Micah 2 3

Micah 2:3 kjv

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.

Micah 2:3 nkjv

Therefore thus says the LORD: "Behold, against this family I am devising disaster, From which you cannot remove your necks; Nor shall you walk haughtily, For this is an evil time.

Micah 2:3 niv

Therefore, the LORD says: "I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.

Micah 2:3 esv

Therefore thus says the LORD: behold, against this family I am devising disaster, from which you cannot remove your necks, and you shall not walk haughtily, for it will be a time of disaster.

Micah 2:3 nlt

But this is what the LORD says:
"I will reward your evil with evil;
you won't be able to pull your neck out of the noose.
You will no longer walk around proudly,
for it will be a terrible time."

Micah 2 verses

Micah 2 3 Meaning

Micah 2:3 declares the Lord's inescapable judgment upon the disobedient people of Judah, particularly those who devise evil and oppress others. It announces a predetermined calamity from which they will not be able to escape or deflect, leading to their profound humiliation and the end of their proud and oppressive behavior, signifying a divinely ordained "time of trouble."

Micah 2 3 Context

Micah chapter 2 begins with a scathing indictment against those who "devise evil" and "work wickedness" on their beds, then carry it out at dawn (Micah 2:1). These actions include coveting fields and seizing them, oppressing men and their houses (Micah 2:2). This verse (Micah 2:3) directly follows these accusations, serving as God's solemn declaration of judgment and retribution. The "this family" refers to the house of Jacob, meaning the people of Israel/Judah, particularly their leaders and wealthy elites, who were engaged in these injustices. Historically, Micah prophesied during a period of significant social decay in Judah, under kings like Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, just before the fall of Samaria (Northern Kingdom) and during the Assyrian threat to Judah. The prophet's message confronts the prevailing sense of security and religious formalism among the elite, challenging their belief that God would not permit such judgment to befall His chosen people, especially given their supposed covenant status.

Micah 2 3 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן - lakhen): Signals a consequence, connecting God's announced judgment directly to the wicked actions detailed in Micah 2:1-2. It indicates an immediate, logical divine response.
• thus says the LORD (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה - koh amar YHWH): An authoritative prophetic formula. It emphasizes that this is a direct, unequivocal divine oracle, not Micah's own opinion or an interpretation. It signifies the absolute certainty and weight of the pronouncement.
• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh): An interjection used to draw attention to what follows, highlighting its importance, immediacy, and often, its startling nature. It calls for specific notice of the coming judgment.
• against this family (עַל־הַמִּשְׁפָּחָה הַזֹּאת - al-hammishpaḥah hazzot): "Family" here (מִשְׁפָּחָה - mishpaḥah) refers not merely to individual households but the collective people, the house of Jacob or Israel/Judah, the nation as a whole entity accountable before God. It emphasizes a corporate judgment.
• I am devising (אֲנִי חֹשֵׁב - ani hoshev): The Hebrew word חָשַׁב (ḥashav) means "to think, plan, calculate, devise." This word creates a stark literary and theological parallel, almost an irony, with the oppressors "devising evil" (Micah 2:1). God, the righteous judge, now "devises" against them, turning their own tactics back upon them, but with a holy purpose. This implies meticulous, intentional divine planning of the judgment.
• disaster (רָעָה - ra'ah): The Hebrew word means "evil," "calamity," "misfortune," "harm," "trouble." Here, it specifically refers to the form of punishment or destructive judgment God intends to bring, contrasting with the human evil committed. It is a divinely appointed suffering.
• from which you cannot remove your necks (לֹא תוּכְלוּן לְהָמִישׁוּ עַנְוָרְכֶם - lo tuchlun lehamishu anvarekhem): A powerful idiom portraying inescapable and heavy oppression. The "neck" refers to the part that bears a yoke or burden. It signifies that the coming disaster will be an unremovable burden, like a crushing yoke that cannot be cast off, emphasizing the severity and inevitability of the judgment. They will be utterly bound by the consequences.
• nor will you walk haughtily (וְלֹא תֵלְכוּן קוֹמְמִיּוּת - v'lo telechun qom'miyyut): The phrase קוֹמְמִיּוּת (qom'miyyut) denotes walking upright, proudly, with a high head, or in defiance. This speaks of the spiritual state of pride, self-confidence, and perhaps arrogance displayed by the oppressors. The judgment will force them into a posture of humility and submission; their proud swagger will be gone.
• for it will be a time of trouble (כִּי עֵת רָעָה הִיא - ki et ra'ah hi): Literally "for a time of evil it is." This emphasizes the nature of the period of judgment. It is not just a brief setback but a designated period characterized by distress and suffering, directly opposing the "good" times of ease and prosperity enjoyed through their oppression.

Micah 2 3 Bonus section

The divine "devising" in Micah 2:3 connects conceptually to God's sovereign control over all events, including calamity (Amos 3:6, Isa 45:7). This does not imply God authors sin, but rather, He orchestrates circumstances, including disciplinary actions, to achieve His righteous purposes. The "time of trouble" or "evil" is part of the larger eschatological motif of "the day of the Lord," often involving a period of intense divine judgment, not only on the nations but also on the covenant people for their unfaithfulness (e.g., Zeph 1:15). This judgment often involved foreign invaders, whom God used as instruments of His righteous indignation (e.g., Assyria, Babylon). The physical posture described—not walking haughtily—signifies a spiritual humbling that will accompany or result from the external disaster. This prophetic warning is a foundational aspect of Old Testament ethical theology, demonstrating that covenant blessings are conditional on obedience, and that sin, especially social injustice, provokes divine wrath.

Micah 2 3 Commentary

Micah 2:3 serves as God's unwavering response to the grave injustices and oppressive deeds outlined in the preceding verses. It underscores the biblical principle of divine retribution where God's justice is meticulously enacted. The declaration "thus says the LORD" imbues the message with undeniable authority and certainty; this is not merely a prophetic warning but a divine decree. The imagery of God "devising disaster" is particularly striking, reflecting an intentional reversal of the wicked's own actions: they planned evil (Micah 2:1), and now God plans their just consequences. This divine "devotion" signifies a precise and unavoidable judgment, unlike any haphazard event.

The phrase "cannot remove your necks" powerfully illustrates the complete and utter subjugation under God's decree. It evokes the image of a heavy, unbreakable yoke, from which no effort or strategy will provide relief. This stands in stark contrast to their former actions of seizing and oppressing, indicating a total reversal of power dynamics. Their arrogance and self-assured pride, expressed by their "walking haughtily," will be forcefully stripped away by the severe, predetermined "time of trouble." This humiliation is a direct consequence of their sin, designed to bring about an end to their defiant posture before God and man. The judgment is corrective, aiming to humble the proud and bring them to repentance or, if not, to demonstrate God's unyielding righteousness against wickedness within His covenant people.