Micah 1:12 kjv
For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.
Micah 1:12 nkjv
For the inhabitant of Maroth pined for good, But disaster came down from the LORD To the gate of Jerusalem.
Micah 1:12 niv
Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain, waiting for relief, because disaster has come from the LORD, even to the gate of Jerusalem.
Micah 1:12 esv
For the inhabitants of Maroth wait anxiously for good, because disaster has come down from the LORD to the gate of Jerusalem.
Micah 1:12 nlt
The people of Maroth anxiously wait for relief,
but only bitterness awaits them
as the LORD's judgment reaches
even to the gates of Jerusalem.
Micah 1 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 45:7 | I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things. | God's sovereignty over all events, including calamity. |
| Amos 3:6 | Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has done it? | Divine source of calamity upon cities. |
| Lam 3:38 | Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and evil come? | God's ultimate authority over all occurrences. |
| Job 2:10 | Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil [calamity]? | Acknowledging God's role in suffering and hardship. |
| Deut 28:15 | But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God... all these curses shall come upon you. | Covenant curses bringing calamity for disobedience. |
| Jer 6:14 | They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. | False hope of peace despite coming judgment. |
| Jer 8:15 | We looked for peace, but no good came; for a time of healing, but behold, terror. | Echoes Maroth's futile expectation for good. |
| Lam 2:17 | The Lord has done what he purposed; he has fulfilled his word which he commanded from days of old. | Fulfillment of prophesied judgment and calamity. |
| Ezek 13:10 | Because, yes, because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace. | Condemnation of false assurances of safety. |
| Jer 1:14-15 | From the north disaster shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants... they shall set their thrones at the gates. | Disaster originating and reaching city gates. |
| Ezek 9:6 | Begin at My sanctuary... And they began with the elders who were before the house. | Divine judgment starting from the spiritual center. |
| 2 Kgs 25:1-4 | Nebuchadnezzar...came against Jerusalem... the city was breached. | Historical fulfillment of the siege of Jerusalem. |
| Isa 1:7 | Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire; your land, strangers devour it... | General description of widespread destruction. |
| Micah 1:8-9 | For this I will lament and wail... for her wound is incurable, and it has come even to Judah. | Immediate context of Micah's lament over coming disaster. |
| Isa 15:1-9 | An oracle concerning Moab. For in a night Ar of Moab is laid waste and ruined. | Example of prophetic lament over specific cities. |
| Jer 48:1-47 | An oracle concerning Moab... The wailing of Heshbon and Elealeh is heard as far as Jahaz... | Another extensive prophetic lament over towns. |
| Amos 5:2 | Fallen, no more to rise, is Virgin Israel; deserted on her land. | Lament over the utter desolation of Israel. |
| Deut 30:19 | I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. | God presents choices leading to blessings or curses/calamity. |
| Gal 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | Principle of sowing and reaping, justice for sin. |
| Rom 2:5-6 | But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself... | Consequences of persistent disobedience leading to wrath. |
| Rev 3:19 | Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. | Divine judgment as an act of discipline for repentance. |
| Prov 29:26 | Many seek the favor of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice. | Justice and good ultimately come from God, not human means. |
| Psa 33:10-11 | The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples... His counsel stands. | God's ultimate plan and sovereignty overrides human plans/hopes. |
Micah 1 verses
Micah 1 12 Meaning
Micah 1:12 foretells a dire reversal for the people of Maroth and, by extension, all Judah, culminating in judgment reaching Jerusalem. The verse emphasizes the futile hope of Maroth’s inhabitants who earnestly yearned for peace or deliverance, only to experience the exact opposite. Calamity, directly ordained and sent by the Lord, descended upon them, ultimately reaching the very heart and gates of Jerusalem. This signifies that God’s disciplinary action for the sins of His people would not spare even the capital, their symbol of security and covenant identity.
