five thousand rods, apportioned to the city out of the twenty-five thousand square, are to be laid off in a square of four thousand five hundred, with the two hundred fifty all around for suburbs.
**profane--**that is, not strictly sacred as the sacerdotal portions, but applied to secular uses.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Nebuchadnezzar's dream. (Dn 2:1-13) It is revealed to Daniel. (Dn 2:14-23) He obtains admission to the king. (Dn 2:24-30) The dream and the interpretation. (Dn 2:31-45) Honours to Daniel and his friends. (Dn 2:46-49)
**Verses 1-13** The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the labouring man is sweet an...
Read full commentary →And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. oppress: or, defraud
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away</strong> (וְחָמְדוּ שָׂדוֹת וְגָזָלוּ וּבָתִּים וְנָשָׂאוּ, <em>we-chamedu sadot we-gazalu u-vattim we-nase'u</em>). חָמַד (<em>chamad</em>, covet) violates the tenth commandment (Exodus 20:17); גָּזַל (<em>gazal</em>, seize violently/rob) describes theft through power. The powerful covet, then take by force—d...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) **And they covet fields.**—The act of Ahab and Jezebel in coveting and acquiring Naboth’s vineyard by violence and murder was no isolated incident. The desire to accumulate property in land, in contravention of the Mosaic Law, was denounced by Micah’s contemporary, Isaiah: “Woe unto them that join house to house. that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
15-17. The five thousand rods, apportioned to the city out of the twenty-five thousand square, are to be laid off in a square of four thousand five hundred, with the two hundred fifty all around for suburbs.
**profane--**that is, not strictly sacred as the sacerdotal portions, but applied to secular uses.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Nebuchadnezzar's dream. (Dn 2:1-13) It is revealed to Daniel. (Dn 2:14-23) He obtains admission to the king. (Dn 2:24-30) The dream and the interpretation. (Dn 2:31-45) Honours to Daniel and his friends. (Dn 2:46-49)
**Verses 1-13** The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the labouring man is sweet an...
Read full commentary →Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil</strong> (לָכֵן כֹּה־אָמַר יְהוָה הִנְנִי חֹשֵׁב עַל־הַמִּשְׁפָּחָה הַזֹּאת רָעָה, <em>lakhen koh-amar YHWH hineni choshev al-hammishpachah hazzo't ra'ah</em>). The divine "therefore" (לָכֵן, <em>lakhen</em>) links judgment to crime. God חֹשֵׁב (<em>choshev</em>, devises/plans) רָעָה (<em>ra'ah</em>, evil/calami...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **I devise an evil.**—As they devise evil against their brethren, so am I devising an evil against them: they shall bow their necks under a hostile yoke.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Nebuchadnezzar's dream. (Dn 2:1-13) It is revealed to Daniel. (Dn 2:14-23) He obtains admission to the king. (Dn 2:24-30) The dream and the interpretation. (Dn 2:31-45) Honours to Daniel and his friends. (Dn 2:46-49)
**Verses 1-13** The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the labouring man is sweet an...
Read full commentary →In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields. a doleful: Heb. a lamentation of lamentations turning: or, instead of restoring
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation</strong> (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִשָּׂא עֲלֵיכֶם מָשָׁל וְנָהָה נְהִי נִהְיָה, <em>bayyom hahu yissa aleikhem mashal we-nahah nehi nihyah</em>). "That day" (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, <em>bayyom hahu</em>) is judgment day. מָשָׁל (<em>mashal</em>, parable/proverb/taunt-song) indicates mocking poetry—enemies will com...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **Shall one take up a parable against you**—*i.e.,* the enemies shall repeat in mockery the doleful lamentations with which you bewail your pitiable state.
**Turning away he hath divided.**—Rather, *to an* *apostate*—*i.e.,* an idolater—*he hath divided our fields.* The land they were taking from others God would give into the hands of an idolatrous king.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Nebuchadnezzar's dream. (Dn 2:1-13) It is revealed to Daniel. (Dn 2:14-23) He obtains admission to the king. (Dn 2:24-30) The dream and the interpretation. (Dn 2:31-45) Honours to Daniel and his friends. (Dn 2:46-49)
**Verses 1-13** The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the labouring man is sweet an...
Read full commentary →Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD</strong> (לָכֵן לֹא־יִהְיֶה לְךָ מַשְׁלִיךְ חֶבֶל בְּגוֹרָל בִּקְהַל יְהוָה, <em>lakhen lo-yihyeh lekha mashlikh chevel be-goral bi-qehal YHWH</em>). מַשְׁלִיךְ חֶבֶל (<em>mashlikh chevel</em>, casting a measuring cord) refers to land redistribution by lot—the method used when Israel originally rec...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **Thou shalt have** none . . .*—i.e.,* thou shalt have no part or inheritance in the congregation of the Lord—apparently referring to the ancient division of the land by lot.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Nebuchadnezzar's dream. (Dn 2:1-13) It is revealed to Daniel. (Dn 2:14-23) He obtains admission to the king. (Dn 2:24-30) The dream and the interpretation. (Dn 2:31-45) Honours to Daniel and his friends. (Dn 2:46-49)
