King James Version

What Does Micah 1:11 Mean?

Micah 1:11 in the King James Version says “Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning...” — study this verse from Micah chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Bethezel; he shall receive of you his standing. thou: or, thou that dwellest fairly inhabitant: Heb. inhabitress Zaanan: or, The country of flocks Bethezel: or, A place near”

Micah 1:11 · KJV

Context

9

For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem. her: or, she is grievously sick of her wounds

10

Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust. Aphrah: that is, Dust

11

Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Bethezel; he shall receive of you his standing. thou: or, thou that dwellest fairly inhabitant: Heb. inhabitress Zaanan: or, The country of flocks Bethezel: or, A place near

12

For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem. inhabitant: Heb. inhabitress waited: or, was grieved

13

O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee. inhabitant: Heb. inhabitress

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked (עִבְרִי־לָכֶם יוֹשֶׁבֶת שָׁפִיר עֶרְיָה בֹשֶׁת, ivri-lakhem yoshevet Shaphir eryah boshet). שָׁפִיר (Shaphir) means "beautiful/pleasant"; the irony is devastating—Beautiful-town will experience עֶרְיָה (eryah, nakedness) and בֹשֶׁת (boshet, shame). Nakedness symbolized captives' humiliation, driven away exposed and vulnerable (Isaiah 20:4; Nahum 3:5).

The inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth (לֹא יָצְאָה יוֹשֶׁבֶת צַאֲנָן, lo yatse'ah yoshevet Tsa'anan). צַאֲנָן (Tsa'anan) sounds like יָצָא (yatsa, go out); the wordplay suggests "Going-out-town cannot go out"—trapped, besieged, unable to escape or help neighbors. In the mourning of Beth-ezel (מִסְפַּד בֵּית הָאֵצֶל, misped beit ha-Etsel)—בֵּית הָאֵצֶל (beit ha-Etsel, "house of proximity/nearness") offers no help despite being nearby; he shall receive of you his standing (יִקַּח מִכֶּם עֶמְדָּתוֹ, yiqqach mikkem emdato) may mean the conqueror takes away their support/standing-place.

The progression depicts cascading failure—beauty becomes shame, movement becomes paralysis, proximity provides no protection. Each town's destiny ironically contradicts its name or nature. This poetic technique hammers home judgment's comprehensive scope—no city escapes, no location offers refuge. The covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28:15-68) specified such reversals: fortified cities would fall (v. 52), wealth would be plundered (v. 51), dignity would become disgrace (v. 37). Micah witnesses these curses' fulfillment.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The towns mentioned—Saphir, Zaanan, Beth-ezel—were located in Judah's Shephelah region. While their exact locations remain debated by archaeologists, they clearly represent communities devastated during Assyrian invasion. Sennacherib's annals boast of conquering 46 fortified Judean cities and deporting 200,150 people—likely exaggerated but reflecting massive destruction.

Ancient Near Eastern warfare intentionally humiliated conquered populations. Assyrian reliefs depict captives naked, bound, and impaled. The psychological trauma of seeing your hometown destroyed, neighbors killed or enslaved, and yourself stripped naked before enemies cannot be overstated. Micah's prophecy prepared Judeans for this horror, explaining it as covenant judgment rather than mere military defeat. The theological message: these disasters weren't random but divine discipline for persistent sin.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do the ironic reversals (Beautiful-town shamed, Going-out-town trapped) illustrate the futility of trusting in anything except covenant faithfulness?
  2. What does the failure of nearby cities to help each other teach about human inability to save ourselves from divine judgment?
  3. In what ways might modern Christians trust in equivalent 'Saphirs' (beauty, wealth, strength) that judgment will expose as inadequate?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
עִבְרִ֥י1 of 16

“Pass ye away”

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

לָכֶ֛ם2 of 16
H0
יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת3 of 16

“the inhabitant”

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

שָׁפִ֖יר4 of 16

“of Saphir”

H8208

shaphir, a place in palestine

עֶרְיָה5 of 16

“naked”

H6181

nudity

בֹ֑שֶׁת6 of 16

“having thy shame”

H1322

shame (the feeling and the condition, as well as its cause); by implication (specifically) an idol

לֹ֤א7 of 16
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יָֽצְאָה֙8 of 16

“came not forth”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת9 of 16

“the inhabitant”

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

צַֽאֲנָ֔ן10 of 16

“of Zaanan”

H6630

zaanan, a place in palestine

מִסְפַּד֙11 of 16

“in the mourning”

H4553

a lamentation

בֵּ֣ית12 of 16
H1004

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

הָאֵ֔צֶל13 of 16
H1009

beth-arbel, a place in palestine

יִקַּ֥ח14 of 16

“he shall receive”

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

מִכֶּ֖ם15 of 16
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

עֶמְדָּתֽוֹ׃16 of 16

“of you his standing”

H5979

a station, i.e., domicile

Study Guide

Historical Context

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

Theological Significance

Micah 1:11 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 Micah 1:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 20:4Nahum 3:5Micah 1:8Jeremiah 48:6Isaiah 16:2Jeremiah 13:22

Places in This Verse

Beth-ezelSettlement · Modern: Deir al Asal al Fauqa · 31.47°N, 34.94°E1 verse across 1 book
ShaphirSettlement · Modern: Tell as Sawafir · 31.71°N, 34.70°E1 verse across 1 book
ZaananSettlement · Modern: Tell ed Duweir · 31.57°N, 34.85°E1 verse across 1 book
View all places in Micah 1 →

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