Micah 6:12 kjv
For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
Micah 6:12 nkjv
For her rich men are full of violence, Her inhabitants have spoken lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
Micah 6:12 niv
Your rich people are violent; your inhabitants are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully.
Micah 6:12 esv
Your rich men are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
Micah 6:12 nlt
The rich among you have become wealthy
through extortion and violence.
Your citizens are so used to lying
that their tongues can no longer tell the truth.
Micah 6 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Micah 6:12 | For those who are rich have been filled with violence, and its inhabitants... | Present Verse |
| Isaiah 1:23 | Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves; everyone loves a bribe... | Judgment for corruption and injustice |
| Isaiah 5:8 | Woe to you who join house with house, lay field with field, till there is no... | Greed and oppression through land acquisition |
| Jeremiah 5:27 | Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they h... | Deception and corruption in their houses |
| Ezekiel 22:29 | The people of the land have practiced oppression, and committed robbery; the... | Widespread oppression and robbery |
| Amos 3:10 | They do not know how to do right, declares the LORD, those who store up vi... | Injustice and storing up violence in their fortresses |
| Amos 5:11-12 | Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from him exactions of w... | Exploitation of the poor and taking bribes |
| Psalms 10:2 | In arrogance the wicked pursue the predatory, trapping and ensnaring them... | Wickedness characterized by predatory pursuits |
| Proverbs 1:11-14 | If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us lurk secretly... | Encouragement to do evil and commit injustice |
| Proverbs 4:14-17 | Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evildoers... | The wicked's joy in doing evil |
| Matthew 15:18-19 | But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles... | Internal corruption leads to outward evil |
| Luke 6:45 | The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and th... | The heart as the source of one's actions |
| James 5:1-3 | Come now, you rich people, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming ... | Condemnation of the rich for oppressing others |
| Genesis 6:5 | The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that e... | The pervasiveness of human wickedness |
| Deuteronomy 28:30 | You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall enjoy her; you shall build... | Consequences of disobedience, including dispossession |
| Leviticus 19:36 | You shall have just balances, just weights, just ephah, and just hin: I am t... | Commands for fair business practices |
| Romans 3:10-12 | as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one ... | Universality of sin and corruption |
| 1 John 2:16 | For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of th... | The world's corrupting influences |
| Revelation 18:5 | for her sins are piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her i... | God's remembrance of accumulated wickedness |
| Genesis 18:20-21 | Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great... | God's attention to pervasive sin in cities |
| Ezekiel 7:23 | "The worst of the nations!" They will make your fortresses a scene of ru... | The outcome of pervasive wickedness |
| Micah 3:10 | ...who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity. | Building on foundations of injustice |
Micah 6 verses
Micah 6 12 Meaning
The people of Israel have been corrupt, unjust, and greedy, leading God to question their faithfulness. In this verse, the prophet Micah highlights the consequence of their deep-seated wickedness, which has pervaded their very being. It speaks to the internal corruption that makes righteous actions impossible, stemming from the wickedness within their hearts and homes.
Micah 6 12 Context
Micah's prophecy comes during a time of severe moral and spiritual decay in both the Northern (Israel) and Southern (Judah) Kingdoms. This verse specifically addresses the leaders and wealthy inhabitants of Israel who, despite outward religious observances, are characterized by deep-seated violence and injustice. They have amassed wealth through oppressive means, enriching themselves at the expense of the poor and vulnerable. The nation's sin is not merely superficial but has become ingrained in their culture and institutions, particularly within their homes, which should be places of righteousness. God, through Micah, pronounces judgment on this systemic corruption.
Micah 6 12 Word Analysis
- כִּֽי־ (ki) - For; because; that. This word introduces a reason or explanation for the preceding pronouncement of judgment.
- שֹׂ֣בְעִ֔ים (sov'im) - filled; satisfied; satiated; enriched. This participle describes a state of being filled or overwhelmed, here indicating that the rich have been filled with something corrupting. It suggests an excess, an overabundance.
- עָוֶ֫ל (avol) - injustice; iniquity; wrong; unrighteousness. This noun signifies that which is crooked, unjust, or wicked. It points to a departure from what is right and fair.
- וְיוֹשְׁבֶיהָ (v'yoshveha) - and its inhabitants. This compound word includes "and" (vav) and "its inhabitants" (yoshveha, from yashav meaning to sit, inhabit, dwell). It refers to all who live within the land or city being addressed.
- פְּרָצִ֖ים (pratzim) - violators; transgressors; breach-makers. This plural noun comes from a root meaning to break through, break down, or violate. It emphasizes active transgression and causing breaches in God's law or social order.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- שׂוֹבְעִים֙ עָ֔וֶל (sov'im avol) - "filled with injustice." This powerful pairing signifies a deep and pervasive state of unrighteousness. It's not just that injustice is present, but that it has completely filled the wealthy, leaving no room for righteousness. This overabundance of iniquity is the foundation of their corruption.
- וְיוֹשְׁבֶיהָ פְּרָצִ֖ים (v'yoshveha pratzim) - "and its inhabitants are violators." This connects the corruption of the wealthy to the broader populace, indicating a general disregard for divine and moral boundaries. The inhabitants themselves are actively breaking and violating God's commands and the principles of a just society.
Micah 6 12 Bonus Section
The Hebrew word translated as "filled" (שֹׂ֣בְעִ֔ים - sov'im) can also imply being fat or prosperous, ironically suggesting that their material wealth is a result of, or coupled with, their spiritual emptiness and ethical decay. This highlights God's displeasure with wealth obtained through unjust means, rather than wealth itself. The term "violators" (פְּרָצִ֖ים - pratzim) powerfully conveys active wrongdoing, those who deliberately break down barriers of morality and law. This imagery evokes the breaching of city walls, signifying vulnerability and defeat due to internal moral collapse. The verse's consequence implies that the nation will become as broken and emptied as they have made others, with their homes and possessions becoming ruins, reflecting the desolation they have sown.
Micah 6 12 Commentary
Micah confronts Israel with a stark indictment: their wealthy citizens are not merely sinning; they are "filled" with injustice. This suggests a total saturation of their lives, motives, and actions with unrighteousness, often gained through violence and exploitation. The consequence for such pervasive corruption is the judgment that their city, or nation, will become a desolate place, akin to ruins. The emphasis is on internal depravity that manifests as external destruction. The phrase "its inhabitants are violators" extends this corruption to the broader population, indicating a systemic issue where transgression has become the norm. God's condemnation targets those who have prioritized material gain through dishonest means over adherence to His laws and love for their neighbors. This is a timeless warning against greed and the self-destructive nature of pervasive injustice.