Micah 1 15

Micah 1:15 kjv

Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel.

Micah 1:15 nkjv

I will yet bring an heir to you, O inhabitant of Mareshah; The glory of Israel shall come to Adullam.

Micah 1:15 niv

I will bring a conqueror against you who live in Mareshah. The nobles of Israel will flee to Adullam.

Micah 1:15 esv

I will again bring a conqueror to you, inhabitants of Mareshah; the glory of Israel shall come to Adullam.

Micah 1:15 nlt

O people of Mareshah,
I will bring a conqueror to capture your town.
And the leaders of Israel
will go to Adullam.

Micah 1 verses

Micah 1 15 Meaning

Micah 1:15 proclaims God's decisive and impending judgment upon the southern kingdom of Judah. It announces that the Lord Himself will bring an invading force—a "conqueror"—to the town of Mareshah. This invasion will lead to a profound humiliation for Judah, symbolizing that their "glory" – their strength, wealth, pride, or noble leaders – will be reduced to seeking refuge in the desolate, isolated region of Adullam, a place historically associated with hiding in distress. It speaks of a complete reversal of fortune, from esteemed status to abject humility and flight.

Micah 1 15 Context

Micah chapter 1 opens with God's judgment against Samaria (capital of Israel) and Judah for their spiritual apostasy. Verses 6-7 describe the complete devastation of Samaria. Then, from verse 8 to 16, Micah takes up a mournful prophetic dirge, listing various cities of Judah, moving geographically from north to south, predicting the incoming Assyrian invasion (and implicitly later Babylonian). For many of these cities, Micah employs striking wordplays on their names to emphasize their destined fate. Verse 15 continues this lament, singling out Mareshah and highlighting the ultimate humiliation of Judah's "glory" through this judgment. The historical context points to the Assyrian campaigns of Sennacherib (around 701 BC) and later Babylonian incursions, which brought widespread devastation to Judah's towns and villages, reducing its cities to ruins and exiling its people, fitting the prophecy of their "glory" fleeing to hide.

Micah 1 15 Word analysis

• I: Refers directly to the Lord, YHWH. It underscores divine sovereignty; this judgment is not arbitrary human conflict but God's deliberate action (cf. Isa 45:7; Amos 3:6). He is the orchestrator.
• will again bring: This implies that such oppressive actions are not new in Judah's history, perhaps referring to earlier, less severe, invasions or skirmishes. More significantly, it stresses the certainty and repeated nature of God's disciplinary actions if they persist in sin. The prophecy here foretells a coming, powerful judgment.
• a conqueror: The Hebrew word yôrēš (יֹורֵשׁ) literally means "possessor" or "inheritor," but in this context, "dispossessor" or "conqueror." It signifies an invading force, a military power that takes possession of lands and people, displacing the original inhabitants. This word vividly portrays the transfer of control from Judah to its enemies, specifically Assyria (and later Babylon) as God's instrument.
• upon you, O inhabitant of Mareshah: "Upon you" is a direct, confrontational address, personalized for emphasis. Mareshah (Marēshāh, מָרֵשָׁה) was a city in the Shephelah (the lowlands of Judah), vulnerable to invaders from the coastal plain (cf. Josh 15:44). It had been a place of Judahite triumph in the past (2 Chr 14:9-10, where King Asa defeated a large Cushite army). Now, a reversal is prophesied—instead of victory, it faces an oppressor. The prophecy targeting specific towns underscores the comprehensive nature of the coming destruction that would reach deep into Judah.
• the glory of Israel: The Hebrew kĕḇôḏ yiśrā’ēl (כְּבוֹד יִשְׂרָאֵל) here refers to the honor, majesty, wealth, leadership, strong men, or general splendor of Judah (often "Israel" is used broadly to include Judah). It embodies what the nation prided itself on, its strength and distinguished status among nations. It does not refer to God's inherent glory but to the nation's perceived or actual eminence.
• shall come: Signifies the inevitable movement and destination of this "glory," not for triumph but for debasement.
• even to Adullam: Adullam (ʿAdullām, עֲדֻלָּם) was known for its cave systems, a desolate area, most famously the place where David hid from King Saul (1 Sam 22:1-2) with a band of distressed, discontented, and indebted men. Its association with refuge in times of deep distress and humiliation for the king-to-be transforms "glory" fleeing there into an image of ultimate downfall. It implies that Judah's once-great "glory"—its king, leaders, military might, wealth—will be stripped bare, reduced to the humiliation of hiding in desperate, ignoble circumstances, far from their magnificent cities. This contrast between "glory" and "Adullam" highlights the severity of the impending disgrace.

Micah 1 15 Bonus section

The lament in Micah 1, including verse 15, employs sophisticated wordplays in Hebrew on the names of the cities, enhancing the prophetic message. While not explicitly in verse 15, the broader context of Micah 1:9-16 showcases this technique, often making the city's name resonate with its judgment (e.g., "Gath" related to "tell," "Beth-le-Aphrah" to "house of dust"). Mareshah's name has associations with "possession" or "inheritance," ironic since a "conqueror" (also from yârash, to possess/dispossess) would come to take possession from it. This reinforces the comprehensive nature of the judgment, showing divine poetic justice and reinforcing the understanding that their "possessions" would indeed be "dispossessed." The vulnerability of cities in the Shephelah, a fertile and easily accessible region, contrasts with the perceived impregnability of Jerusalem, highlighting how widely the judgment would spread, even before reaching the capital.

Micah 1 15 Commentary

Micah 1:15 paints a vivid and somber picture of God's righteous judgment against Judah. The phrase "I will again bring a conqueror" signifies God's absolute control over history, demonstrating that even destructive foreign armies are instruments in His hands. The choice of Mareshah, a strategic Shephelah town with a history of past glory, makes the impending desolation more poignant.

The most striking imagery lies in "the glory of Israel shall come even to Adullam." This powerful metaphor speaks of a complete reversal. The "glory"—representing Judah's proud heritage, military strength, wealthy elites, or the king himself—will not stand victorious but will be reduced to desperate hiding. The mention of Adullam intentionally recalls the cave where David, though destined for kingship, was reduced to hiding as a fugitive with a motley crew of outcasts. This signifies that Judah, once God's chosen, illustrious kingdom, will experience extreme humiliation, stripped of its honor and power, its esteemed figures fleeing to places of utter desperation. The verse is a stark warning against false security, reminding Judah that even its most cherished attributes cannot save it from divine discipline when deeply entangled in idolatry and injustice. It highlights the biblical principle that genuine security is not in earthly glory or strength, but in faithfulness to God.