Micah 4:9 kjv
Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
Micah 4:9 nkjv
Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in your midst? Has your counselor perished? For pangs have seized you like a woman in labor.
Micah 4:9 niv
Why do you now cry aloud? have you no king? Has your ruler perished, that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?
Micah 4:9 esv
Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pain seized you like a woman in labor?
Micah 4:9 nlt
But why are you now screaming in terror?
Have you no king to lead you?
Have your wise people all died?
Pain has gripped you like a woman in childbirth.
Micah 4 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Micah 4:9 | "Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Or has your counselor perished... | Micah 4:9 |
| Jeremiah 22:23 | "Dwell in Lebanon and build yourself a house in the cedars, how fortunate you will be when pangs of labor come upon you... | Jeremiah 22:23 |
| Lamentations 1:14 | "He has made my iniquities a yoke binding them together; it is he who has strung them together. My transgressions are bound into a single knot. | Lamentations 1:14 |
| Jeremiah 48:41 | "Look, it will be seen, as a vulture for him who is in the sky to come forth and all the cities of the plain will be overthrown, and it will be seen to be over. | Jeremiah 48:41 |
| Jeremiah 4:31 | "I hear a cry like that of a woman in labor, anguish like one giving birth to her first child, the cry of Daughter Zion gasping and spreading her hands, 'Woe! I am overcome by murderers.'" | Jeremiah 4:31 |
| Ezekiel 30:9 | "Then inhabitants of Egypt, on that day, shall tremble because of the day of judgment and my prophetic utterance against them. The sword shall come upon Egypt, and great distress upon Cush; when the slain fall in Egypt, and its wealth is carried away, and its foundations are torn down. | Ezekiel 30:9 |
| Isaiah 13:8 | "They shall be terrified; pains and anguish shall seize them; they shall writhe like a woman in labor; they shall stare, each at the other in shock; their faces aflame. | Isaiah 13:8 |
| Psalm 11:7 | For the LORD is righteous; he loves justice; the upright shall behold his face. | Psalm 11:7 |
| Isaiah 64:6 | We are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy rag. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. | Isaiah 64:6 |
| Jeremiah 30:5-7 | "For thus says the LORD: We have heard a cry ofPanic, of terror and no peace. Ask now and see, if a male gives birth to a child? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a pregnant woman? And why has every face turned pale? Alas! That day is so great, there is none like it. It is the time of Jacob's distress, but he shall be saved from it." | Jeremiah 30:5-7 |
| Joel 1:16 | Is not the food cut off before our eyes, yes, joy and gladness from the house of our God? | Joel 1:16 |
| 2 Chronicles 36:15 | The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. | 2 Chronicles 36:15 |
| 2 Kings 23:26 | Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn from the burning of his great wrath, by which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked him. | 2 Kings 23:26 |
| Habakkuk 3:16 | I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. I wait for the day of trouble to come upon the people who invade us. | Habakkuk 3:16 |
| Jeremiah 51:59-62 | (No explicit mention but parallel themes of judgment and overthrow) | Jeremiah 51:59-62 |
| Zephaniah 1:10-11 | "On that day, declares the LORD, a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, a loud crash from the hills. Wail, O inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the traders are silenced, all who weigh out silver are cut off. | Zephaniah 1:10-11 |
| Hosea 13:13 | The pangs of childbirth come upon him; he is an unwise son, for he does not present himself at the mouth of the womb. | Hosea 13:13 |
| Psalm 77:3 | I think of God, and I moan; I meditate, and my spirit faints. | Psalm 77:3 |
| 1 Corinthians 10:13 | No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. | 1 Corinthians 10:13 |
| Acts 7:51 | "You stiffnecked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. | Acts 7:51 |
Micah 4 verses
Micah 4 9 Meaning
This verse speaks of a time of great suffering and judgment for the people of Judah, where they will be scattered and brought to severe hardship, like women in childbirth. It signifies a period of intense tribulation before a future restoration.
Micah 4 9 Context
Micah chapter 4 contrasts a future of peace and flourishing under God's reign with present-day apostasy and impending judgment. Verse 9 is placed within the section that describes the distress and downfall of Jerusalem, characterized by the absence of effective leadership and overwhelming sorrow. Historically, this would have resonated with the people of Judah facing threats from powerful empires like Assyria and Babylon, reminding them of the consequences of their sin and unfaithfulness. The verse functions as a lament and a warning, pointing to the severe consequences of spiritual and political decay.
Micah 4 9 Word Analysis
Now (וְעַתָּה - ve'attah): This conjunction introduces a present situation or a shift in focus, highlighting the immediate reality of distress.
why (לָמָּה - lamah): Expresses a question of perplexity or expostulation, indicating a realization of the current dire state.
do you cry aloud (תִצְעֲקִי קוֹל - titza'aki qol): Refers to a loud, piercing cry, a lamentation expressing deep pain and anguish.
Is there (הַאִ֨ין - ha'ayin): A negative existential question, questioning the presence or availability of something vital.
no king (מֶ֤לֶךְ - melekh): Denotes the absence of a true leader, signifying political and spiritual vacío. This could imply that the current king is ineffective, exiled, or that the nation lacks a proper divine ruler.
in you (בָּךְ - bakh): Points directly to Jerusalem or the nation of Judah.
Or (אִ֣ם - im): Introduces an alternative condition or question.
has your counselor (יוֹעֵ֞ץ - yo'etz): Refers to a wise advisor or strategist.
perished (אָבַ֥ד - avad): Signifies loss, destruction, or extinction, indicating the failure or removal of competent guidance.
Pangs (חִילִי - khili): The pains of labor, metaphorically representing intense suffering, birth pangs, and agonizing distress.
of birth (לֵדָֽה - ledah): Related to giving birth, reinforcing the imagery of excruciating pain.
Words group:
- "Why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Or has your counselor perished?" – This group of phrases emphasizes the profound crisis, where the expected sources of protection and guidance (king, counselors) are either absent or ineffective, leading to helpless cries of despair. It highlights a nation’s broken leadership as the cause of its suffering.
Micah 4 9 Bonus Section
The imagery of "pangs of childbirth" is a recurring motif in the Old Testament when describing intense national suffering and judgment (Jeremiah 4:31, 13:13; Isaiah 13:8; Jeremiah 30:5-6). This metaphor suggests a painful and unavoidable process of transition or dissolution, often preceding a new birth or a period of cleansing. For ancient Israel, kings and counselors represented God’s ordained means of national security and well-being. Their absence or ineffectiveness signaled a departure from God's covenant and invited disaster. The verse implies that their own actions have rendered their leadership powerless or non-existent, leading to this state of agony.
Micah 4 9 Commentary
Micah 4:9 powerfully captures a moment of national crisis. The prophet uses rhetorical questions to highlight the devastating consequence of the people’s unfaithfulness: the absence or failure of their leadership. The image of "pangs of childbirth" underscores the agonizing nature of the suffering that will befall Judah. This isn't just physical pain but the deep sorrow of a nation in its death throes due to sin. The verse serves as a stark reminder that spiritual decay invariably leads to societal collapse, particularly when leadership fails to uphold divine principles. The suffering described is a form of divine discipline, a necessary precursor to future redemption and the establishment of God’s ultimate reign of peace.