King James Version

What Does Micah 3:6 Mean?

Micah 3:6 in the King James Version says “Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not div...” — study this verse from Micah chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. that: vision: Heb. from a vision that: divine: Heb. from divining”

Micah 3:6 · KJV

Context

4

Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.

5

Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.

6

Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. that: vision: Heb. from a vision that: divine: Heb. from divining

7

Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God. lips: Heb. upper lip

8

But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. Divine judgment on false prophets is spiritual darkness and silence. לָכֵן לַיְלָה לָכֶם מֵחָזוֹן (lakhen laylah lakhem me-chazon, "Therefore night unto you from vision") announces withdrawal of prophetic revelation. חָזוֹן (chazon) refers to prophetic vision—God will stop speaking to them. וְחָשְׁכָה לָכֶם מִקְּסֹם (ve-chashkhah lakhem mi-qesom, "and darkness unto you from divining") repeats the judgment. קֶסֶם (qesem) is divination, often associated with pagan practices but here referring to their prophetic activity.

The imagery intensifies: וּבָאָה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ עַל־הַנְּבִיאִים וְקָדַר עֲלֵיהֶם הַיּוֹם (u-va'ah ha-shemesh al-ha-nevi'im ve-qadar aleihem ha-yom, "and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them"). Sun setting and day darkening depicts total loss of prophetic illumination. Amos threatened similar judgment: "I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day" (Amos 8:9). This isn't mere cessation of ministry but public exposure—their prophetic pretense will be stripped away.

The punishment fits the crime: they claimed to speak for God while speaking for profit. Now God will actually withdraw revelation, exposing their emptiness. They'll have nothing to say because they never had God's word in the first place. This terrifying judgment warns against presuming to speak for God without divine authorization.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Prophetic ministry in Israel required divine calling and authorization. True prophets received God's word through visions, dreams, and direct revelation (Numbers 12:6; 1 Samuel 3:1, 21). False prophets manufactured messages or spoke from their own imagination (Jeremiah 23:16, 25-32; Ezekiel 13:2-3). God's threatened withdrawal of revelation fulfilled dramatically during the intertestamental period (the 400 "silent years" between Malachi and John the Baptist). After Malachi, no canonical prophets arose until John, fulfilling warnings like Amos 8:11-12: "Behold, the days come...that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread...but of hearing the words of the LORD." For those who reject God's word, He eventually stops speaking—the most terrible judgment imaginable.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does it mean for God to withdraw revelation—how is spiritual darkness the ultimate prophetic judgment?
  2. How can we test whether contemporary prophetic claims come from God or human imagination/manipulation?
  3. What should we learn from God's willingness to impose spiritual famine on those who abuse prophetic ministry?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
לָכֵ֞ן1 of 14
H3651

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner

לַ֤יְלָה2 of 14

“Therefore night”

H3915

properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity

לָכֶם֙3 of 14
H0
מֵֽחָז֔וֹן4 of 14

“shall be unto you that ye shall not have a vision”

H2377

a sight (mentally), i.e., a dream, revelation, or oracle

וְחָשְׁכָ֥ה5 of 14

“and it shall be dark”

H2821

to be dark (as withholding light); transitively, to darken

לָכֶ֖ם6 of 14
H0
מִקְּסֹ֑ם7 of 14

“unto you that ye shall not divine”

H7080

properly, to distribute, i.e., determine by lot or magical scroll; by implication, to divine

וּבָ֤אָה8 of 14

“shall go down”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙9 of 14

“and the sun”

H8121

the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e., (architectural) a notched battlement

עַל10 of 14
H5921

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

הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים11 of 14

“over the prophets”

H5030

a prophet or (generally) inspired man

וְקָדַ֥ר12 of 14

“shall be dark”

H6937

to be ashy, i.e., dark-colored; by implication, to mourn (in sackcloth or sordid garments)

עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם13 of 14
H5921

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

הַיּֽוֹם׃14 of 14

“and the day”

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

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 3:6 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 3:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 8:20-22Isaiah 29:10Amos 8:9-10Isaiah 59:10Jeremiah 13:16Ezekiel 13:22-23

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