King James Version

What Does Micah 6:12 Mean?

Micah 6:12 in the King James Version says “For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitf...” — study this verse from Micah chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.”

Micah 6:12 · KJV

Context

10

Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? Are: or, Is there yet unto every man an house of the, etc scant: Heb. measure of leanness

11

Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights? count: or, be pure with, etc

12

For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

13

Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.

14

Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.

Read Micah 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. This verse specifies Jerusalem's corruption. "The rich men" (עֲשִׁירֶיהָ, ashireha) are the wealthy elite—merchants, landowners, rulers. They are "full of violence" (מָלְאוּ חָמָס, male'u chamas). Chamas (violence, injustice, cruelty) describes economic exploitation—using power to oppress the vulnerable. Proverbs 22:16 warns: "He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches...shall surely come to want." Violence isn't limited to physical assault but includes systemic injustice.

"The inhabitants thereof have spoken lies" (וְיֹשְׁבֶיהָ דִּבְּרוּ־שָׁקֶר, ve-yoshveha dibru-shaker)—lying pervades society. Sheker (falsehood, deception) characterizes business dealings, legal testimony, and social interaction. "Their tongue is deceitful in their mouth" (וּלְשׁוֹנָם רְמִיָּה בְּפִיהֶם, u-leshonam remiyah be-fihem) emphasizes calculated deception—remiyah (deceit, treachery) isn't accidental error but intentional fraud. Jesus called Satan "a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44); lying reflects demonic character, not divine.

Why does God hate lying? Because truth reflects His nature—God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18). Bearing false witness violates the ninth commandment (Exodus 20:16). Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven abominations to God; two involve lying: "a lying tongue" and "a false witness that speaketh lies." Revelation 21:8 warns liars face the lake of fire. Yet society celebrates deception: misleading advertising, political spin, resume embellishment, social media facades. Believers must be truth-tellers, even at personal cost, because we serve the God of truth.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Judah's wealthy class exploited the poor systematically. Isaiah 5:8 condemned those who "join house to house, that lay field to field"—land consolidation forcing peasants into debt slavery. Jeremiah 5:27-28 described the wealthy grown fat through fraud. Ezekiel 22:29 charged: "The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully." This pattern persists: economic elites often amass wealth through exploitation, justified by legal loopholes and cultural acceptance. But God judges by His law, not human customs. James 5:1-6 pronounces woe on the rich who defraud laborers. The Church must champion economic justice, defending the exploited and denouncing oppressors.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does recognizing that "lying tongues" reflect Satan's character rather than God's nature convict you toward absolute truthfulness?
  2. In what areas might you be guilty of "violence" (exploitation, oppression) through economic or social power over others?
  3. What practical steps can you take to become a consistent truth-teller, even when honesty costs you personally, professionally, or socially?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 10 words
אֲשֶׁ֤ר1 of 10
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

עֲשִׁירֶ֙יהָ֙2 of 10

“For the rich men”

H6223

rich, whether literal or figurative (noble)

מָלְא֣וּ3 of 10

“thereof are full”

H4390

to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)

חָמָ֔ס4 of 10

“of violence”

H2555

violence; by implication, wrong; by metonymy unjust gain

וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ5 of 10

“and the inhabitants”

H3427

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

דִּבְּרוּ6 of 10

“thereof have spoken”

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

שָׁ֑קֶר7 of 10

“lies”

H8267

an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial)

וּלְשׁוֹנָ֖ם8 of 10

“and their tongue”

H3956

the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame,

רְמִיָּ֥ה9 of 10

“is deceitful”

H7423

remissness, treachery

בְּפִיהֶֽם׃10 of 10

“in their mouth”

H6310

the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos

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 6:12 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 6:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 9:8Hosea 7:13Isaiah 1:23Jeremiah 9:2-6Micah 2:1-2Isaiah 5:7

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