He lived in a small village named moresheth, not far from the city of gath, which was destroyed by the assyrians when they invaded judah. Watch our overview video on the book of micah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The purpose of the book of micah was to proclaim warning and judgment to both the northern and the southern kingdoms. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of micah. Have you ever wondered what the book of micah is all about. Commentary on the book of micah by matthew henry old. The theme that resounds throughout this book is the mercy of which gods people are assured despite their faithlessness, especially the faithlessness of their leaders. Micah, a prophet, wrote the book in order to warn the sinful nations that judgment was coming from god. The writer of these words understands that yahweh desires moral qualities on the part of his worshipers. This prophet wrote to both houses, israel and judah. Following its superscription, the book has two major sections, each with two parts. Israel, the northern country consisting of ten tribes, and judah, the remaining two tribes in the south. Micahs descriptions of gods wrath are some of the most potent in all of scripture, and without fail, they are written next to some of the most tender promises of gods mercy and grace.
The message of the book of micah is a complex mixture of judgment and hope. On the one hand, the prophecies announce judgment upon israel for social evils, corrupt leadership and idolatry. While uncertain, mot of micahs prophecies ranged from about 735 b. The book of micah introduction to the book of micah in the bible. Chapter 1 verse 5 says micah was from moresheth a town in southern judah. Judgment and restoration inspire fear and hope, two ideas wrapped up in the final sequence of micahs prophecy, a courtroom scene. This commentary has been through advanced checking. Ostensibly, it records the sayings of micah, whose name is mikayahu hebrew.
The book of micah was likely written between 735 and 700 b. This book ostensibly contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet micah, and is a part of the book of the twelve minor prophets. Bruce waltke has written three commentaries on the book of micah. Book of micah, the sixth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, grouped together as the twelve in the jewish canon. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of. The prophecy was not fulfilled in micahs time, but a hundred years later when judah was facing a. Micah 1 nrsv the word of the lord that came to micah. Micah is the only book in the old testament to name bethlehema town little among the thousands of judah as the place where the messiah would be born.
Micahs career began a little later than his contemporaries, isaiah and hosea isaiah 1. When it speaks of the threatening of god it is speaking of what will happen to evil on earth, burned off. Judgment and restoration inspire fear and hope, two ideas wrapped up in the final sequence of micah s prophecy, a courtroom scene. Strongs exhaustive concordance of the bible, numbered to the hebrew, chaldee, and greek, and english, coded to the strongs concordance numbers. The organization of the material is thematic, moving from judgment to salvation in both major sections. The first was a small commentary that appeared in the tyndale series together with small commentaries on obadiah and jonah.
According to the superscription, this judaean prophet was active during the last half of the 8th century bc. Book of micah and micah, the person i am alpha and. This would date his ministry generally to the time 7 bc, and the writing of the book just before the invasion and destruction. The word of the lord that came to micah of moresheth in the days of kings jotham, ahaz, and hezekiah of judah, which he saw concerning samaria and jerusalem. Micah 1 niv bible the word of the lord that came to. Top 5 commentaries on the book of micah ligonier ministries.
It seems that the name micah has been shortened from the longer whykm. Micah also writes several times about the person and work of messiah in both the first and second advents e. Interesting facts about micah barnes bible charts meaning. According to the hebrew bible, micah was a prophet in judaism and is the author of the book. This summary of the book of micah will help with many different forms of bible study. Micah prophesied during the days of jotham, ahaz and hezekiah, kings of judah micah 1. Micah 5 is the fifth chapter of the book of micah in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. This question is the note on which the prophecy of micah ends, and it is also a rough translation of the very name micah. Micah speaks a message from god to all the nations. Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in hebrew are of the masoretic text tradition, which. Keep in mind that the new testament was not in existence when micah wrote. The book of micah chapter 1 was written near the time of the demise of the northern kingdom in 722 b. The book of micah is the sixth book of the 12 minor prophets. The latest material comes from the postexilic period after the temple was rebuilt in 515 bc, so that the early 5th century bc seems to be the period when the book was completed.
For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the lord our god for ever and ever. Much of micah s book revolves around two significant predictions. See more ideas about bible verses, word of god and bible. Book of micah and micah, the person i am alpha and omega. The book of micah records the teachings of micah or mikayahu, a prophet from the judean village of moresheth who lived around 8th century bc. The prophecy attests to micahs deep sensitivity to the social ills of his day, especially as they affected the small towns and villages of. The hebrew book of micah is most noted for the famous prophecy of the birth of the. Hear, you peoples, all of you, listen, earth and all who live in it, that the s. Book of micah, the sixth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the.
The nelsons illustrated bible dictionary gives the following outline of the book. Judgment pronounced against samaria hear, you peoples, all of you. The book of micah is the sixth in order of the socalled minor prophets. Micah 1 the word of the lord that came to micah of moresheth during the reigns of jotham, ahaz and hezekiah, kings of judahthe vision he saw concerning samaria and jerusalem. The author, micah, was of the town called moresheth which. Living in this village, micah came into daily contact with the people who suffered most from the system of land tenure against which isaiah protested. Much of micahs book revolves around two significant predictions. Masoretic texts have 14 verses in chapter 5, as they regard micah 5. Go, enquire of the lord for me, and for them that are left in israel and in judah, concerning the words of the book that is found. Key personalities are all the people of samaria and jerusalem. On the one hand, the prophecies announce judgment upon israel for social evils, corrupt. Micah was from the town of moresheth, probably moresheth gath in southern judah. In hebrew the book is titled hkym after the prophet to whom it was given.
The book of micah is the sixth of the twelve minor prophets in the hebrew bible old testament. It is highly unlikely that the entire book of micah was written by the prophet micah. Book of micah overview insight for living ministries. It is also included in the minor prophets section of the old testament. This book makes clear from its opening verse to its closing verse that everything that is shared in this prophecy is from the lord alone. In todays video im going to give you a brief but detailed overview of this book. Here, we find a clear statement of prophetic religion at its best. Micah is one of my favorite prophets in the old testament. The book of micah, like most prophetic books, consists primarily of poetry, not prose.
Most of the hopeful oracles in the book are thought to be written at a later time than micah himself, who had more interest in warning of disaster than assuring of hopeful days to come. Who is a god like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance. He warned that this judgment was going to be enough to. After outlining the contents of the book, this article will consider the questions of its date and authorship and its message.
Whenever one reads the book of micah, one is surprised that very little is said about this spokesman for god. The fifth of the minor prophets, dating from the late 700s b. This book consists of a collection of speeches, proclamations of punishment and of salvation, attributed to the prophet micah. The book contains a number of literary forms12 and features. Scholars believe it was written by micah the prophet, about 700 years before jesus was born. Micah announces that gods justice is coming in order to create a new future of love and faithfulness on the other side of israels sin and exile. Little is known about the prophet micah beyond what can be learned from the book itself and fromjer 26. The author of the book of micah was the prophet micah micah 1. Micah or the book of micah is a well known prophetic text belonging to the minor prophets section of the jewish tanakh. Like the teachings of the prophet isaiah, many of micah s teachings are written in the style of hebrew poetry. The prophecy attests to micahs deep sensitivity to the social ills of his day, especially as they affected the small towns and villages of his homeland. Another notable passage in the book of micah is found in 6. Micah speaks of this event in the future tense at micah 3.
The second was a larger and more technical commentary that appeared in the set on the minor prophets edited by thomas mccomiskey. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. Book of micah simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. We do not know when the book of micah was written or compiled in its current form. As an outline will show, the message varies between condemnation for the present sins and gods purpose of ultimate. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament.
The reason i enjoy teaching the book of micah is because he was a prophet who took the side of the oppressed and preached a message of judgment and hope to the people of jerusalem. With this additional short summary of the book of micah you can discover the people, places and stories detailed in this holy scripture. The book of micah, the sixth book of the twelve minor prophets, was written. Unlike several other prophets who gave no clue regarding the time period of their ministry, micah opens his book with an inscription saying he prophesied through the reigns of three kings jotham ca. The original text was written in the hebrew language. He is considered one of the twelve minor prophets of the hebrew bible and was a contemporary of the prophets isaiah, amos and hosea. The book of micah describes gods coming judgment on israel because of its rebellion. Micah 1 niv bible the word of the lord that came to micah.
Jotham and hezekiah were good kings, but ahaz was very wicked. Book of micah of the old testament your bible quotes. The message of the prophet micah contains dire warnings, but also hope of. Micah also declared that when the glory of zion and jacob is restored that the lord will force the gentiles to abandon idolatry. Little is known about the prophet micah beyond what can be learned from the book itself and from jer 26. When secular scholars read micah they often conclude that it is written by at least two distinct authors. Judah was also left alone when many of the city states of palestine and. Apr 18, 2019 the book of micah is a prophetic oracle. The assyrian empire and then the babylon empire would destroy the nation and leave jerusalem in ruin. To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your god.
Intro to micah biblica the international bible society. The book of micah prophesies and connects gods judgment. There was scarcely a godly person to be found micah 7. During the time of the minor prophets, the nation of israel had divided into two separate countries, each with its own government. He lived during the reigns of yehotam, ahaz and hezekiah, roughly 750700 bc. Israel scattered and make up the christian nations today and as you see that if you love christ as a nation you are blessed. He begins with announcing the divine judgment upon samaria and judah ch. The first stage was the collection and arrangement of some spoken sayings of the historical micah. The construction of the book is simple and well balanced.
Welcome to a rich, challenging, and wonderful study of the book of micahone of the books of the lords word. The word of the lordcame to micah the lord indeed came to micah. The book of hosea consists of fourteen chapters, which was the record for a minor prophet until zechariah tied it a couple centuries later. The book of micah synthesis and highlights of the book i. In greek the book is titled micaias again after the prophet to whom it was given. It is generally accepted that the first three chapters, apart from ii.
1350 38 407 663 963 642 994 246 794 1398 943 1129 78 1543 152 721 1472 592 814 912 809 670 1056 1086 761 618 982 1121 369 656 524 718 352 173 1215 1145 889 1042