Micah 6 1

Micah 6:1 kjv

Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.

Micah 6:1 nkjv

Hear now what the LORD says: "Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills hear your voice.

Micah 6:1 niv

Listen to what the LORD says: "Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say.

Micah 6:1 esv

Hear what the LORD says: Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.

Micah 6:1 nlt

Listen to what the LORD is saying: "Stand up and state your case against me.
Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaints.

Micah 6 1 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Micah 6:1Hear what the Lord says.God's authoritative command
Isaiah 1:2Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken.Divine pronouncements for all creation
Jeremiah 2:4Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.Calling Israel to hear God's message
Ezekiel 13:2Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy.Prophetic denunciation of false prophets
Amos 3:1Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel.A similar opening for judgment
Deuteronomy 32:1Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.Moses' song calling heavens and earth
Psalm 50:4He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people.God summons heavens and earth for judgment
John 5:25Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.Christ emphasizes hearing for life
Acts 7:2And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hear.Stephen addressing Israel
Revelation 2:1To the angel of the church of Ephesus write: `These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:Christ addresses the church with authority
Matthew 11:15He who has ears to hear, let him hear!Jesus' call to spiritual understanding
Luke 11:28But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"Blessing through hearing and obeying
John 10:27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.The response of true followers
Revelation 3:13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.A concluding exhortation to hear
Hebrews 12:25See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, how much less shall we escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven?Warning against refusing God's voice
Romans 10:14How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?The necessity of hearing the Gospel
1 Corinthians 14:2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.Contrasting hearing by faith
Genesis 3:8And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.First instance of humans hearing God's voice
Joshua 24:2And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel: 'Your fathers, dwell on the other side of the River in old times,---Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods.Joshua calling Israel to hear
Isaiah 30:9That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the Lord;The reason for God's pronouncements
Deuteronomy 4:26I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today, that you will utterly perish and not live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to possess.God calling witnesses against disobedience
Psalm 18:44As soon as they hear of me, they obey me; The foreigners submit themselves to me.Foreigners responding to God's call

Micah 6 verses

Micah 6 1 Meaning

Hear the divine summons. This verse is a direct address from God, the sovereign Lord, calling His people, Israel, and specifically the leaders and elders, to attend. The intent is to confront them with their wrongdoings and to pronounce judgment. It’s an invitation to listen to the charges that will be laid against them for their unfaithfulness and injustice.

Micah 6 1 Context

Micah 6:1 marks the beginning of a significant oracle where God Himself speaks directly, calling for attention. This oracle follows Micah's detailed indictments of the corrupt leadership and people of Israel and Judah. The prophet has laid out specific accusations of injustice, greed, and hypocrisy. The phrase "Hear ye" is a classic prophetic opening, demanding an audience before presenting the core message. It sets the stage for a divine legal proceeding. The context is one of severe societal breakdown and spiritual decay within Israel. God is about to present His case against His covenant people, highlighting their violations of the covenant. This indictment is a precursor to the pronouncement of judgment and the offering of a path toward restoration, but only after acknowledging their sin.

Micah 6 1 Word analysis

  • Hear (Hebrew: shama‘)
    • This fundamental Hebrew verb signifies more than just auditory perception. It encompasses understanding, heeding, obeying, and paying attention. Its repeated use throughout Scripture emphasizes a call to a deeper, active engagement with God’s word, not merely passive listening.
    • Significance: God is not simply making a statement; He is initiating a dialogue, demanding a response of compliance and obedience.
  • ye
    • A plural pronoun, directly addressing the people, but in the context of Micah, likely a targeted address to the leaders and elders who bear responsibility for the nation's spiritual and moral state.
  • what
    • Introduces the content of God’s address. It signals that a message of substance and importance is about to be revealed.
  • the
    • Definite article, specific.
  • Lord (Hebrew: YHWH/Yahweh)
    • The personal, covenantal name of God. Using this name underscores that it is the covenant-making and covenant-keeping God who is speaking, and therefore His words carry the weight of His unchangeable character and His covenant obligations.
    • Significance: This is the most sacred and personal name for God, revealing His redemptive, active involvement with His people. His speaking is rooted in His eternal covenant.
  • saith (Hebrew: amar)
    • The simple past tense of the verb "to say." It indicates a completed action of speaking, a declaration that has been made and is now being presented through the prophet.

Words-group analysis

  • "Hear ye, what the Lord saith"
    • This phrase functions as a solemn proclamation and a call to immediate attention. It’s a formal summons by God Himself, indicating the gravity and divine authority of the message to follow. This structure is typical of prophetic introductions, where the prophet relays a direct word from God. It is an ancient Near Eastern legal idiom, signaling the opening of a trial or the pronouncement of a decree. The use of "Hear ye" is a divine call to listen, often preceding judgment or instruction, as seen in similar prophetic openings in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Amos.

Micah 6 1 Bonus section

The phrasing "Hear what the Lord says" carries an ancient Near Eastern flavor, reminiscent of court proceedings or royal decrees. God positions Himself as the ultimate authority and Judge. The context in Micah builds upon previous accusations of social injustice and religious hypocrisy. The subsequent verses will explore God’s relationship with Israel, using the metaphor of a lawsuit or covenant litigation, demonstrating that His coming judgment is a just response to their breaking of the covenant. This direct divine address highlights that the prophetic message is not merely the opinion of Micah, but the very word of God, carrying absolute authority and demanding a faithful response from His covenant people.

Micah 6 1 Commentary

This opening verse of Micah chapter 6 is a powerful summons from God Himself. He commands His people, particularly their leaders, to listen. The emphasis is not on a casual hearing, but on an attentive, obedient reception of His words. This is the Sovereign Lord, Yahweh, speaking. His intention is to confront Israel with their covenant unfaithfulness. The message to follow is a divine indictment, a legal case presented by God against His own people for their injustice and corruption, highlighting that true worship cannot exist apart from righteousness and mercy in daily life. This summons precedes God's articulation of the core requirements of the covenant: justice, mercy, and humility. It’s a prelude to judgment and a call to true repentance.