Micah 5:11 kjv
And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:
Micah 5:11 nkjv
I will cut off the cities of your land And throw down all your strongholds.
Micah 5:11 niv
I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds.
Micah 5:11 esv
and I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds;
Micah 5:11 nlt
I will tear down your walls
and demolish your defenses.
Micah 5 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Micah 5:11 | and I will cut off the graven image and the stanch image out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands. | Idolatry forbidden, Future deliverance |
| Exodus 20:3-5 | You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image... You shall not bow down to them or serve them... | Ten Commandments, First two |
| Deuteronomy 12:2-3 | You must tear down their altars and shatter their pillars and burn their Asherim with fire. You must hack down the images of their gods and destroy their names from that place. | Canaanite worship prohibition |
| 1 Kings 18:21 | ...How long will you go limping between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him... | Elijah at Mount Carmel |
| Isaiah 2:8 | ...and they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made. | Judgment on human pride |
| Jeremiah 10:11 | ...Thus you shall say to them: "The gods who have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens." | Babylonish idolatry denounced |
| 1 Corinthians 10:14 | Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. | Warning against idolatry |
| 1 John 5:21 | Little children, keep yourselves from idols. | Final admonition |
| Revelation 21:22 | And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. | New Jerusalem, no temple |
| Psalm 115:4-8 | Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands... Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them. | Folly of idol worship |
| Isaiah 44:19 | ... Shall I make myself a god from a wooden block? | Mockery of idol makers |
| Ezekiel 14:6-8 | ...Turn yourselves from your idols; and turn yourselves from all your abominations. | God's indictment of Israel |
| Joshua 23:7 | ...that you may not mix with these nations... or serve their gods or bow down to them. | Joshua's final charge |
| Matthew 6:24 | No one can serve two masters... | Sermon on the Mount |
| Acts 17:29 | Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image carved by art and thought of man. | Paul at Athens |
| Revelation 9:20 | The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. | Revelation's judgment |
| John 10:30 | I and the Father are one. | Jesus' divinity |
| Ephesians 5:5 | ...for you may be sure of this, that . . . no immoral or impure man, or one who is covetous . . ., has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. | Warning against immorality |
| Zephaniah 1:4-6 | ... I will cut off from Jerusalem... the name of the idolatrous priests... those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops, those who worship and swear by the Lord and yet swear by Malcham... | Judgment on Jerusalem |
| Amos 8:14 | And those who swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, “As surely as your God lives, O Dan,” and, “As surely as the way of Beersheba lives,” they fall, never to rise again. | Judgment on apostasy |
Micah 5 verses
Micah 5 11 Meaning
This verse describes the eradication of idols and false deities by the Lord, ensuring that the land will be free from their corrupting influence. It emphasizes God's ultimate sovereignty and the subsequent peace and security that will come when His presence is acknowledged and His commands obeyed. The removal of deceptive spiritual powers signifies a return to true worship.
Micah 5 11 Context
Micah chapter 5 is a pivotal passage, moving from a prophecy of judgment to a glorious messianic hope. It begins by referencing the desolation that will come upon Israel's enemies, particularly due to their military might (Micah 5:8-9). However, the focus then shifts to God's work of cleansing and restoration within His own people, which culminates in the establishment of a righteous ruler from Bethlehem. Verse 11 is situated within this theme of purification and the dismantling of all opposing spiritual forces that hinder God's reign and the people's true worship. Historically, the land of Israel was often plagued by the pervasive influence of Canaanite paganism and other surrounding idolatrous practices, against which prophets like Micah continually railed. This verse represents a divine decree to bring a decisive end to such spiritual contamination.
Micah 5 11 Word Analysis
- וְקָרַחְתִּי (vəqāraḥtî): "And I will shear off" or "cut off."
- Root verb: קָרַח (qaraḥ) - This verb can mean to shave bare, strip, or in a figurative sense, to be ashamed. Here, it implies a thorough removal or cutting away, like shearing wool from a sheep. It suggests a decisive and complete obliteration.
- עַצַּב (ʿaṣṣab): "graven image" or "idol."
- Related to the root עצב (ʿaṣab), which means to fashion, form, or frame. This noun refers to a sculpted image, often made by human hands, intended for worship. It emphasizes the artificiality and inherent worthlessness of idols.
- וּמַצֵּבָה (ūmaṣṣēḇâ): "and the pillar" or "standing image."
- Root noun: מַצֵּבָה (maṣṣēḇâ) - Typically refers to a pillar or a standing stone, often associated with idol worship in ancient Near Eastern cults (e.g., Asherah poles or cultic stones). These were erected in high places for veneration.
- מִקִּרְבֶּךָ (miqqirbeḵā): "from your midst" or "out of the midst of you."
- Emphasizes that the removal of idols is an internal cleansing process, taking place within the community itself, not just externally.
- וְלֹא־תַעֲבֹד (wəlō-ṯaʿăḇōḏ): "and you shall not worship."
- Root verb: עָבַד (ʿāḇaḏ) - A fundamental verb for "to serve" or "to worship." This signifies a cessation of the practice of bowing down to and rendering service to idols.
- מַעֲשֵׂה (maʿăśē): "the work of."
- Noun: מַעֲשֶׂה (maʿăśē) - Refers to a deed, work, or product. In this context, it points to what humans create and then falsely venerate.
- יָדֶיךָ (yāḏeyḵā): "your hands."
- Noun: יָד (yāḏ) - Represents human effort and creation. The contrast is stark: what human hands make will no longer be the object of worship.
Group Analysis: The phrase "graven image and the stanch image" (עַצַּב וּמַצֵּבָה) covers both carved and erected idols, encompassing a broad spectrum of idolatrous practices common in the ancient world. The promise that "you shall no more worship the work of your hands" (וְלֹא־תַעֲבֹד מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶיךָ) directly counters the nature of idolatry itself, which is the act of venerating that which humanity has created. This highlights the ultimate futility and sinfulness of idolatry from God's perspective.
Micah 5 11 Bonus Section
The sentiment of eradicating idols and returning to pure worship is a recurring theme in Micah’s prophecy and across the Old Testament. This verse represents the fulfillment of earlier commands and the anticipation of a perfect state. It is important to recognize that "idols" in a modern context can extend beyond physical statues to include any creation or pursuit that captures the heart’s ultimate devotion and allegiance above God, such as wealth, power, status, or even self-worship. The principle of exclusive devotion to God remains paramount. This cleansing is intimately tied to the Messiah's reign, implying that true freedom from spiritual deception is ultimately found in Him.
Micah 5 11 Commentary
Micah 5:11 is a powerful prophetic statement about God’s desire for exclusive worship. It promises a future time, associated with the coming Messiah, when all forms of idolatry and false worship will be eradicated from God’s people. The verse speaks of both a divinely imposed removal (cutting off) and a human renunciation (no more worship). This isn't merely about external religious structures but about an internal heart's allegiance. The idols, crafted by human hands and reflecting human desires rather than divine truth, will cease to hold any sway. This promise points to a renewed covenant relationship characterized by pure worship, a theme echoed throughout Scripture from the Old Testament prohibitions against idolatry to the New Testament call to flee from anything that competes with devotion to Christ. It signifies a spiritual liberation and a profound peace that comes when God is rightly acknowledged and served.