Micah 1 4

Micah 1:4 kjv

And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.

Micah 1:4 nkjv

The mountains will melt under Him, And the valleys will split Like wax before the fire, Like waters poured down a steep place.

Micah 1:4 niv

The mountains melt beneath him and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope.

Micah 1:4 esv

And the mountains will melt under him, and the valleys will split open, like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place.

Micah 1:4 nlt

The mountains melt beneath his feet
and flow into the valleys
like wax in a fire,
like water pouring down a hill.

Micah 1 verses

Micah 1 4 Meaning

Micah 1:4 powerfully depicts the overwhelming and inescapable impact of God's presence when He descends in judgment. It illustrates that under His awesome might, even the most formidable elements of creation, such as mountains and valleys, will dissolve, cleave, and yield. This vivid imagery underscores the absolute inability of any natural barrier or human defense to withstand the omnipotence and holy wrath of the Lord, making His coming a force of utter transformation and destruction.

Micah 1 4 Context

Micah chapter 1 sets the stage for the prophet's severe message to Israel (Samaria) and Judah (Jerusalem). Verse 2 calls all people to listen, for the Lord is coming forth from His holy temple to bear witness against His people. Verse 3 explicitly states, "For behold, the Lord is coming out from His place, and will come down and tread on the high places of the earth." Micah 1:4 then graphically illustrates the catastrophic physical effects and overwhelming nature of this divine descent and His righteous judgment. The primary recipients of this judgment are Samaria, due to her idolatry and rebellion, and Judah, whose capital Jerusalem shares similar sins, as noted in subsequent verses.

Historically, Micah prophesied during a period when the northern kingdom of Israel was on the verge of destruction by the Assyrians, and Judah faced an imminent threat. Both kingdoms had abandoned the covenant with the Lord, engaging in widespread idolatry (specifically associated with "high places"), social injustice, and reliance on worldly powers. The imagery of mountains melting and valleys cleaving served as a direct challenge to any false sense of security derived from the natural fortifications of Jerusalem or the perceived stability of their social and religious structures. It declared that no human defense or natural barrier could withstand the divine wrath, which was imminent due to their persistent sin.

Micah 1 4 Word analysis

• And: (Heb. wə) A simple conjunction that logically connects the coming of the Lord (verse 3) with its immediate and devastating consequences. It indicates the direct result of God's movement.

• the mountains: (Heb. hehārim) Refers to the physical mountains, often seen in ancient Near Eastern thought as symbols of enduring strength, stability, and even eternality. In biblical literature, mountains can also represent powerful kingdoms or human pride and obstacles. Their depiction here emphasizes that nothing, however mighty or permanent it may seem, can withstand God.

• shall be molten: (Heb. nāmāssū) From the root masas, meaning "to melt, dissolve, or waste away." This signifies a complete loss of rigidity, form, and substance, transforming the most solid objects into a flowing, indistinct mass. It implies utter dissolution and lack of resistance.

• under him: (Heb. taḥtāw) Literally "under His feet" or "beneath Him." This personal pronoun directly links the powerful melting effect to God's personal, direct presence as He "comes down and treads" (Mic 1:3). It underscores the immediacy and directness of divine action.

• and the valleys: (Heb. wəhā‘āmāqīm) Refers to the low-lying plains or deep chasms, the opposite geographical feature to mountains. Including valleys indicates a total geographical upheaval; no part of the landscape, high or low, is spared.

• shall be cleft: (Heb. yitbāq‘ū) From the root bāqa‘, meaning "to split, cleave, or break open violently." This implies a forceful tearing apart, creating fissures or ravines, rather than merely flowing. It speaks of a violent rending of what was once joined or solid.

• as wax: (Heb. kaddônag) An ancient and common simile. Wax is a soft, malleable substance known to readily melt when exposed to heat, losing its shape and solidity entirely. It emphasizes thoroughness and quick, complete transformation.

• before the fire: (Heb. mippənê hā’ēš) Literally "from the face of the fire" or "in the presence of the fire." Fire is a powerful symbol in the Bible for God's holiness, His purifying presence, and His consuming judgment (e.g., Deut 4:24). The comparison emphasizes the direct and absolute agency of divine power causing dissolution.

• and as the waters: (Heb. wəkayyāim) Water in vast quantities or rapid movement is often a symbol of irresistible, overwhelming force and destruction, such as floods or torrents.

• that are poured down: (Heb. munnāgim) This participle implies a forceful, unstoppable, and cascading flow, like water actively being emptied out or flowing freely from a container or source. It emphasizes the active and rapid nature of the downward movement.

• a steep place: (Heb. mūrad) A steep descent, a decline, or a precipitous slope, like a waterfall or a gully in heavy rain. This term emphasizes the rapid, uncontrolled, and powerful momentum of the water, leaving nothing untouched in its path.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "the mountains shall be molten... and the valleys shall be cleft": This pairing vividly depicts a comprehensive geological collapse and restructuring. The high places (mountains) melt into formlessness, while the low places (valleys) are torn apart. This symbolizes that no natural defense, no established order, and no aspect of human existence is beyond the reach or destructive power of God's judgment. It implies a 'de-creation' or radical undoing of the land.
  • "as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place": These two distinct but complementary similes emphasize the totality, swiftness, and irresistibility of God's coming judgment. "As wax before the fire" highlights the complete dissolution and consuming heat of God's wrath, leaving nothing but a melted formlessness. "As the waters that are poured down a steep place" portrays the unstoppable, cascading, and overwhelming force of divine judgment, swiftly sweeping away all obstacles in its path. Together, they create a powerful double metaphor for a thorough and inevitable destruction.

Micah 1 4 Bonus section

The imagery in Micah 1:4 aligns with classical Old Testament theophanic descriptions, where God's appearances are often accompanied by dramatic cosmic phenomena, reminiscent of His descent at Sinai (Exo 19:18). However, unlike the Sinai context, where the focus was covenant inauguration, here the divine manifestation is purely for judgment. The "mountains" are often synonymous with human pride or false security in prophetical literature; thus, their melting can also signify the complete dismantling of human institutions, false religious systems, and perceived strengths that stood in opposition to God. The language here is likely hyperbole, emphasizing the certainty and severity of the judgment, rather than literal geological events, though the historical destructions of Samaria and Judah were very real consequences of this divine action. This verse powerfully sets the tone for Micah's book, establishing the unparalleled majesty and fearful holiness of the Lord who will indeed execute justice upon His wayward people.

Micah 1 4 Commentary

Micah 1:4 uses spectacular and vivid imagery to portray the impact of God's judicial presence. The melting of mountains and cleaving of valleys signify that God's power utterly dwarfs and overrides all natural forces and human might. This is not mere rhetorical flourish but a sober statement about the consequences of persistent rebellion against the Holy One. The comparison to wax melting before fire points to the intense heat of divine wrath and the complete disintegration of what was once solid and dependable. Similarly, water rushing down a steep place illustrates the swift, unstoppable, and overwhelming nature of God's judgment, washing away all resistance. This verse serves as a profound warning that no sin will go unpunished and no one can stand when the omnipotent Lord descends in His fury, demonstrating that physical, spiritual, and social foundations are utterly vulnerable to divine judgment.