Micah 6:16 kjv
For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.
Micah 6:16 nkjv
For the statutes of Omri are kept; All the works of Ahab's house are done; And you walk in their counsels, That I may make you a desolation, And your inhabitants a hissing. Therefore you shall bear the reproach of My people."
Micah 6:16 niv
You have observed the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab's house; you have followed their traditions. Therefore I will give you over to ruin and your people to derision; you will bear the scorn of the nations."
Micah 6:16 esv
For you have kept the statutes of Omri, and all the works of the house of Ahab; and you have walked in their counsels, that I may make you a desolation, and your inhabitants a hissing; so you shall bear the scorn of my people."
Micah 6:16 nlt
You keep only the laws of evil King Omri;
you follow only the example of wicked King Ahab!
Therefore, I will make an example of you,
bringing you to complete ruin.
You will be treated with contempt,
mocked by all who see you."
Micah 6 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mic 6:16 | Keep the statutes of Omri and all the works of the house of Ahab; walk in their counsel, that I may make you a desolation, and them that dwell therein a curse. | Israel's covenant violation leads to judgment |
| 1 Kgs 16:25-26 | For he (Omri) did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did worse than all that went before him. For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sins wherewith he made Israel to sin. | Omri's sin as foundation for further idolatry |
| 1 Kgs 16:29-34 | And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that went before him. And as if it had been a small thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal the king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. | Ahab's increased wickedness and syncretism |
| 2 Kgs 17:21-23 | For he (Jeroboam) rent Israel from following the LORD, and made them to sin a great sin. For the children of Israel removed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which he committed, wherewith he made Israel to sin, but walked in them, until he took them out of his sight. ... Thus saith the LORD, all Israel shall be saved. | Israel's persistent adherence to Jeroboam's sin |
| Lev 26:15-17 | ... and if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, those that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. | Covenant consequences: disease and defeat |
| Deut 28:36-37 | The LORD shall bring thee and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, gold and silver. And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a curse, among all the nations whither the LORD shall lead thee. | Deportation and becoming a byword |
| Jer 24:9 | And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them. | Jews scattered and becoming curses |
| Ps 109:18 | As he clothed himself with cursing, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones. | Judgment upon enemies; poetic parallel |
| Isa 30:1-3 | Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and your trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. | Disobedience and misplaced trust leading to shame |
| Ezek 8:10 | So I went in and saw; and behold every abomination of the likeness of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about. | Idolatrous practices within the temple |
| 2 Chr 33:21-22 | Ma-nas-seh was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abomination of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. | Manasseh's widespread idolatry |
| Hos 5:10 | The princes of Judah were like them that remove the boundary: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water. | Violation of God's order |
| Hos 7:1-2 | When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim and the wickedness of Samaria was discovered: and they commit falsehood; and the thief entereth in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without. And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their doings have beset them about; they are before my face. | Persistent sin and God's remembrance |
| Zech 11:14 | Then was I cut off from the fellowship of thy brethren. And I lifted up another staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break the covenant which I made with all the people. | Breaking covenant relationships |
| Luke 1:52 | He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. | God scattering the proud |
| Acts 1:18 | Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. | Example of dire consequence for evil actions |
| Rom 11:22 | Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; on thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. | Severity of God's judgment for disobedience |
| 1 Cor 10:11 | Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. | Lessons from Israel's history for believers |
| Rev 18:2 | And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. | Judgment on spiritual wickedness |
| Gal 3:13 | Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. | Christ bearing the curse for us |
Micah 6 verses
Micah 6 16 Meaning
The verse describes the consequence of following the ways of Omri and Ahab, and their house. It states that those who walk in their paths will be subjected to ruin and desolation, becoming a curse and a reproach among nations.
Micah 6 16 Context
Micah prophesies against Israel and Judah, condemning their corrupt leadership and unjust practices. The people, especially the leadership, have turned away from God's statutes and are following the wicked examples set by earlier kings like Omri and Ahab. This unfaithfulness has led to God's displeasure. Chapter 6 begins with God calling Israel to account for their sins, emphasizing that obedience and justice are what He truly desires, not empty rituals. The people have, however, adopted the detestable practices of their kings, which were characterized by idolatry, injustice, and a rebellion against God's covenant. The verse specifically highlights the lineage of Omri and Ahab, who introduced extreme forms of Canaanite idolatry and oppressive rule in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Their house became synonymous with the pinnacle of apostasy.
Micah 6 16 Word Analysis
הַקּ֫שְּׁרוּ (haq-shē-rū): "Keep," "observe," "hold fast." This is an imperative verb. It signifies more than mere outward observance; it implies adherence and commitment.
