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Book introduction

The book of Micah

Micah, a country prophet from Judah, speaks against corrupt leaders, greedy landowners, and false prophets. He also promises a ruler from Bethlehem and sums up what God asks: do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God.

Minor prophets · 7 chapters

Read Micah 6Start at chapter 1

Who wrote Micah?

Micah of Moresheth. Some scholars think later hands added parts of the hopeful sections.

When was it written?

About 735–700 BC, the same time as Isaiah.

See Micah on the Bible timeline

Main themes

What God requires
Justice, kindness, and humility, not more offerings.
A ruler from Bethlehem
Matthew quotes 5:2 about Jesus’ birthplace.
God delights in mercy
The book ends with sins thrown into the sea.

Outline of Micah

  1. Chapters 1–2Judgment on Samaria and Judah
  2. Chapters 3–5Corrupt leaders, and the king to come
  3. Chapters 6–7God’s case against his people, and his mercy

Key verses

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you one will come out for me to be ruler in Israel, one whose origins go back to the distant past, to ancient days.

Micah 5:2

Human being, he has declared to you what is good. And what does Yahweh seek from you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8

Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? He does not stay angry forever, because he delights in steadfast love.

Micah 7:18

Quoted from the Lumin Translation.

Where to start

Read chapter 6, then 5:2–5 and the closing verses of chapter 7.

Read Micah 6

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