**Verses 1-13** The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the labouring man is sweet an...
Read full commentary →Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame. Prophesy ye: or, Prophesy not as they prophesy: Heb. Drop, etc
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them</strong> (אַל־תַּטִּפוּ יַטִּיפוּן לֹא־יַטִּפוּ לָאֵלֶּה, <em>al-tattifu yatifun lo-yattifu la-eleh</em>). תַּטִּפוּ (<em>tattifu</em>, from נָטַף, <em>nataph</em>, drip/preach) means prophesy, often with connotation of insistent, impassioned preaching. The repetition emphasizes insistence: "Don't preach! They...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) **Prophesy ye not.**—The construction of this verse is very confused, but the intention of it is fairly clear. It contains the address of the oppressors to the true prophets, and their reply. The oppressors desire the prophets to cease prophesying; nevertheless, the prophecies shall be continued, but without benefit to those who will not put away their shame.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Nebuchadnezzar's dream. (Dn 2:1-13) It is revealed to Daniel. (Dn 2:14-23) He obtains admission to the king. (Dn 2:24-30) The dream and the interpretation. (Dn 2:31-45) Honours to Daniel and his friends. (Dn 2:46-49)
**Verses 1-13** The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the labouring man is sweet an...
Read full commentary →O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly? straitened: or, shortened? uprightly: Heb. upright?
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened?</strong> (הֶאָמוּר בֵּית יַעֲקֹב הֲקָצַר רוּחַ יְהוָה, <em>he-amur beit Ya'aqov ha-qatsar ruach YHWH</em>). God responds to censorship demands (v. 6) with rhetorical questions. "Named the house of Jacob" acknowledges their covenant identity. קָצַר (<em>qatsar</em>, short/limited/straitened) asks: is God's רוּחַ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) **Is the spirit of the Lord straitened?**—In this verse the prophet expostulates with the people who are the people of the Lord, the house of Jacob, in name only. The Spirit of the Lord, who changeth not, is still the same towards them. They brought their sufferings on themselves; those who put away their shame, and walk uprightly, shall receive benefit from the prophet’s words.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Nebuchadnezzar's dream. (Dn 2:1-13) It is revealed to Daniel. (Dn 2:14-23) He obtains admission to the king. (Dn 2:24-30) The dream and the interpretation. (Dn 2:31-45) Honours to Daniel and his friends. (Dn 2:46-49)
**Verses 1-13** The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the labouring man is sweet an...
Read full commentary →Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war. of late: Heb. yesterday with the: Heb. over against a
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy</strong> (וְאֶתְמוּל עַמִּי לְאוֹיֵב יְקוֹמֵם, <em>we-etmul ammi le-oyev yeqomem</em>). אֶתְמוּל (<em>etmul</em>, recently/lately) indicates recent escalation. God's own עַמִּי (<em>ammi</em>, my people) have become לְאוֹיֵב (<em>le-oyev</em>, an enemy)—shocking role reversal. Covenant people acting as God's enemies is profound tragedy. קוֹמֵם...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(8) **Ye pull off the robe.**—Micah dwells upon the continued rapacity of the people. They robbed the quiet inoffensive traveller of both outer and inner garment; they took away both “cloke” and “coat.” (Comp. Matthew 5:40; Luke 6:29.)
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Nebuchadnezzar's dream. (Dn 2:1-13) It is revealed to Daniel. (Dn 2:14-23) He obtains admission to the king. (Dn 2:24-30) The dream and the interpretation. (Dn 2:31-45) Honours to Daniel and his friends. (Dn 2:46-49)
**Verses 1-13** The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the labouring man is sweet an...
Read full commentary →The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever. women: or, wives
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses</strong> (נְשֵׁי עַמִּי תְּגָרְשׁוּן מִבֵּית תַּעֲנֻגֶיהָ, <em>neshei ammi tegareshun mi-beit ta'anugeha</em>). נָשִׁים (<em>nashim</em>, women)—specifically widows or vulnerable women— are גָּרַשׁ (<em>garash</em>, cast out/driven away/expelled) from בֵּית תַּעֲנֻגֶיהָ (<em>beit ta'anugeha</em>, houses of their delight/ple...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(9) **The women of my people.**—They spared not even the widows and fatherless, the objects of God’s tender care.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**24. Benjamin--**Compare Jacob's prophecy (Ge 49:27; De 33:12). It alone with Judah had been throughout loyal to the house of David, so its prowess at the "night" of the national history was celebrated as well as in the "morning."
