Micah 1

1 This is the word [divine message, utterance] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] that came to Micah [Micaiah, who is like God] the Moreshite [from Moresheth-gath, a town in Judah] in the days [period of time, era] of Jotham [Jehovah is perfect], Ahaz [he has grasped], and Hezekiah [Jehovah is my strength], kings [rulers, sovereigns] of Judah [praise, the southern kingdom]—what he saw [prophesied, perceived] regarding [concerning, about] Samaria [watch mountain, the northern kingdom] and Jerusalem [city of peace, the capital]: word study 2 Hear [listen carefully, pay attention], O peoples [nations], all of you; listen [hearken, give ear], O earth [land, ground], and everyone [all that is therein] in it! May the Lord [Adonay, Master] GOD [Yehovah] bear witness [testify, give evidence] against you, the Lord [Adonay, Sovereign] from His holy [set-apart, sacred] temple [sanctuary, divine dwelling place]. word study 3 For behold [look, see], the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] comes forth [is coming out, will come out] from His dwelling place [His location, abode]; He will come down [descend, go down] and tread [walk, step] on the high places [elevations, cultic platforms] of the earth [land, ground]. word study 4 The mountains [like wax, melting away] will melt [dissolve, become fluid] beneath Him, and the valleys [lowland areas, spiritual depths] will split apart [be cleft, broken open], like wax [a substance that melts easily] before the fire [burning, flame], like water [a source of refreshment] rushing down a slope [a steep descent, a downward flow]. word study 5 All this is for the transgression [rebellion, revolt against God] of Jacob [the father of the Israelites] and the sins [guilt, punishment for sin] of the house of Israel [the descendants of Jacob]. What is the transgression [disobedience, wickedness] of Jacob? Is it not Samaria [the capital of the northern kingdom]? And what is the high place [cultic platform, mountain] of Judah [the southern kingdom]? Is it not Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Judah]? word study 6 Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble [a heap of ruins, a pile of rubble] in the open field [a flat area of land, a cultivation ground], a planting area [plantations, a garden] for a vineyard [a garden or plot of land used for growing vines]. I will pour [flow, deliver] her stones [rocks, weights] into the valley [a deep, narrow valley, a gorge] and expose [reveal, uncover] her foundations [the base of a building, a starting point]. word study 7 All her carved images [graven idols, false gods] will be smashed to pieces; all her wages [payments for idolatrous practices, rewards of a prostitute] will be burned in the fire, and I will destroy [lay desolate, bring to ruin] all her idols [idolatrous images, objects of worship]. Since she collected [gathered, assembled] the wages [rewards, earnings] of a prostitute [one who commits idolatry, a harlot], they will be used again [return, go back] on a prostitute [one who is unfaithful, a harlot]. word study 8 Because of this [upon this situation, in response to this] I will lament [mourn deeply, express sorrow] and wail [cry out in anguish, howl]; I will walk [go, move about] barefoot [naked, stripped, without sandals] and naked [unclothed, exposed]. I will howl [make a loud, mournful cry] like a jackal [a wild, predatory animal] and mourn [lament, grieve] like an ostrich [a large, flightless bird, possibly unclean]. word study 9 For her wound is incurable [desperately wicked]; it has reached [come, extended] even Judah [the tribe, the region]; it has approached [touched, reached] the gate [entrance, doorway] of my people [nation, tribe], as far as [until, unto] Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital] itself. word study 10 Do not [refrain from, hold back] tell it in Gath [a major city of the Philistines, meaning winepress]; do not [never, under no circumstances] weep [cry, shed tears] at all [in any way, to any degree]. Roll [wallow, throw yourself] in the dust [dry earth, clay] in Beth-leaphrah [house of dust, Ophrah, a place near Palestine]. word study 11 Depart [pass away, leave] in shameful [exposed, bare] nakedness [without covering, vulnerable], O dwellers [inhabitants, residents] of Shaphir [the beautiful place]. The dwellers [inhabitants, people] of Zaanan [the place of going out, departure] will not come out [emerge, depart]. Beth-ezel [the house of narrowing, a place of distress] is in mourning [lamenting, grieving]; its support [foundation, stability] is taken [removed, withdrawn] from you [away from your presence, leaving you helpless]. word study 12 For the dwellers [inhabitants, residents] of Maroth [a town in Judah, meaning bitterness] pined [waited anxiously, longed] for good [welfare, prosperity], but calamity [evil, disaster] came down [descended, fell] from the LORD [Yehovah, the divine Ruler], even to the gate [entrance, doorway] of Jerusalem [the city of peace]. word study 13 Harness [bind, yoke] your chariot horses [swift steeds, teams of horses], O dweller [inhabitant, resident] of Lachish [a city in Palestine]. You were the beginning [first, starting point] of sin [transgression, rebellion] to the Daughter [female child, woman] of Zion [a mountain in Jerusalem, the city of God], for the transgressions [rebellions, revolts] of Israel [God’s chosen people] were found [discovered, uncovered] in you. word study 14 Therefore [so, thus, in agreement], send [to give, put, or set] farewell gifts [parting gift, a gift given when someone is sent away] to Moresheth-gath [possession of Gath, a place in Palestine]; the houses [dwelling place, family home] of Achzib [deceit, a town in Palestine] will prove [become, be] deceptive [a lie, false, deceitful thing] to the kings [royal person, ruler] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants]. word study 15 I will again [still, once more] bring a conqueror [one who possesses, takes control] against you, O dweller [inhabitant, one who sits] of Mareshah [a city in Judah]. The glory [great honor, splendor] of Israel [God’s chosen people] will come [approach, enter] to Adullam [a town in Palestine, a place of refuge]. word study 16 Shave yourselves bald [make yourselves completely bare] and cut off your hair [shear, like sheep] in mourning [deep sorrow, lamentation] for your precious [delightful, cherished] children; make yourselves as bald as an eagle [a vulture, a large bird of prey], for they will go [be taken away, removed] from you into exile [captivity, a foreign land]. word study