Micah 7
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Wo is me! - This is a continuation of the preceding discourse. And here the prophet points out the small number of the upright to be found in the land. He himself seemed to be the only person who was on God's side; and he considers himself as a solitary grape, which had escaped the general gathering. The word קץ kayits, which is sometimes used for summer, and summer fruits in general, is here translated late figs; and may here, says Bishop Newcome, be opposed to the early ripe fig of superior quality. See on Hos 9:10 (note), and Amo 8:1 (note), Amo 8:2 (note). He desired to see the first-ripe fruit - distinguished and eminent piety; but he found nothing but a very imperfect or spurious kind of godliness.
Open source ↗THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE CORRUPTION; THE CHOSEN REMNANT, DRIVEN FROM EVERY HUMAN CONFIDENCE, TURNS TO GOD; TRIUMPHS BY FAITH OVER HER ENEMIES; IS COMFORTED BY GOD'S PROMISES IN ANSWER TO PRAYER, AND BY THE CONFUSION OF HER ENEMIES, AND SO BREAKS FORTH INTO PRAISES OF GOD'S CHARACTER. (Mic. 7:1-20) I am as when, &c.--It is the same with me as with one seeking fruits after the harvest, grapes after the vintage. "There is not a cluster" to be found: no "first-ripe fruit" (or "early fig"; see on Isa 28:4) which "my soul desireth" [MAURER]. So I look in vain for any good men left (Mic 7:2).
Open source ↗Woe is me!.... Alas for me unhappy man that I am, to live in such an age, and among such a people, as I do! this the prophet says in his own name, or in the name of the church and people of God in his time; so Isaiah, who was contemporary with him, Isa 6:5; see also Psa 120:5; for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage; when there are only an apple or a pear or two, or such sort of fruit, and such a quantity of it left on the top of the tree, or on the outermost branches of it, after the rest are gathered in; or a few single grapes here and there, after the vintage is over; signifying either that he was like Elijah left alone, or however that the number of good men were very few; or that there were very few gathered in by his ministry, converted, taught, and instructed by it; or those that had the name of good men were but very indifferent, and not like those who were in times past; but were as refuse fruit left on trees, and dropped from thence when rotten, and when gathered up were good for little, and like single grapes, small and withered, and of no value; see Isa 17:6; there is no cluster to eat; no large number or society of good men to converse with, only here and there a single person; and none that have an abundance of grace and goodness in them, and a large experience of spiritual and divine things; few that attend the ministry of the word; they do not come in clusters, in crowds; and fewer still that receive any advantage by it; my soul desired the first ripe fruit; the company and conversation of such good men as lived in former times; who had the firstfruits of the Spirit, and arrived to a maturity of grace, and a lively exercise of it; and who were, in the age of the prophet, as scarce and rare as first rip…
Open source ↗That the prophet is speaking in Mic 7:1 ff. not in his own name, but in the name of the church, which confesses and bemoans its rebellion against the Lord, is indisputably evident from Mic 7:7 ff., where, as all the expositors admit, the church speaks of itself in the first person, and that not "the existing corrupt Israelitish church," as Caspari supposes, but the penitential, believing church of the future, which discerns in the judgment the chastising hand of its God, and expresses the hope that the Lord will conduct its conflict with its foe, etc. The contents of Mic 7:1-6, also, do not point to the prophet in distinction from the congregation, but may be understood throughout as the confession of sin on the part of the latter. Mic 7:1. "Woe to me! for I have become like a gathering of fruit, like a gleaning of the vintage: Not a grape to eat! an early fig, which my soul desired." אללי, which only occurs again in Job 10:15, differs from הוי, and is "vox dolentis, gementis, et ululantis magis quam minantis" (March); and כּי is not "that," but "for," giving the reason for אללי. The meaning of הייתי כאס is not, "it has happened to me as it generally happens to those who still seek for early figs at the fruit gathering, or for bunches of grapes at the gleaning of the vintage" (Caspari and others); for כּאספי קיץ does not mean as at the fruit-gathering, but like the fruit-gathering. The nation or the church resembles the fruit-gathering and gleaning of the vineyard, namely, in this fact, that the fruit-gathering yields not more early figs, and the gleaning of the vintage yields no more grapes to eat; that is to say, its condition resembles that of an orchard in the time of the fruit-gathering, when you may find fruit enough indeed, but not a single early fig, since the e…
Open source ↗This is such a description of bad times as, some think, could scarcely agree to the times of Hezekiah, when this prophet prophesied; and therefore they rather take it as a prediction of what should be in the reign of Manasseh. But we may rather suppose it to be in the reign of Ahaz (and in that reign he prophesied, ch. 1:1) or in the beginning of Hezekiah's time, before the reformation he was instrumental in; nay, in the best of his days, and when he had done his best to purge out corruptions, still there was much amiss. The prophet cries out, Woe is me! He bemoans himself that his lot was cast in such a degenerate age, and thinks it his great unhappiness that he lived among a people that were ripening apace for a ruin which many a good man would unavoidably be involved in. Thus David cries out, Woe is me that I sojourn in Mesech! He laments, 1. That there were so few good people to be found, even among those that were God's people; and this was their reproach: The good man has perished out of the earth, or out of the land, the land of Canaan; it was a good land, and a land of uprightness (Isa 26:10), but there were few good men in it, none upright among them, Mic 7:2. The good man is a godly man and a merciful man; the word signifies both. Those are completely good men that are devout towards God and compassionate and beneficent towards men, that love mercy and walk with God. "These have perished; those few honest men that some time ago enriched and adorned our country are now dead and gone, and there are none risen up in their stead that tread in their steps; honesty is banished, and there is no such thing as a good man to be met with. Those that were of religious education have degenerated, and become as bad as the worst; the godly man ceases," Psa 12:1. This is illu…
Open source ↗7:1-20 Hopeless deception and corruption permeated God’s people (7:1-6); God’s mercy, however, would triumph and Israel would be restored (7:11-13). God’s mercy, compassion, and unfailing love would prevail (7:14-20). Micah mourned his people’s condition and looked to the Lord for help (7:7-10). 7:1 the fruit picker after the harvest: After the second crop of figs and fruit in August–September, no further yield was produced for several months (cp. Isa 16:9; Jer 48:32). No one could be found to satisfy Micah’s hunger for righteousness (Mic 7:2-6).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
אַלְלַי (ʼalᵉlay, H480) — alas! אֹסֶף (ʼôçeph, H625) — a collection (of fruits) קַיִץ (qayits, H7019) — harvest (as the crop), whether the product (grain or fruit) or the (dry) season עֹלֵלָה (ʻôlêlâh, H5955) — only in plural gleanings; by extension gleaning-time בָּצִיר (bâtsîyr, H1210) — clipped, i.e. the grape crop אֶשְׁכּוֹל (ʼeshkôwl, H811) — a bunch of grapes or other fruit אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… אָוָה (ʼâvâh, H183) — to wish for בִּכּוּרָה (bikkûwrâh, H1063) — the early fig
Open source ↗חָסִיד (châçîyd, H2623) — properly, kind, i.e. (religiously) pious (a saint) אָבַד (ʼâbad, H6) — properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) יָשָׁר (yâshâr, H3477) — straight (literally or figuratively) אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) אָרַב (ʼârab, H693) — to lurk דָּם (dâm, H1818) — blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice… צוּד (tsûwd, H6679) — to lie alongside (i.e. in wait); by implication, to catch an animal (figuratively, men);… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… חֵרֶם (chêrem, H2764) — physical (as shutting in) a net (either literally or figuratively); usually a doomed…
Open source ↗רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) כַּף (kaph, H3709) — the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of… יָטַב (yâṭab, H3190) — to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy,… שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) שָׁאַל (shâʼal, H7592) — to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand שָׁפַט (shâphaṭ, H8199) — to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or… שִׁלּוּם (shillûwm, H7966) — a requital, i.e. (secure) retribution, (venal) a fee גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… הַוָּה (havvâh, H1942) — by implication, of falling); desire; also ruin נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… עָבַת (ʻâbath, H5686) — to interlace, i.e. (figuratively) to pervert
Open source ↗טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the… חֵדֶק (chêdeq, H2312) — a prickly plant יָשָׁר (yâshâr, H3477) — straight (literally or figuratively) מְסוּכָה (mᵉçûwkâh, H4534) — a hedge יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… צָפָה (tsâphâh, H6822) — properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe,… פְּקֻדָּה (pᵉquddâh, H6486) — visitation (in many senses, chiefly official) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) מְבוּכָה (mᵉbûwkâh, H3998) — perplexity
Open source ↗אָמַן (ʼâman, H539) — properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render… רֵעַ (rêaʻ, H7453) — an associate (more or less close) בָּטַח (bâṭach, H982) — figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure אַלּוּף (ʼallûwph, H441) — familiar; a friend, also gentle; hence, a bullock (as being tame; applied, although… שָׁמַר (shâmar, H8104) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to,… פֶּתַח (pethach, H6607) — an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… שָׁכַב (shâkab, H7901) — to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose) חֵיק (chêyq, H2436) — the bosom (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… נָבֵל (nâbêl, H5034) — to wilt; generally, to fall away, fail, faint; figuratively, to be foolish or (morally)… אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) אֵם (ʼêm, H517) — a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively… כַּלָּה (kallâh, H3618) — a bride (as if perfect); hence, a son's wife חֲמוֹת (chămôwth, H2545) — a mother-in-law אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Open source ↗צָפָה (tsâphâh, H6822) — properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God יָחַל (yâchal, H3176) — to wait; by implication, to be patient, hope אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… יֶשַׁע (yeshaʻ, H3468) — liberty, deliverance, prosperity שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,…
