Micah 3:10
Micah 3:10 in Multiple Translations
who build Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem with iniquity.
They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.
They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.
They are building up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with evil-doing.
You are building Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with evil.
They build vp Zion with blood, and Ierusalem with iniquitie.
Building up Zion with blood, And Jerusalem with iniquity.
who build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.
They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.
You that build up Sion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.
It is as though you are building houses in Jerusalem on foundations that consist of murdering people and doing what is corrupt.
Berean Amplified Bible — Micah 3:10
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Micah 3:10 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בֹּנֶ֥ה
צִיּ֖וֹן
בְּ/דָמִ֑ים
וִ/ירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
בְּ/עַוְלָֽה
בֹּנֶ֥ה
bânâh
H1129
to build
V-Qal
צִיּ֖וֹן
Tsîyôwn
H6726
Zion
N-proper
בְּ/דָמִ֑ים
dâm
H1818
blood
Prep | N-mp
וִ/ירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
Yᵉrûwshâlaim
H3389
Jerusalem
Conj | N-proper
בְּ/עַוְלָֽה
ʻevel
H5766
injustice
Prep | N-cs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Micah 3:10
בֹּנֶ֥ה
bânâh
H1129
"to build"
V-Qal
The Hebrew word bânâh means to build something, like a house or a family. It can also mean to establish or repair something, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: 1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to build, rebuild 1a2) to build a house (ie, establish a family) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be built 1b2) to be rebuilt 1b3) established (of restored exiles) (fig.) 1b4) established (made permanent) 1b5) to be built up (of childless wife becoming the mother of a family through the children of a concubine) Aramaic equivalent: be.nah (בְּנָה "to build" H1124)
Usage: Occurs in 345 OT verses. KJV: (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely. See also: Genesis 2:22; 1 Kings 8:48; 2 Chronicles 20:8.
צִיּ֖וֹן
Tsîyôwn
H6726
"Zion"
N-proper
Zion refers to a mountain in Jerusalem, often used as another name for the city, especially in prophetic books like Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Definition: Zion = "parched place" another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 153 OT verses. KJV: Zion. See also: 2 Samuel 5:7; Isaiah 49:14; Psalms 2:6.
בְּ/דָמִ֑ים
dâm
H1818
"blood"
Prep | N-mp
Blood refers to the liquid that flows through the body, essential for life. In the Bible, blood is often used to symbolize life, guilt, or sacrifice, as seen in the story of Jesus' crucifixion.
Definition: 1) blood 1a) of wine (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 295 OT verses. KJV: blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent. See also: Genesis 4:10; Numbers 19:5; Psalms 5:7.
וִ/ירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
Yᵉrûwshâlaim
H3389
"Jerusalem"
Conj | N-proper
Jerusalem is the capital city of Palestine, also known as the city of peace. It was the chief city of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
Definition: § Jerusalem = "teaching of peace" the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split
Usage: Occurs in 600 OT verses. KJV: Jerusalem. See also: Joshua 10:1; 2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 24:6.
בְּ/עַוְלָֽה
ʻevel
H5766
"injustice"
Prep | N-cs
Injustice or moral evil is what this word represents, covering violent deeds, unfair speech, and general wrongdoing. It is used to describe actions that go against God's standards of righteousness.
Definition: injustice, unrighteousness Another spelling of av.lah (עַוְלָה "injustice" H5766B)
Usage: Occurs in 51 OT verses. KJV: iniquity, perverseness, unjust(-ly), unrighteousness(-ly); wicked(-ness). See also: Leviticus 19:15; Psalms 64:7; Psalms 7:4.
Study Notes — Micah 3:10
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Micah 3:10 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Micah 3:10
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Micah 3:10
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Micah 3:10
- Trapp's Commentary on Micah 3:10
- Ellicott's Commentary on Micah 3:10
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Micah 3:10
- Cambridge Bible on Micah 3:10
- Barnes' Notes on Micah 3:10
- Whedon's Commentary on Micah 3:10
- Sermons on Micah 3:10
Context — Rulers and Prophets Condemned
8As for me, however, I am filled with power by the Spirit of the LORD, with justice and courage, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.
9Now hear this, O leaders of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who despise justice and pervert all that is right,
10who build Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem with iniquity.
11Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.” 12Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Habakkuk 2:9–12 | Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, to place his nest on high and escape the hand of disaster! You have plotted shame for your house by cutting off many peoples and forfeiting your life. For the stones will cry out from the wall, and the rafters will echo it from the woodwork. Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by iniquity! |
| 2 | Jeremiah 22:13–17 | “Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages, who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace, with spacious upper rooms.’ So he cuts windows in it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermilion. Does it make you a king to excel in cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He administered justice and righteousness, and so it went well with him. He took up the cause of the poor and needy, and so it went well with him. Is this not what it means to know Me?” declares the LORD. “But your eyes and heart are set on nothing except your own dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood, on practicing extortion and oppression.” |
| 3 | Matthew 27:25 | All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” |
| 4 | John 11:50 | You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” |
| 5 | Zephaniah 3:3 | Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning. |
| 6 | Ezekiel 22:25–28 | The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her. Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain. Her prophets whitewash these deeds by false visions and lying divinations, saying, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says,’ when the LORD has not spoken. |
Micah 3:10 Summary
This verse is talking about the leaders of Jerusalem who were using violent and unjust means to gain power and wealth, which is the opposite of what God wants for His people, as seen in Micah 6:8. According to the Bible, God wants us to love and care for each other, and to prioritize justice and compassion, as taught in Matthew 22:37-40 and Luke 10:25-37. When we build our lives and communities on a foundation of love and justice, we can create a more peaceful and harmonious world, as encouraged in Psalm 119:165 and Isaiah 32:17. By following God's principles, we can work towards creating a brighter future for everyone, as described in Revelation 21:1-4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to build a city with bloodshed and iniquity?
According to Micah 3:10, building a city with bloodshed and iniquity refers to the sinful and violent actions of the leaders of Jerusalem, who have used unjust means to gain power and wealth, as seen in other passages like Isaiah 1:21 and Jeremiah 22:13.
Is this verse talking about a specific time period or location?
This verse is specifically addressing the city of Jerusalem and the leaders of the house of Jacob and Israel, as mentioned in Micah 3:9, but its principles can be applied to any time or place where leaders prioritize their own interests over justice and righteousness, similar to what is described in Ezekiel 22:6 and Habakkuk 2:12.
How does this verse relate to God's overall plan for His people?
This verse is a part of God's warning to His people about the consequences of their sinful actions, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:15 and Leviticus 26:14-39, and serves as a call to repentance and a return to following God's laws and principles, as encouraged in 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Psalm 51:17.
What can we learn from the actions of the leaders in this verse?
We can learn that our actions have consequences, and that prioritizing our own interests over justice and righteousness can lead to destruction and chaos, as seen in Proverbs 10:9 and 1 Peter 4:17, and that we should strive to live according to God's standards of justice and compassion, as taught in Micah 6:8 and Matthew 23:23.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I may be contributing to the 'bloodshed and iniquity' in my own community, and how can I work to make a positive change?
- How can I balance my desire for success and prosperity with the need to prioritize justice and righteousness in my life, as encouraged in Psalm 37:3-7 and Proverbs 28:20?
- What are some ways that I can 'build up' my community and the people around me, rather than tearing them down, as seen in Ephesians 4:29-32 and 1 Thessalonians 5:11?
- How does this verse challenge my understanding of what it means to be a 'good' leader or citizen, and what changes can I make in my own life to reflect a greater commitment to justice and compassion, as taught in Matthew 20:26-28 and Mark 9:35?
Gill's Exposition on Micah 3:10
They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. Or, "O thou that buildest up" (g), c. or "everyone of them that buildeth up" (h), c.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Micah 3:10
They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. They - change of person from "ye" (Micah 3:9); the third person puts them to a greater distance, as estranged from him. It is literally 'Whosoever builds,' sing.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Micah 3:10
They; heads, princes, judges, and great ones among them. Build up; enlarge or beautify, and fortify. Zion; the houses in Zion, or perhaps may be meant the temple and its buildings, and the royal palace of the kings of Judah. With blood; with wealth and gifts which these builders made themselves masters of by violence, taking away the life of the owners, or else fining and amercing them. By this course they wrested part of their estates from them, by the other they seized all; they also for gain sometimes acquitted the guilty, and freed them in capital cases, and so sold the blood of the innocent. And Jerusalem with iniquity; by such injustice Jerusalem was brought to ruin at last, though some particular persons and families did raise themselves, their houses and palaces, to a present largeness and stateliness.