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Nebuchadnezzar's dream. (Dn 2:1-13) It is revealed to Daniel. (Dn 2:14-23) He obtains admission to the king. (Dn 2:24-30) The dream and the interpretation. (Dn 2:31-45) Honours to Daniel and his friends. (Dn 2:46-49)
**Verses 1-13** The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the labouring man is sweet an...
Read full commentary →Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest</strong> (קוּמוּ וּלְכוּ כִּי לֹא־זֹאת הַמְּנוּחָה, <em>qumu u-lekhu ki lo-zot hamenuchah</em>). The command קוּמוּ וּלְכוּ (<em>qumu u-lekhu</em>, arise and go) announces exile. Canaan was promised as מְנוּחָה (<em>menuchah</em>, rest/resting place—Deuteronomy 12:9; Psalm 95:11). But covenant violation forfeited this rest. The land itself vo...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(10) **This is not your rest.**—The Lord, requiting them for their cruelty to the poor and defenceless, declares that their own time of trouble was imminent. They should be thrust forth from the land which they polluted. It was no place of rest for them. “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**25. Simeon--**omitted in the blessing of Moses in De 33:1-29, perhaps because of the Simeonite "prince," who at Baal-peor led the Israelites in their idolatrous whoredoms with Midian (Nu 25:14).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Nebuchadnezzar's dream. (Dn 2:1-13) It is revealed to Daniel. (Dn 2:14-23) He obtains admission to the king. (Dn 2:24-30) The dream and the interpretation. (Dn 2:31-45) Honours to Daniel and his friends. (Dn 2:46-49)
**Verses 1-13** The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the labouring man is sweet an...
Read full commentary →If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people. walking: or, walk with the wind, and lie falsely
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie</strong> (לוּ־אִישׁ הֹלֵךְ רוּחַ וָשֶׁקֶר כִּזֵּב, <em>lu-ish holekh ruach wa-sheqer kizzev</em>). The phrase הֹלֵךְ רוּחַ וָשֶׁקֶר (<em>holekh ruach wa-sheqer</em>) literally means "walking in wind/spirit and falsehood"—perhaps "walking in empty wind" or "following a spirit of deception." כִּזֵּב (<em>kizzev</em>, lie/deceive) describes ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(11) **If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood**—*i.e.,* in a lying spirit, speaking smooth and pleasant things, such as the people loved to hear, after the fashion of Zedekiah, the son of Chenaanah—he will be a fit prophet for this people. So also Jeremiah spake: “The prophets prophesy falsely. . . . and my people love to have it so; and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jeremiah 5:31).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**26. Issachar--**Its ancient portion had been on the plain of Esdraelon. Compared (Ge 49:14) to "a strong ass crouching between two burdens," that is, tribute and tillage; never meddling with wars except in self-defense.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Nebuchadnezzar's dream. (Dn 2:1-13) It is revealed to Daniel. (Dn 2:14-23) He obtains admission to the king. (Dn 2:24-30) The dream and the interpretation. (Dn 2:31-45) Honours to Daniel and his friends. (Dn 2:46-49)
**Verses 1-13** The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the labouring man is sweet an...
Read full commentary →Promise of Deliverance
I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah , as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel</strong> (אָסֹף אֶאֱסֹף יַעֲקֹב כֻּלָּךְ קַבֵּץ אֲקַבֵּץ שְׁאֵרִית יִשְׂרָאֵל, <em>asof e'esof Ya'aqov kullakh qabbets aqabbets she'erit Yisrael</em>). The infinitive absolute construction אָסֹף אֶאֱסֹף (<em>asof e'esof</em>) and קַבֵּץ אֲקַבֵּץ (<em>qabbets aqabbets</em>) intensifies certainty—"I will...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(12, 13) **I will surely assemble** . . .—With a characteristic abruptness Micah turns from the height of sin and punishment to the height of the deliverance—from Ebal to Gerizim. Israel and the remnant shall be gathered together as a goodly flock in the luxuriant pastures of Idumæan Bozrah. The Breaker shall go before them as their Saviour and Deliverer, yea, even Jehovah at their head. The retur...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Nebuchadnezzar's dream. (Dn 2:1-13) It is revealed to Daniel. (Dn 2:14-23) He obtains admission to the king. (Dn 2:24-30) The dream and the interpretation. (Dn 2:31-45) Honours to Daniel and his friends. (Dn 2:46-49)
**Verses 1-13** The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the labouring man is sweet an...
Read full commentary →The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>The breaker is come up before them</strong> (עָלָה הַפֹּרֵץ לִפְנֵיהֶם, <em>alah happore ts lifneihem</em>). פֹּרֵץ (<em>porets</em>, breaker/one who breaks through) depicts a military leader breaking through enemy lines or a shepherd breaking down obstacles for his flock. This figure leads the way, clearing paths, removing barriers. Historically, this may picture leaders like Zerubbabel o...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(13) **The breaker.**—“This Breaker is, by the confession of the Jews, the title of the Messias. . . . The same appeareth by that saying of Moses Haddershan in Bereshith Rabba: The plantation from above is Messias; as it is written, the Breaker is come up before them’” (*Pearson, On the Creed,* Art. 6, note).
**Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by P...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Nebuchadnezzar's dream. (Dn 2:1-13) It is revealed to Daniel. (Dn 2:14-23) He obtains admission to the king. (Dn 2:24-30) The dream and the interpretation. (Dn 2:31-45) Honours to Daniel and his friends. (Dn 2:46-49)
**Verses 1-13** The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the labouring man is sweet an...
Read full commentary →