King James Version

What Does Micah 1:16 Mean?

Micah 1:16 in the King James Version says “Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into capti...” — study this verse from Micah chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.”

Micah 1:16 · KJV

Context

14

Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moreshethgath: the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel. to: or, for Moreshethgath Achzib: that is, A lie

15

Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel. inhabitant: Heb. inhabitress he: or, the glory of Israel shall, etc

16

Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children (קָרְחִי וָגֹזִּי עַל־בְּנֵי תַעֲנוּגָיִךְ, qorchi va-gozzi al-benei ta'anuggayikh). קָרַח (qarach, make bald) and גָּזַז (gazaz, shave/poll) describe mourning customs where parents cut/shaved hair over dead children. "Delicate children" (בְּנֵי תַעֲנוּגִים, benei ta'anuggim) emphasizes tender, cherished ones—heightening pathos. Though Mosaic law forbade certain mourning practices (Leviticus 19:27-28; Deuteronomy 14:1), this command uses hyperbole to convey devastating loss.

Enlarge thy baldness as the eagle (הַרְחִ בִי קָרְחָתֵךְ כַּנֶּשֶׁר, harchibi qorchatekh kannesh er). The נֶשֶׁר (nesher, eagle or vulture) molts feathers, appearing bald. Make your mourning as extensive as eagle's molt—complete, conspicuous desolation. For they are gone into captivity from thee (כִּי גָלוּ מִמֵּךְ, ki galu mimmekh). גָּלָה (galah, go into exile/captivity) explains the devastating loss—beloved children deported, families torn apart, heritage destroyed. Exile was ancient world's supreme catastrophe—losing homeland, temple, identity, freedom.

This concluding verse personalizes judgment's horror. Not abstract theological concepts but concrete human tragedy—parents mourning exiled children. The prophet began with cosmic witnesses (mountains/hills, 1:2) and ends with personal grief (bereaved parents). Judgment affects real people. The Babylonian exile later fulfilled this prophecy fully—Jerusalem's children marched to Babylon in chains (2 Kings 25:11; Psalm 137). Jesus wept foreseeing similar judgment (Luke 19:41-44; 23:28-31). God takes no pleasure in judgment (Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 33:11) yet cannot ignore persistent covenant violation.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Shaving the head was ancient Near Eastern mourning practice, expressing grief over death or disaster (Job 1:20; Isaiah 22:12; Jeremiah 16:6; Ezekiel 7:18; Amos 8:10). Though some mourning customs were forbidden as pagan (Leviticus 19:27-28; Deuteronomy 14:1-2), Micah's command is poetic/rhetorical, emphasizing the magnitude of coming loss. When Assyria conquered Judean cities (701 BC), they deported populations—Sennacherib boasted of exiling 200,150 people.

The prophecy found ultimate fulfillment in Babylonian exile (586 BC). Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, burned the temple, executed Judah's nobles, and deported survivors to Babylon (2 Kings 25). Psalm 137 captures this anguish: "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion." Lamentations describes mothers eating their children during Jerusalem's siege (Lamentations 2:20, 4:10). Micah's prophecy prepared Judah for this horror, explaining it as covenant judgment rather than divine failure. The hope: exile wasn't final; God promised restoration (Jeremiah 29:10-14; Isaiah 40:1-2).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the command to mourn for exiled children emphasize that judgment affects real people, not abstract theological categories?
  2. What does the progression from national judgment (ch. 1:2-5) to personal grief (1:16) teach about how covenant violation impacts individuals and families?
  3. In what ways should awareness of judgment's personal cost motivate urgent evangelism and intercession for the lost?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
קָרְחִ֣י1 of 11

“Make thee bald”

H7139

to depilate

וָגֹ֔זִּי2 of 11

“and poll”

H1494

to cut off; specifically to shear a flock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an enemy

עַל3 of 11
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

בְּנֵ֖י4 of 11

“children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

תַּעֲנוּגָ֑יִךְ5 of 11

“thee for thy delicate”

H8588

luxury

הַרְחִ֤בִי6 of 11

“enlarge”

H7337

to broaden (intransitive or transitive, literal or figurative)

קָרְחָתֵךְ֙7 of 11

“thy baldness”

H7144

baldness

כַּנֶּ֔שֶׁר8 of 11

“as the eagle”

H5404

the eagle (or other large bird of prey)

כִּ֥י9 of 11
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

גָל֖וּ10 of 11

“for they are gone into captivity”

H1540

to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal

מִמֵּֽךְ׃11 of 11
H4480

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

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 1:16 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 1:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 22:12Job 1:20Jeremiah 7:29Amos 8:10Jeremiah 16:6Isaiah 39:6-7

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