חֻקּ֫וֹת (ḥuq-qōth): "Statutes," "ordinances," "customs." Plural of ḥōq, referring to prescribed laws or traditions. Here, it refers to the established, often religiously imbued, ways of life.
עָמְרִי (ʿōm-rî): "Omri." The name of the sixth king of Israel, known for his significant military campaigns and the founding of Samaria as the capital, but also for deeply entrenched idolatry.
וְכֹל (wə-kōl): "And all." A conjunction and the universal quantifier, emphasizing totality.
מַעֲשֵׂה (ma-ʿă-śê): "Works," "deeds," "actions." Plural of maʿăśēh, denoting what is done.
בֵּית (bêṯ): "House," "household," "dynasty." Implies the entire lineage and system established by a particular person.
אַחְאָב (’aḥ-’āḇ): "Ahab." Son of Omri, infamous for his wicked reign, marked by the worship of Baal and persecution of prophets, often associated with his Phoenician wife Jezebel.
וְסוּרוּ (wə-sū-rū): "And turn," "depart." Imperative verb, second person plural. Signifies a directional movement away from God and towards something else.
בְּתוּלֳהֶם (bə-ṯu-lə-hēm): "In their counsel," "in their way," "in their understanding." Root ṯûl often means to go aside or turn. Implies following their guidance or pattern.
לְמַ֫עַן (lə-ma-ʿan): "That," "in order that," "so that." Expresses purpose or result.
אַשִּֽׁיתָךְ (’aś-šî-ṯāḵ): "I may make you," "I may lay waste." First person singular future from šût, meaning to wander or lay waste. It denotes causing someone or something to become desolate.
וּ֫שְׁבֶיהָ (ūš-ḇê-hā): "And its inhabitants." From the root šāḇaʿ, meaning to inhabit or dwell.
מְקָלָלָה (mə-qə-lā-lāh): "Cursed." Feminine singular passive participle. Signifies being subjected to a curse.
וּשְׁמָהּ (ūš-māh): "And her name," "and a name." The "her" refers back to the desolated entity, likely the land or the people of Israel.
חֶרְפָּה (ḥer-pāh): "Reproach," "scorn," "insult." Refers to public shame or disgrace.
words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Keep the statutes of Omri and all the works of the house of Ahab": This phrase encapsulates a complete embrace of a sinful legacy, moving beyond isolated wrongdoings to systemic adoption of destructive patterns of worship and governance.
- "walk in their counsel": This indicates not just following actions but adopting the very thought processes, strategies, and moral frameworks that led to destruction.
- "that I may make you a desolation, and them that dwell therein a curse": This causal statement links the continued embrace of this sinful path directly to ultimate ruin and becoming a symbol of God's judgment and displeasure to others.
- "a curse and a reproach among all the nations": This highlights the social and international consequence of their disobedience, becoming a byword for failure and divine disfavor.
Micah 6 16 Bonus Section
This verse reflects a theme of inherited sin and the devastating consequences of following bad leadership. Just as the sins of Jeroboam ensnared subsequent generations of Israelites (1 Kings 14:16), so too did the pervasive influence of Omri and Ahab. The mention of becoming "a curse" echoes Old Testament curses for disobedience, such as those found in Deuteronomy 28. This concept also finds resonance in the New Testament, particularly in Galatians 3:13, where Christ redeems believers from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. The judgment described here also serves as a prophetic pointer to the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles that befell Israel and Judah. The utter destruction and branding as a reproach signifies the complete failure to be God's representative nation.
Micah 6 16 Commentary
Micah 6:16 serves as a stark warning. It directly links the specific idolatrous and corrupt practices of kings Omri and Ahab to inevitable divine judgment. The imperative to "keep the statutes" and "walk in their counsel" is not a suggestion but a severe indictment of Israel's continuing adherence to these very ways. Omri, who established Samaria and laid the groundwork for deep apostasy (1 Kings 16:25-26), and Ahab, who intensified Baal worship under Jezebel's influence (1 Kings 16:30-33), represent a pinnacle of deviation from God's covenant. The consequence is not merely temporal punishment but utter ruin – becoming "a desolation" and "a curse" among nations. This foretells the future destruction and exile of Israel. The repetition of such warnings underscores God's deep sorrow and judgment against unfaithfulness, especially when His people imitate the worst examples instead of His commands. It emphasizes that following destructive counsel leads to becoming a negative example, a warning to others about the wages of sin.