Micah 1 12 Context
Micah 1:12 is part of a longer prophetic lament (Micah 1:8-16) where the prophet mourns the coming destruction of Judah. This chapter begins with God’s judgment proclaimed against Samaria (capital of Israel) and Judah for their spiritual idolatry and social injustice (Micah 1:2-7). While Samaria's destruction (by Assyria in 722 BC) serves as a recent example, Micah turns his attention to the southern kingdom. Micah 1:10-16 uses a unique literary device of wordplay, puns on the names of towns in the Judean Shephelah (foothills) that would bear the brunt of the Assyrian invasion, likely referring to Sennacherib's campaign in 701 BC. Maroth is one such town, possibly meaning "bitterness" or "pain," hinting at its tragic fate. The historical context is the looming and then executing Assyrian military campaigns that threatened to engulf Judah, putting Jerusalem itself under severe siege. The verse underscores that even Jerusalem, protected by the temple and perceived divine favor, would not be exempt from the divine judgment on the nation's sin.
Micah 1 12 Word analysis
- For the inhabitant of Maroth: Maroth (מָרוֹת marowth) is a Judean town. The name is believed to derive from a root meaning "bitterness" or "pain" (marar). This plays into Micah’s lament (Micah 1:8) and foreshadows the future sorrow of its people, highlighting the dramatic contrast between their expectation and the harsh reality of their future.
- waited carefully for good: The Hebrew word translated "waited carefully" or "longed" (hithhalleh הִתְחַלֵּה) conveys a sense of intense, fervent desire or pain, specifically in yearning. The word "good" (tov טוֹב) here signifies prosperity, well-being, peace, or deliverance. The inhabitants desperately hoped for relief or blessing, but their hope was in vain. This speaks to the common human desire for safety and comfort in times of threat, which often stands in opposition to divine judgment due for sin.
- but evil came down: "Evil" (ra‘ah רָעָה) in this context refers to disaster, calamity, misfortune, or distress, not moral evil. It denotes punitive divine action. The phrase "came down" signifies a deliberate, decisive, and inescapable act, demonstrating the Lord's direct involvement in orchestrating these events. It contrasts with their expectation of "good," revealing the sovereignty of God over all outcomes, even catastrophic ones.
- from the Lord: This crucial phrase directly attributes the "evil" or calamity to God Himself (יהוה YHWH). It underscores divine sovereignty and righteous judgment, making it clear that the coming suffering is not mere chance or a result of foreign powers acting independently, but rather a direct outworking of God’s decree against a sinful nation.
- unto the gate of Jerusalem: The "gate of Jerusalem" is highly significant. Gates were not just points of entry; they were centers of public life, justice, commerce, and defense. Symbolically, a threat reaching the gate meant the entire city and its populace were under immediate peril, their defense breached, and their stability compromised. It implies an imminent siege or even a breach of the capital itself, marking the full extent of the calamity engulfing Judah, from its border towns like Maroth all the way to its heart.
Micah 1 12 Bonus section
The broader literary context of Micah 1:10-16 uses an ancient literary device where the prophet laments by making a play on words (paronomasia) with the names of the Judean towns. While not explicitly detailed in verse 12 for "Maroth," its potential meaning "bitterness" subtly underlies the despair mentioned. This wordplay was highly effective in an oral culture, aiding memory and emphasizing the nature of the towns' coming doom. The idea of "evil coming down from the Lord" emphasizes the divine control over all human affairs, even those executed by seemingly pagan invaders like the Assyrians. God uses nations as instruments of His justice, a common theme in the prophetic books, demonstrating that no human power or expectation can thwart His determined counsel when dealing with His covenant people's rebellion.
Micah 1 12 Commentary
Micah 1:12 captures a powerful theological truth: human expectations for peace and prosperity are secondary to God's righteous judgment against sin. The futile longing of Maroth's inhabitants for "good" highlights their misplaced hope or denial of impending divine wrath. The subsequent pronouncement that "evil came down from the Lord" is a stark reminder of God's active involvement in judgment, distinguishing it from random misfortune. This judgment, described as reaching "unto the gate of Jerusalem," stresses the severity and reach of God's hand, leaving no place untouched. This was a direct consequence for the idolatry and social injustices condemned earlier in Micah. For the original audience, it served as a wake-up call, shattering any illusion of invulnerability and calling for repentance. The verse serves as a sober warning: ignoring God's covenant will result in disciplinary action that often manifests as national calamity, orchestrated by the very God from whom "good" is usually expected. This challenges complacency and underscores the absolute authority of God over nations and their destinies.