Open source ↗שָׂמַח (sâmach, H8055) — probably to brighten up, i.e. (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or… קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… חֹשֶׁךְ (chôshek, H2822) — the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אוֹר (ʼôwr, H216) — illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)
Open source ↗נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative זַעַף (zaʻaph, H2197) — anger יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God חָטָא (châṭâʼ, H2398) — properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit,… רִיב (rîyb, H7378) — properly, to toss, i.e. grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e. hold a… רִיב (rîyb, H7379) — a contest (personal or legal) עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מִשְׁפָּט (mishpâṭ, H4941) — properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… אוֹר (ʼôwr, H216) — illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… צְדָקָה (tsᵉdâqâh, H6666) — rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue)…
Open source ↗אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… בּוּשָׁה (bûwshâh, H955) — shame כָּסָה (kâçâh, H3680) — properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) מִרְמָס (mirmâç, H4823) — abasement (the act or the thing) טִיט (ṭîyṭ, H2916) — mud or clay; figuratively, calamity חוּץ (chûwts, H2351) — properly, separate by awall, i.e. outside, outdoors
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… גָּדֵר (gâdêr, H1447) — a circumvallation; by implication, an inclosure בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) חֹק (chôq, H2706) — an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage) רָחַק (râchaq, H7368) — to widen (in any direction), i.e. (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove…
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אַשּׁוּר (ʼAshshûwr, H804) — Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them… מָצוֹר (mâtsôwr, H4693) — Egypt (as the border of Palestine) עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… נָהָר (nâhâr, H5104) — a stream (including the sea; expectation the Nile, Euphrates, etc.); figuratively,… יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
Open source ↗אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) שְׁמָמָה (shᵉmâmâh, H8077) — devastation; figuratively, astonishment יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… פְּרִי (pᵉrîy, H6529) — fruit (literally or figuratively) מַעֲלָל (maʻălâl, H4611) — an act (good or bad)
Open source ↗רָעָה (râʻâh, H7462) — to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… שֵׁבֶט (shêbeṭ, H7626) — a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking,… צֹאן (tsôʼn, H6629) — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men) נַחֲלָה (nachălâh, H5159) — properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom;… שָׁכַן (shâkan, H7931) — to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively) בָּדָד (bâdâd, H910) — separate; adverb, separately יַעַר (yaʻar, H3293) — a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees) תָּוֶךְ (tâvek, H8432) — a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre כַּרְמֶל (Karmel, H3760) — Karmel, the name of a hill and of a town in Palestine בָּשָׁן (Bâshân, H1316) — Bashan (often with the article), a region East of the Jordan גִּלְעָד (Gilʻâd, H1568) — Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or…
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
The fading flower of his beautiful splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest: Whoever sees it will take it in his hand and swallow it.
So will it be on the earth and among the nations, like a harvested olive tree, like a gleaning after a grape harvest.
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the firstfruits of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to Shame; so they became as detestable as the thing they loved.
Yet gleanings will remain, like an olive tree that has been beaten— two or three berries atop the tree, four or five on its fruitful branches,” declares the LORD, the God of Israel.
Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me, a man of strife and conflict in all the land. I have neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses me.
Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”
For I hear a cry like a woman in labor, a cry of anguish like one bearing her first child— the cry of the Daughter of Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands to say, “Woe is me, for my soul faints before the murderers!”
Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!
You have said, ‘Woe is me because the LORD has added sorrow to my pain! I am worn out with groaning and have found no rest.’”
From the ends of the earth we hear singing: “Glory to the Righteous One.” But I said, “I am wasting away! I am wasting away! Woe is me.” The treacherous betray; the treacherous deal in treachery.