King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 26:18 Mean?

Jeremiah 26:18 in the King James Version says “Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thu... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 26 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

Jeremiah 26:18 · KJV


Context

16

Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.

17

Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying,

18

Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

19

Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD , and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls. the LORD, and the: Heb. the face of the LORD, etc

20

And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah—The elders cite Micah (מִיכָה הַמּוֹרַשְׁתִּי, Mikah HaMorashti) as historical precedent. Micah, from Moresheth-gath in Judah's lowlands, ministered during Hezekiah's reign (715-686 BC), approximately 100 years before Jeremiah's trial. The appeal to respected prophetic tradition demonstrates that Jeremiah's message wasn't unprecedented innovation but stood in continuity with Israel's prophetic heritage.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps—The elders quote Micah 3:12 exactly, proving the prophecy was preserved in communal memory. The imagery is devastating: Zion (צִיּוֹן, Tsiyon), the sacred temple mount, reduced to agricultural field; Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, Yerushalayim), the holy city, reduced to ruins (עִיִּים, iyim, 'heaps'). This prophecy was even harsher than Jeremiah's Shiloh analogy. Yet Micah wasn't executed, establishing legal precedent that prophesying Jerusalem's judgment wasn't capital treason.

And the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest—The 'mountain of the house' (הַר הַבַּיִת, har habayit) is the temple mount. Comparing it to 'high places of a forest' (בָּמוֹת יָעַר, bamot ya'ar) suggests desolation, overgrowth, and abandonment—the sacred site reverting to wilderness. This prophecy's preservation proves the community valued true prophecy even when painful.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Micah 3:12's fulfillment demonstrates prophetic accuracy. Though Hezekiah's repentance delayed judgment (v. 19), the prophecy ultimately came true in 586 BC when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem. The temple mount wasn't literally plowed, but the temple was demolished, the city razed, and the population exiled—fulfilling the prophecy's essential meaning. The elders' citation of Micah proved decisive: if Micah prophesied Jerusalem's destruction without being executed, and if that prophecy was validated by subsequent events, then Jeremiah deserved similar hearing. This argument from precedent saved Jeremiah's life and established that authentic prophetic criticism of Jerusalem didn't constitute treason.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Micah's precedent demonstrate that God's true prophets often deliver messages that challenge religious and political establishments?
  2. What does the preservation and citation of Micah 3:12 teach about the importance of maintaining and studying prophetic tradition?
  3. In what ways does the eventual fulfillment of both Micah's and Jeremiah's prophecies vindicate God's faithfulness to His word?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 28 words
מִיכָיה֙1 of 28

Micah

H4320

micajah, the name of two israelites

הַמּ֣וֹרַשְׁתִּ֔י2 of 28

the Morasthite

H4183

a morashtite or inhabitant of moresheth-gath

הָיָ֣ה3 of 28
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

נִבָּ֔א4 of 28

prophesied

H5012

to prophesy, i.e., speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)

בִּימֵ֖י5 of 28

in the days

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ6 of 28

of Hezekiah

H2396

chizkijah, a king of judah, also the name of two other israelites

מֶֽלֶךְ7 of 28

king

H4428

a king

יְהוּדָ֨ה8 of 28

of Judah

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

אָמַ֣ר׀9 of 28

Thus saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶל10 of 28
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

כָּל11 of 28
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

עַם֩12 of 28

to all the people

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

יְהוּדָ֨ה13 of 28

of Judah

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

אָמַ֣ר׀14 of 28

Thus saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

כֹּֽה15 of 28
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַ֣ר׀16 of 28

Thus saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֣ה17 of 28

the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

צְבָא֗וֹת18 of 28

of hosts

H6635

a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

צִיּ֞וֹן19 of 28

Zion

H6726

tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of jerusalem

שָׂדֶ֤ה20 of 28

like a field

H7704

a field (as flat)

תֵֽחָרֵשׁ֙21 of 28

shall be plowed

H2790

to scratch, i.e., (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad

וִירוּשָׁלַ֙יִם֙22 of 28

and Jerusalem

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

עִיִּ֣ים23 of 28

shall become heaps

H5856

a ruin (as if overturned)

תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה24 of 28
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

וְהַ֥ר25 of 28

and the mountain

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

הַבַּ֖יִת26 of 28

of the house

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

לְבָמ֥וֹת27 of 28

as the high places

H1116

an elevation

יָֽעַר׃28 of 28

of a forest

H3293

a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 26:18 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 26:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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