Micah 2 11

Micah 2:11 kjv

If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

Micah 2:11 nkjv

If a man should walk in a false spirit And speak a lie, saying, 'I will prophesy to you of wine and drink,' Even he would be the prattler of this people.

Micah 2:11 niv

If a liar and deceiver comes and says, 'I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,' that would be just the prophet for this people!

Micah 2:11 esv

If a man should go about and utter wind and lies, saying, "I will preach to you of wine and strong drink," he would be the preacher for this people!

Micah 2:11 nlt

Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you,
"I'll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!"
That's just the kind of prophet you would like!

Micah 2 verses

Micah 2 11 Meaning

Micah 2:11 conveys the depths of moral and spiritual decline in Israel/Judah, revealing that the people desired and accepted false prophets who spoke lies and offered messages of ease, prosperity, and self-indulgence rather than the challenging truth from God. It highlights their willingness to embrace anyone who flattered their vices and promised worldly comfort, symbolized by "wine and strong drink," preferring smooth deceit over the convicting Word of God. This depicts a spiritual market where convenient lies were preferred and sought after.

Micah 2 11 Context

Micah 2:11 stands within a chapter that sharply condemns the corrupt leadership and wealthy elites of Judah for their exploitation and covetousness. The previous verses (2:1-5) denounce those who scheme to acquire fields and houses unjustly, illustrating how they oppress the poor and vulnerable. Verses 6-10 reveal that true prophets were silenced or rejected because their messages of impending judgment were unwelcome. The people did not want to hear "Do not preach" (Mic 2:6) and preferred to be told soothing lies. Thus, verse 11 is the climax of this spiritual and moral breakdown, explicitly showing the people's desire for deceit. They prefer prophets who reflect their desires for material pleasure and moral laxity rather than those who challenge their sinful ways. This creates a symbiotic relationship: the people seek smooth talkers, and smooth talkers emerge to satisfy this demand, all in direct opposition to God's truth and justice.

Historically, Micah prophesied in the 8th century BC, during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah, a period marked by significant social injustice, idol worship, and spiritual apathy. The land was outwardly prosperous but deeply corrupt within. Assyria posed an imminent threat, yet the people remained in their complacency, often seeking reassurance from false prophets instead of repenting and trusting in the LORD. Micah's prophecy, therefore, is a polemic against the prevalent syncretism and the widespread embrace of spiritual deception over genuine covenant faithfulness.

Micah 2 11 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, kî): Introduces a causal or explanatory statement, indicating why true prophets are rejected and false ones embraced.
• if (אִ֣ישׁ, îš): "A man," referring to a hypothetical or representative person, highlighting the widespread nature of the phenomenon.
• walking (הֹלֵ֨ךְ, hōlēḵ): "One who walks" or "a walker." Denotes a characteristic way of life, a habitual pattern, or a persistent lifestyle, not just a casual occurrence.
• in wind (בְּר֥וּחַ, bə·rûaḥ):
  • רוּחַ (rûaḥ): Literally "wind," "spirit," "breath." Here, it signifies something insubstantial, empty, vain, or false—like an empty wind. It implies delusion or the leading of a baseless, human spirit, not the divine Spirit.
• and falsehood (וָשֶׁ֖קֶר, wā·še·qer):
  • וָ (wa): "And."
  • שֶׁקֶר (šeqer): "Lie," "deception," "falsehood." Paired with "wind," it emphasizes the utter lack of truth or reality in the person's message or way of life.
• do lie (וְכִזֵּ֣ב, wə·ḵiz·zēḇ): "And lie" or "deal falsely." Reinforces the nature of their message; it is deliberate deceit, not mere error.
• saying (לֵאמֹ֑ר, lē·mōr): Standard Hebrew introductory particle to directly quote or summarize speech.
• I will prophesy (אֶבַּ֤ע, ’eb·baʿ): "I will cause to bubble up," "spout," or "gush forth." This verb (נָבַע, nāḇaʿ) often implies a fluid, effortless utterance, not necessarily the weighty and sometimes painful reception of God's Word. In this context, it suggests an eager readiness to speak, perhaps glibly, to please the audience.
• unto thee (לְךָ֨, lə·ḵā): "To you," emphasizing the direct, personalized appeal to the people's desires.
• of wine (לַיַּ֤יִן, lay·ya·yin):
  • לְ (l): "Of" or "for."
  • יַיִן (yayin): "Wine." Represents merriment, pleasure, indulgence, material prosperity. The prophet promises pleasant conditions that enable such revelry.
• and of strong drink (וְלַשֵּׁכָ֔ר, wə·laš·šê·ḵār):
  • וְ (wa): "And."
  • שֵׁכָר (šēḵār): "Strong drink," referring to any intoxicating liquor other than grape wine. Further emphasizes indulgence, escapism, and the soothing of worries through intoxication or self-deception.
• he shall even be (וְהָיָ֥ה, wə·hā·yāh): "And he will be." Asserts the inevitable acceptance of such a person.
• the prophet (נָבִ֛יא, nā·ḇî): "Prophet," "spokesman." Ironic here, as they accept someone who prophesies based on human desires, not divine revelation.
• of this people (לָעָ֥ם הַזֶּֽה׃, lā·‘ām haz·zeh): "To this people," often implying a distinct group that is set apart, frequently by their rebellious nature. It underscores their willingness to be deceived and their complicity in seeking comfort over truth.

