King James Version

What Does Micah 1:7 Mean?

Micah 1:7 in the King James Version says “And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, an... — study this verse from Micah chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.

Micah 1:7 · KJV


Context

5

For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem?

6

Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof.

7

And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.

8

Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls . owls: Heb. daughters of the owl

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


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire (וְכָל־פְּסִילֶיהָ יֻכַּתּוּ וְכָל־אֶתְנַנֶּיהָ יִשָּׂרְפוּ בָאֵשׁ, we-khol-pesileiha yukattu we-khol-etnanneiha yissarfu ba-esh). The פְּסִילִים (pesilim, graven/carved images) Israel crafted for idol worship will be smashed. אֶתְנָן (etnan) means "hire/wages of a prostitute"—disturbingly, Israel's idolatry is described using prostitution economics. They enriched pagan shrines with wealth that should have gone to Yahweh's temple.

For she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot (כִּי מֵאֶתְנַן זוֹנָה קִבָּצָה וְעַד־אֶתְנַן זוֹנָה יָשׁוּבוּ, ki me-etnan zonah qibbetsah we-ad-etnan zonah yashuvu). The phrase זוֹנָה (zonah, prostitute/harlot) appears three times, emphasizing spiritual adultery. Israel's idol shrines were funded by economic prosperity (the "hire"), but this wealth derived from covenant-breaking. Now it will "return" to prostitution—conquerors will plunder these idols, melting gold/silver for pagan temples.

The prostitution metaphor pervades prophetic literature (Hosea 1-3; Jeremiah 3:1-3; Ezekiel 16, 23). Israel was betrothed to Yahweh (Exodus 19:4-6) but played the harlot with other gods. Deuteronomy 23:18 forbade bringing prostitute's wages into God's house; Israel did worse—turning God's house into a prostitute's establishment. Their religious syncretism mixed Yahweh worship with Baal fertility cults, sometimes involving literal temple prostitution (1 Kings 14:24; 2 Kings 23:7). Judgment fits the crime: wealth gained through spiritual prostitution returns to literal idolaters.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The Northern Kingdom's idolatry began with Jeroboam I's golden calves at Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12:28-33), intended to prevent pilgrimages to Jerusalem. This political compromise led to deeper apostasy—Baal worship introduced by Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 16:31-33), child sacrifice in Molech's fires (2 Kings 17:17), and divination practices (2 Kings 17:17). Despite prophetic intervention (Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Hosea), idolatry became entrenched in Israel's culture and economy.

Fertility cults promised agricultural prosperity through ritual sex with temple prostitutes. Israel's wealth from trade routes (connecting Egypt, Phoenicia, and Mesopotamia) enriched these pagan shrines. When Assyria conquered Samaria (722 BC), they plundered temple treasures, fulfilling Micah's prophecy that idol-wealth would "return to the hire of a harlot." The theological point: covenant violation doesn't pay; apparent prosperity is temporary, and judgment is certain.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the prostitution metaphor expose the intimate betrayal involved in idolatry—not merely breaking rules but violating covenant relationship?
  2. What modern forms of spiritual adultery might Christians commit while maintaining external religious observance?
  3. How does the principle that ill-gotten wealth "returns to prostitution" apply to prosperity gained through ethical compromise?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וְכָל1 of 19
H3605

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

פְּסִילֶ֣יהָ2 of 19

And all the graven images

H6456

an idol

יֻכַּ֗תּוּ3 of 19

thereof shall be beaten to pieces

H3807

to bruise or violently strike

וְכָל4 of 19
H3605

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

אֶתְנַ֥ן5 of 19

and all the hires

H868

a gift (as the price of harlotry or idolatry)

יִשָּׂרְפ֣וּ6 of 19

thereof shall be burned

H8313

to be (causatively, set) on fire

בָאֵ֔שׁ7 of 19

with the fire

H784

fire (literally or figuratively)

וְכָל8 of 19
H3605

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

עֲצַבֶּ֖יהָ9 of 19

and all the idols

H6091

an (idolatrous) image

אָשִׂ֣ים10 of 19

thereof will I lay

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

שְׁמָמָ֑ה11 of 19

desolate

H8077

devastation; figuratively, astonishment

כִּ֠י12 of 19
H3588

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

אֶתְנַ֥ן13 of 19

and all the hires

H868

a gift (as the price of harlotry or idolatry)

זוֹנָ֖ה14 of 19

of an harlot

H2181

to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (

קִבָּ֔צָה15 of 19

for she gathered

H6908

to grasp, i.e., collect

וְעַד16 of 19
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

אֶתְנַ֥ן17 of 19

and all the hires

H868

a gift (as the price of harlotry or idolatry)

זוֹנָ֖ה18 of 19

of an harlot

H2181

to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (

יָשֽׁוּבוּ׃19 of 19

and they shall return

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);


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 1:7 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 1:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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