Micah 2:11

Verse

If a man of wind were to come and say falsely, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be just the preacher for this people!

American Standard Version (1901)

If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

Bible in Basic English

If a man came with a false spirit of deceit, saying, I will be a prophet to you of wine and strong drink: he would be the sort of prophet for this people.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Would God I were not a man that hath the spirit, and that I rather spoke a lie: I will let drop to thee of wine, and of drunkenness: and it shall be this people upon whom it shall drop.

Free Bible Version

If a false prophet should come to you and lie, saying, “I'll preach to you about the virtues of wine and alcohol,” he would be the perfect prophet for your kind of people.

Geneva Bible 1599

If a man walke in the Spirit, and would lie falsely, saying, I wil prophecie vnto thee of wine, and of strong drinke, he shall euen be the prophet of this people.

King James (Authorized) Version

If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

Translation for Translators

You people want a prophet who will lie to you, saying ‘I will preach that you should drink plenty of wine and other alcoholic drinks!’ That is the kind of prophet who would please you.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

If someone comes to you in a spirit of falsehood and lies and says, “I will prophesy to you about wine and strong drink,” he would be considered to be a prophet for this people.

Noah Webster Bible

If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood doth lie, saying , I will prophesy to thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

World English Bible

If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood lies, saying, “I will prophesy to you of wine and of strong drink,” he would be the prophet of this people.

Young's Literal Translation

If one is going [with] the wind, And [with] falsehood hath lied: 'I prophesy to thee of wine, and of strong drink,' He hath been the prophet of this people!

Context

Reproof of False Prophets

¹⁰Arise and depart, for this is not your place of rest, because its defilement brings destruction— a grievous destruction! ¹¹If a man of wind were to come and say falsely, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be just the preacher for this people!

Summary

Micah 2:11 warns against false prophets who mislead God's people with lies and deceit, promising peace and prosperity to those who pay them. The verse highlights the importance of discerning true prophets from false ones by their message and actions, as true prophets speak the truth of God's word without seeking personal gain. It serves as a reminder to remain vigilant and test the spirits to ensure they align with the teachings of Scripture, guarding against deception and false teachings that lead people astray. Ultimately, the verse emphasizes the need for spiritual discernment and reliance on God's guidance to avoid being led astray by those who distort the truth for their own benefit.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood - The meaning is: If a man who professes to be Divinely inspired do lie, by prophesying of plenty, etc., then such a person shall be received as a true prophet by this people. It not unfrequently happens that the Christless worldling, who has got into the priest's office for a maintenance, and who leaves the people undisturbed in their unregenerate state, is better received than the faithful pastor, who proclaims the justice of the Lord, and the necessity of repentance and forsaking sin, in order to their being made partakers of that holiness without which no man shall see God.

John Gill Bible Commentary

If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie,.... Who pretends to be a prophet, and a spiritual man, and to be under the inspiration and influence of the Spirit of God, but utters nothing but lies and falsehoods; or who is actuated by a spirit of falsehood and lying; or, as in the margin, "walks with the wind, and lies falsely" (u); is full of wind and vanity; "after the wind" (w); and follows the dictates of his vain mind, and coins lies, and speaks false things: saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; or "drop a word unto thee" (x); that there will be good times, and nothing but good eating and drinking; and that men need not fear such dismal things befalling them as the prophets of the Lord spoke of; but may be cheerful and merry, and drink wine and strong drink, and not be afraid of their evil tidings: or, for wine and strong drink (y), so Kimchi; and the meaning is, that if they would give him a cup of wine, or a draught of strong drink, he would prophesy good things to them; the reverse of what is before said, as that they should continue in their land, and not depart from it; that this should be their rest, and they should remain therein, and not be destroyed in it, or cast out of it: he shall even be the prophet of this people; a "dropper" (z) to them; see Mic 2:6; such an one shall be acceptable to them; they will caress him, and prefer him to the true prophets of the Lord; which is mentioned to show the temper of the people, and how easily they were imposed upon, and their disrespect to the prophets of the Lord, as in Mic 2:6; to which subject the prophet here returns, as Kimchi observes. (u) "qui ambulat cum vento et falsitate mentiatur", Piscator; "ambulantem cum vento et fasitate mendacem", Cocceius. (w) So Hillerus in Burkius. (x) "stillabo tibi", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Burkius. (y) "pro vino", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius. (z) "stillator", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius, Cocceius.

Micah 2:11

Reproof of False Prophets

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

If a man of wind were to come and say falsely, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be just the preacher for this people!

American Standard Version (1901)

If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

Bible in Basic English

If a man came with a false spirit of deceit, saying, I will be a prophet to you of wine and strong drink: he would be the sort of prophet for this people.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Would God I were not a man that hath the spirit, and that I rather spoke a lie: I will let drop to thee of wine, and of drunkenness: and it shall be this people upon whom it shall drop.

Free Bible Version

If a false prophet should come to you and lie, saying, “I'll preach to you about the virtues of wine and alcohol,” he would be the perfect prophet for your kind of people.

Geneva Bible 1599

If a man walke in the Spirit, and would lie falsely, saying, I wil prophecie vnto thee of wine, and of strong drinke, he shall euen be the prophet of this people.

King James (Authorized) Version

If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

Translation for Translators

You people want a prophet who will lie to you, saying ‘I will preach that you should drink plenty of wine and other alcoholic drinks!’ That is the kind of prophet who would please you.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

If someone comes to you in a spirit of falsehood and lies and says, “I will prophesy to you about wine and strong drink,” he would be considered to be a prophet for this people.

Noah Webster Bible

If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood doth lie, saying , I will prophesy to thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

World English Bible

If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood lies, saying, “I will prophesy to you of wine and of strong drink,” he would be the prophet of this people.

Young's Literal Translation

If one is going [with] the wind, And [with] falsehood hath lied: 'I prophesy to thee of wine, and of strong drink,' He hath been the prophet of this people!

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Micah 2:11

Verse

Context

Reproof of False Prophets

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Micah 2:11

Reproof of False Prophets

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes