Micah 7:17 kjv
They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.
Micah 7:17 nkjv
They shall lick the dust like a serpent; They shall crawl from their holes like snakes of the earth. They shall be afraid of the LORD our God, And shall fear because of You.
Micah 7:17 niv
They will lick dust like a snake, like creatures that crawl on the ground. They will come trembling out of their dens; they will turn in fear to the LORD our God and will be afraid of you.
Micah 7:17 esv
they shall lick the dust like a serpent, like the crawling things of the earth; they shall come trembling out of their strongholds; they shall turn in dread to the LORD our God, and they shall be in fear of you.
Micah 7:17 nlt
Like snakes crawling from their holes,
they will come out to meet the LORD our God.
They will fear him greatly,
trembling in terror at his presence.
Micah 7 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Micah 7:17 | They shall lick the dust like a serpent; | Gen 3:14 |
| Micah 7:17 | They shall move from their places with fear because of the LORD our God | Ps 68:2 |
| Micah 7:17 | and with fear of you. | Ps 119:120 |
| Micah 7:17 | Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity | Ex 34:6-7 |
| Micah 7:17 | and passing over transgression? | Ps 103:3 |
| Micah 7:17 | The end of verse 18 | Ps 86:5 |
| Micah 7:17 | You do not retain your anger forever, | Jer 3:12 |
| Micah 7:17 | but delight to show mercy. | Ps 147:11 |
| Micah 7:17 | You will tread our iniquities underfoot. | Isa 25:8 |
| Micah 7:17 | You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. | Ps 51:1 |
| Micah 7:17 | You will show faithfulness to Jacob | Isa 49:7 |
| Micah 7:17 | and mercy to Abraham, | Gal 3:16 |
| Micah 7:17 | as you have sworn to our fathers | Deut 7:12 |
| Micah 7:17 | from the days of old. | Ps 77:11 |
| Ps 32:1 | Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. | Rom 4:7 |
| Ps 51:17 | The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. | Matt 5:3 |
| Isa 43:25 | I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; | Col 2:13-14 |
| Isa 44:22 | I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; | Acts 3:19 |
| Eph 1:7 | In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins, | 1 John 1:9 |
| 1 John 1:9 | If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. | Rom 8:1 |
| Rom 8:1 | There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. | John 3:16 |
| John 3:16 | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. | Rev 21:4 |
| Rev 21:4 | He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. | 1 Cor 15:55 |
Micah 7 verses
Micah 7 17 Meaning
This verse beautifully captures God's unwavering promise to remember and act upon His covenant faithfulness, even amidst national distress and sin. It anticipates a future where God will tenderly care for His people, fulfilling His promises with overwhelming grace. It signifies a turning point from judgment to restoration.
Micah 7 17 Context
Micah 7 concludes a powerful indictment against Judah's corruption and prophesies severe judgment. However, the final verses transition to a message of hope and divine restoration. After describing the downfall of enemies and the restoration of Jerusalem, the prophet focuses on God's character and His ultimate faithfulness to His covenant people, even after experiencing His discipline.
Micah 7 17 Word Analysis
"Lick" (lachash): To lick, to pant, to be silent. In this context, it vividly portrays utter humiliation and subjugation, like a serpent compelled to taste the dust.
"Dust" (afar): Earth, soil, powder. Symbolizes weakness, lowliness, and destruction.
"Serpent" (nachash): Commonly associated with cunning and deceit, but here represents defeated enemies groveling in the dirt.
"Fear" (yir'ah): Awe, reverence, or dread. Refers to a reverential fear of God and His power.
"God" (El): A general term for God, often used to emphasize His strength and might.
"Like you" (kamokha): Emphasizes the uniqueness of God's nature and actions.
"Pardoning" (nasah): To lift, to bear, to forgive. Implies taking away or removing sin.
"Iniquity" (avon): Guilt, crookedness, wrongdoing. Refers to the perversity of sin.
"Passing over" (ha'avar): To forgive, to blot out, to cover. Denotes overlooking or canceling a debt.
"Transgression" (pesha): Rebellion, a willful sin, trespass. Signifies a deliberate act of defiance.
"Retain anger" (hit'aphan): To hold fast to anger, to preserve wrath. God's willingness not to hold onto His anger.
"Delight" (chaphets): To desire, to take pleasure in, to be well pleased with. Highlights God's pleasure in showing mercy.
"Mercy" (chesed): Steadfast love, kindness, covenant faithfulness. A key attribute of God's relationship with His people.
"Tread" (shuch): To trample, to cast down.
"Iniquities" (avonotaynu): Plural of 'avon,' emphasizing the many ways people go wrong.
"Cast" (tar): To throw, to cast.
"Depths of the sea" (matsulot yam): The deepest parts of the ocean. A metaphor for complete removal and forgetting of sins.
"Show faithfulness" (natati chasidecha): To give or impute Your kindness/steadfast love.
"Sworn" (shava'ta): A solemn promise.
Word Group Analysis:
- "Lick the dust like a serpent": This imagery contrasts with the serpent's cursed state (Gen 3:14) by applying it to vanquished enemies who will submit to God's people, signifying complete defeat and humiliation for adversaries.
- "Pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression": This pairing highlights two complementary aspects of divine forgiveness: bearing the guilt ('avon') and covering the act of rebellion ('pesha').
- "Delight to show mercy...tread our iniquities...cast all our sins": This sequence emphasizes God's proactive and joyful engagement in forgiving sin, actively removing it as far as the east is from the west (Ps 103:12) and consigning it to oblivion.
Micah 7 17 Bonus Section
This passage provides a glimpse into the character of God that resonates throughout Scripture, culminating in the ultimate act of mercy through Jesus Christ. The "depths of the sea" echoes the imagery of complete absolution, as though sins are so far removed they are utterly forgotten, a truth beautifully presented in the forgiveness offered through the Gospel. This anticipates the final state described in Revelation 21:4, where all former sorrows and sins are done away with, as God makes all things new.
Micah 7 17 Commentary
This verse is a profound declaration of God's covenant faithfulness and His immense capacity for forgiveness. Even after punishing sin, God's ultimate desire is not to condemn but to redeem. He will remember His promises to Abraham and Jacob, demonstrated by His willingness to cast sins into the sea, a powerful metaphor for complete obliteration and forgetting. This mirrors the New Testament's emphasis on Christ's sacrifice, which provides total forgiveness for believers. God's pleasure is found in extending mercy, not in judgment.