Words-group analysis:

• "if a man walking in wind and falsehood": This phrase paints a picture of someone whose entire existence, manner of life, and source of inspiration are utterly without substance, built on illusion and deception. They do not genuinely serve God or truth.
• "do lie saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink": This reveals the content and appeal of the false prophecy. It's a deliberate fabrication (lie), designed to provide ease and pleasure. The "wine and strong drink" symbolize messages that promise unhindered prosperity, an absence of judgment, and permission for indulgence, akin to spiritual intoxication.
• "he shall even be the prophet of this people": This is the damning indictment of the people. It demonstrates their culpability: they actively embrace and validate these deceptive voices, confirming their desire for agreeable falsehoods rather than difficult truths.

Micah 2 11 Bonus section

The Hebrew wordplay in the phrase "I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink" can be more nuanced than a direct statement of future events related to these beverages. Instead, the prophet offers a kind of spiritual "wine and strong drink"—messages designed to soothe, relax, and intoxicate the audience with pleasant but ultimately deceptive visions. It is a promise of freedom from the anxieties of judgment and a declaration of their guaranteed enjoyment, rather than any genuine message from God.

This verse also sets a foundational understanding for discerning false prophecy that echoes throughout scripture:

• The source: Is it from God's Spirit or "wind and falsehood"?
• The content: Does it challenge to righteousness or promise indulgence (wine/strong drink)?
• The reception: Does it receive widespread, eager acceptance from a morally compromised populace because it panders to their desires?

The ultimate spiritual implication is that a people who crave lies and reject truth become enslaved by the very deceptions they desire. They replace the fear of the Lord with human comfort, sealing their own judgment.

Micah 2 11 Commentary

Micah 2:11 starkly exposes a spiritual pathology where the demand for palatable untruth supplanted the reception of divine reality. The people's "itching ears" sought only messages that affirmed their desired lifestyle of comfort, prosperity, and moral laxity, devoid of accountability or calls to repentance. A "man walking in wind and falsehood" signifies a prophet whose very foundation is empty deception, speaking from human imagination or deceitful spirit, rather than the true God. The content of his "prophecy" – "of wine and strong drink" – symbolizes messages that intoxicate the people with false hope, promising uninterrupted good times and prosperity (represented by the abundance of celebratory drinks), implicitly excusing their sin or overlooking God's judgment.

The tragic reality presented is that such a person is precisely whom "this people" readily embraces as their prophet. They did not just tolerate false prophecy; they actively welcomed it and elevated the false prophets because their words aligned with the people's sinful desires and cravings for worldly ease. This verse illuminates a mutual spiritual compromise: the false prophet offers what the people want to hear, and the people, in their spiritual blindness, gladly accept the soothing lie as "truth." This rejection of God's demanding, but ultimately life-giving, Word in favor of comfortable lies leads to further spiritual decline and eventual judgment. It's a powerful warning against the seduction of pleasing untruths and the severe consequences of preferring self-serving delusions to divine truth.