Micah 7:8 kjv
Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
Micah 7:8 nkjv
Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The LORD will be a light to me.
Micah 7:8 niv
Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
Micah 7:8 esv
Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.
Micah 7:8 nlt
Do not gloat over me, my enemies!
For though I fall, I will rise again.
Though I sit in darkness,
the LORD will be my light.
Micah 7 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Micah 7:9 | "I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he takes my side and executes justice for me." | Immediate context of expectation |
| Psalm 27:14 | "Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!" | Theme of waiting on the Lord |
| Psalm 37:5 | "Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act." | Trust and commitment leading to divine action |
| Isaiah 40:31 | "but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." | Strength found in waiting on God |
| Lamentations 3:25-26 | "The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD." | Importance of quiet waiting for salvation |
| Habakkuk 2:3 | "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens toward the end, it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." | Patient waiting for fulfilled visions |
| John 15:4-5 | "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." | Figurative application of remaining in Christ |
| Romans 8:25 | "But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." | Hope and patient waiting |
| 1 Corinthians 13:7 | "...love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." | Love's endurance and hope |
| Galatians 6:9 | "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." | Perseverance in good deeds |
| Hebrews 10:36 | "For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised." | Need for endurance to receive promises |
| James 1:4 | "And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." | Steadfastness leads to completeness |
| James 5:7-8 | "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it until it receives the early and late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." | Exhortation to patient waiting for the Lord's return |
| Revelation 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." | Ultimate restoration and end of suffering |
| Psalm 35:1-2 | "Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help!" | Plea for divine intervention |
| Psalm 7:6 | "Rise up, O LORD! In your anger lift yourself up against the rage of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment." | Prayer for God to arise in judgment |
| Isaiah 62:1 | "For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not hold my peace, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch." | Prophet's commitment to speaking for Jerusalem |
| Jeremiah 50:20 | "In those days and in that time, declares the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought, and there shall be none, and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave." | God's future pardon and restoration |
| Amos 5:15 | "Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph." | Call to justice and potential for grace |
| 2 Samuel 23:3 | "The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘Whoever rules justly over people, whoever rules in the fear of God, " | Justice and fearing God in leadership |
| Luke 18:7-8 | "And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" | Parable of persistent prayer for justice |
Micah 7 verses
Micah 7 8 Meaning
The prophet Micah declares that he will not rejoice over the defeat of his enemies, but instead will watch and wait for the Lord's deliverance. This statement expresses a confident hope and reliance on divine intervention, even in a time of national distress and conflict. It signifies a posture of patient anticipation for God's justice and salvation.
Micah 7 8 Context
Micah chapter 7 depicts a deep lamentation over sin, societal decay, and political instability in Judah. The prophet expresses personal anguish and solidarity with his people's suffering. However, amidst this profound despair, Micah shifts to a declaration of unwavering hope and trust in God's ultimate justice and salvation. This particular verse (7:8) follows Micah's acknowledgment of his nation's sin and the resultant judgment. He expresses a sober readiness to bear God's wrath, but concurrently looks forward to divine vindication. This verse serves as a bridge from confession and judgment to anticipation of restoration, demonstrating that even in the midst of consequences for sin, hope in God’s faithfulness remains. The audience, likely suffering under the threat or reality of Assyrian oppression and internal corruption, would have found in Micah's words a source of encouragement to persevere and trust in the Lord's sovereign plan.
Micah 7 8 Word Analysis
- "Rejoice not": Hebrew: "Al tesmachi" (אַל תִּשְׂמְחִי) - "Do not rejoice" (feminine singular imperative). This imperative form suggests an admonition directed towards the enemy, or perhaps a personal resolution by the prophet not to be caught up in gloating, even when observing the consequences befalling those who have wronged him or his people. It underscores a higher standard of conduct, not mirroring the enemy's malice.
- "O my enemy": Hebrew: "Oyvat li" (אֹיְבָה לִי) - Literally "enemy to me". This phrase could be interpreted as directed towards an individual enemy, or personified enemies in general, or even towards Jerusalem (the city of Zion, often referred to with feminine grammatical gender in Hebrew), perhaps reflecting an internal lament. Given the broader context of judgment on oppressors, it is more likely addressed to an external enemy power that has oppressed Israel.
- "When I fall": Hebrew: "Ki nofla" (כִּי נָפַלְתְּ) - "For you have fallen". This indicates the enemy's state of defeat or subjugation, to which the prophet declares he will not rejoice. The emphasis is on the prophet's resolution to maintain a godly disposition.
- "Rise": Hebrew: "Qumi" (קוּמִי) - "Arise" (feminine singular imperative). This is a directive to himself, not to rejoice, but to prepare for action or observation.
- "though I am fallen": Hebrew: "ki et-mofeti" (כִּי אֶטּמַלּ–This appears to be a variant spelling or a transcription error in common English versions. The Hebrew more consistently reflects the sense of 'though I am fallen'. A more precise rendering relates to being in darkness or being set by God. A common scholarly understanding is closer to "even though I am fallen." It emphasizes Micah's solidarity with the people of God who are suffering judgment.
- "My light is dark": Hebrew: "Orach choshech" (אוֹרִי חָשַׁךְ) - "My light has become dark." This powerfully illustrates a state of severe distress, despair, and confusion, where the guiding light of hope or divine favor has seemingly been extinguished. This contrasts with God being a light (Ps 27:1).
- "the LORD will be my light": Hebrew: "Yahweh O'ri yihiyih" (יְהוָה אוֹרִי יִהְיֶה) - "Yahweh, my light, He will be." This is the pivotal point of faith. Despite the darkness, the prophet affirms his belief that the Lord himself will become his illumination and guidance. It's a declaration of ultimate reliance on God's presence.
Group Analysis:The verse sets up a direct contrast between the human tendency to rejoice in an enemy's downfall and the prophet's conscious decision to abstain from such joy. This restraint is immediately followed by his own confession of falling and suffering, "though I am fallen." However, this state of personal or national decline is then immediately countered by a profound declaration of faith: "the LORD will be my light." This progression highlights a spiritual discipline of controlling emotions (not rejoicing in enemy's fall) and an unwavering trust in God's future action and presence as the ultimate source of hope, even when all natural light or assurance is gone. It encapsulates the journey from acknowledging present hardship to declaring future deliverance rooted in God's character.
Micah 7 8 Bonus Section
The prophet's resolve in this verse resonates with the New Testament principle of overcoming evil with good (Romans 12:21). It also reflects the attitude of Christ, who prayed for His crucifiers, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). The assurance that "the LORD will be my light" echoes God's role as a source of hope and guidance throughout Scripture, particularly in passages that describe God as a lamp or a light for His people, illuminating the path and dispelling darkness. This expectation of God's intervention as light is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who declared, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).
Micah 7 8 Commentary
Micah 7:8 expresses a mature faith that transcends immediate emotional reactions. The prophet commits to waiting for God's vindication rather than exulting over an adversary's defeat. This is not weakness but spiritual strength, recognizing that true deliverance comes from the LORD. Even when the nation (or the prophet himself) experiences a fall, metaphorically represented by darkness, the ultimate hope rests in God becoming the source of light and guidance. This verse calls believers to patience and perseverance, to trust in God's timing, and to remember that He remains our light even in the darkest of times. It's an active waiting, characterized by faith and hope in divine intervention.
- Practical Application: In conflicts or injustices faced, resist the urge to gloat over those who have wronged you. Instead, focus your energy on trusting God's plan for justice and your own spiritual well-being. Continue to seek God's presence, for He will be your light in difficult circumstances, guiding you toward ultimate restoration and vindication.