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Minor Prophets · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Micah 2

Judgment on corrupt power is joined to hope for a shepherd-king and restored remnant.

Old Testament

Micah 2

1Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil on their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.

2They covet fields and seize them, and houses, then take them away. They oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

3Therefore the LORD says: “Behold, I am planning against these people a disaster, from which you will not remove your necks, neither will you walk haughtily, for it is an evil time.

4In that day they will take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, saying, ‘We are utterly ruined! My people’s possession is divided up. Indeed he takes it from me and assigns our fields to traitors!’”

5Therefore you will have no one who divides the land by lot in the LORD’s assembly.

6“Don’t prophesy!”—they prophesy— “Don’t prophesy about these things. Disgrace won’t overtake us.”

7Shall it be said, O house of Jacob, “Is the LORD’s Spirit angry? Are these his doings? Don’t my words do good to him who walks blamelessly?”

8But lately my people have risen up as an enemy. You strip the robe and clothing from those who pass by without a care, returning from battle.

9You drive the women of my people out from their pleasant houses; from their young children you take away my blessing forever.

10Arise, and depart! For this is not your resting place, because of uncleanness that destroys, even with a grievous destruction.

11If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood lies, saying, “I will prophesy to you of wine and of strong drink,” he would be the prophet of this people.

12I will surely assemble all of you, Jacob. I will surely gather the remnant of Israel. I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as a flock in the middle of their pasture. They will swarm with people.

13He who breaks open the way goes up before them. They break through the gate, and go out. Their king passes on before them, with the LORD at their head.

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Judgment on corrupt power is joined to hope for a shepherd-king and restored remnant. Read Micah 2 within the complete Micah overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Micah 2

Micah 2 contains 13 verses and about 335 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil on their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 13 closes: “He who breaks open the way goes up before them. They break through the gate, and go out. Their king passes on before them, with the LORD at their head.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include will, people, prophesy, take, don’t, evil. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Micah 2

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Micah 2:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

You do not have to have everything figured out.

Begin with one honest question, one passage read carefully, and one faithful next step.

Start with prayer