Trapp's Commentary on Micah 3:10
Micah 3:10 They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.Ver. 10. They build up Zion with blood] Heb. bloods, that is, with goods gotten by rapine and robbery, to the utter undoing of many poor oppressed, whose livelihood is their life, Mark 12:44 Luke 8:43. How much better Selimus, the Great Turk, who, being upon his death bed moved by Pyrrhus, the basha, to bestow the great wealth taken by him from the Persian merchants upon some notable hospital for relief of the poor, took order that those evil gotten goods should be forthwith restored again to the right owners, to the shame of many Christians who will not be drawn to do so. Our Henry VII, indeed, in his last will and testament, devised and willed restitution should be made of all such moneys as had unjustly been levied by his officers. But how few such princes are to be found! It is held a goodly thing to build Zion, though it be with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. But God, as he will not have ex rapina holocaustum, so he infinitely abhorreth all those who, under pretext of religion in building some poor hospital with the fragments of their accursed wealth, seek to make him a party, a partaker of their cruelty, as those did, Isaiah 66:8; Isaiah 66:4 Mark 7:11 Matthew 23:14. Our Henry III, when he had, after his many great exactions, sent the friar minors a load of frieze to clothe them, had the same sent back again with this message, That he ought not to give alms of what he had rent from the poor, neither would they accept of that abominable gift. Zion is not to be builded or beautified with bloods. A kind of coarse woollen cloth, with a nap, usually on one side only ŒD
Ellicott's Commentary on Micah 3:10
(10) They build up Zion with blood—i.e., they acquire money for the erection of splendid buildings by spoliation and robbery, not stopping short of murder. So also Habakkuk (Micah 2:12) denounces the king of Babylon for the bloody wars with which he obtained wealth for the enlargement of the city.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Micah 3:10
Verse 10. They build up Zion with blood] They might cry out loudly against that butchery practised by Pekah, king of Israel, and Pul coadjutor of Rezie, against the Jews. See on Micah 2:9. But these were by no means clear themselves; for if they strengthened the city, or decorated the temple, it was by the produce of their exactions and oppressions of the people. I do not know a text more applicable than this to slave-dealers; or to any who have made their fortunes by such wrongs as affect the life of man; especially the former, who by the gains of this diabolic traffic have built houses, c. for, following up the prophet's metaphor, the timbers, c., are the bones of the hapless Africans and the mortar, the blood of the defenceless progeny of Ham. What an account must all those who have any hand in or profit from this detestable, degrading, and inhuman traffic, give to Him who will shortly judge the quick and dead!
Cambridge Bible on Micah 3:10
9–12. A recapitulation of the national sins, with a more distinct declaration of the bitter end 10. build up Zion with blood] Probably this alludes to the building of palaces and fortifications, always a fruitful source of oppression in the East. ‘Blood’ is used by synecdoche for ‘violent conduct leading to the ruin of others;’ so Isaiah 1:15; Isaiah 59:3, Proverbs 1:11, and other passages. Unless we admit this, we shall have to take an incredibly dark view of the state of public morals in the Jewish state.
Barnes' Notes on Micah 3:10
They build up - (literally, building, sing.) Zion with blood This may be taken literally on both sides, that, the rich built their palaces, “with wealth gotten by bloodshed , by rapine of the poor,
Whedon's Commentary on Micah 3:10
Renewed condemnation of the nation’s religious and political leaders — Doom of Jerusalem, Micah 3:9-12.After the direct denunciation of the prophets, Micah sums up the sins and crimes which may be
Sermons on Micah 3:10
| Sermon | Description | |
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Ii. Abuses to Be Discussed in Councils by Martin Luther | Martin Luther preaches against the abuses in the Roman Catholic Church, particularly focusing on the corruption, greed, and exploitation of power by the pope, cardinals, and bishop |
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Jeremiah 22 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith addresses God's complaints against the leaders and prophets in Jeremiah 22, emphasizing how the kings have exploited their positions for personal gain, leading to spiri |
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A Continual Allowance by J. Wilbur Chapman | J. Wilbur Chapman preaches on the contrasting lives of Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin, illustrating the consequences of sin and the eventual restoration and redemption offered by God. Th |
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(Luke) 48 - Palm Sunday-Luke19 by Ed Miller | In this sermon, the speaker discusses a photographer who won a prestigious award for his black and white photos but decided to use color film to capture the misery of a particular |
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Jesus' Answer by Basilea Schlink | In this sermon by Basilea Schlenk titled "Jesus' Answer," the speaker reflects on the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. She highlights how Jesus' sacrifice for the world w |
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Homily 86 on Matthew by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom preaches on the trial of Jesus before Pilate, highlighting the false accusations brought forward by the chief priests and elders, the governor's attempts to release |
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Crying Wolf by Art Katz | Art Katz addresses the complex relationship between Judaism and Christianity, particularly in light of Mel Gibson's film 'The Passion.' He emphasizes the need for honest dialogue a |