CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Judges 17:13 Then Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, because a Levite has become my priest."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/17-13.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/07_Jdg_17_13.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 17:13 - Micah's Idolatry" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then Micah said, Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, because a Levite has become my priest." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/judges/17-13.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/judges/17-13.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/judges/">Judges</a> > <a href="/judges/17.htm">Chapter 17</a> > Verse 13</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad13.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/judges/17-12.htm" title="Judges 17:12">◄</a> Judges 17:13 <a href="/judges/18-1.htm" title="Judges 18:1">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/judges/17.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/judges/17.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />And Micah said, &#8220Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/17.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“I know the LORD will bless me now,” Micah said, “because I have a Levite serving as my priest.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/17.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/17.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, because a Levite has become my priest.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/17.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to <i>my</i> priest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/17.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since I have a Levite as priest!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/17.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, because I have a Levite as a priest.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/17.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then Micah said, &#8220Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, seeing I have a Levite as priest.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/17.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, seeing I have a Levite as priest.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/17.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then Micah said, “Now I know that Yahweh will prosper me because I have a Levite as priest.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/17.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will favor me <i>and</i> make me prosper because I have a Levite as my priest.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/17.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, because a Levite has become my priest.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/17.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Micah said, &#8220Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, because a Levite has become my priest.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/17.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Then said Micah, Now know I that Jehovah will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/17.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Micah said, "I have a Levite as my own priest. Now I know that the LORD will be kind to me." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/17.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/17.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Then Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will be good to me. I have a Levite for my priest."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/17.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Micah said, "Now that I have a Levite as my priest, I know that the LORD will make things go well for me." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/17.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />As for Micah, he kept saying, "Now I know the LORD will make me rich, because I have a descendant of Levi for a priest!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/17.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Micah said, ?Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, because a Levite has become my priest.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/17.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Micah said, "Now I know God will make me rich, because I have this Levite as my priest." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/17.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Then Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will do good to me, seeing I have a Levite as my priest."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/17.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Then said Micah, Now I know that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite for my priest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/17.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Then Micah said, “Now I know that Yahweh will do good to me, since I have a Levite as my priest.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/17.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and Micah says, “Now I have known that YHWH does good to me, for the Levite has been for a priest to me.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/17.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and Micah saith, 'Now I have known that Jehovah doth good to me, for the Levite hath been to me for a priest.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/17.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Micah will say, Now I knew that Jehovah will be good to me, for there being to me the Levite for priest.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/17.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Now I know God will do me good, since I have a priest of the race of the Levites. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/17.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />saying: “Now I know that God will be good to me, since I have a priest from the stock of the Levites.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/17.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, since I have the Levite as my priest.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/17.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, because the Levite has become my priest.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/17.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Then said Micah, Now I know that the LORD will do me good, seeing that the Levite has become my priest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/17.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Mikah said: “Now I know that LORD JEHOVAH will do good to me, for I have a Levite Priest.” <div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/17.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Then said Micah: 'Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite as my priest.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/17.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Michaias said, Now I know that the Lord will do me good, because a Levite has become my priest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/17-13.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=5228" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/judges/17.htm">Micah's Idolatry</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">12</span>Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his house. <span class="reftext">13</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4318.htm" title="4318: mî·ḵāh (N-proper-ms) -- The name of several Isr. An abbrev. Of Miykayah; Micah, the name of seven Israelites.">Then Micah</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">said,</a> <a href="/hebrew/6258.htm" title="6258: ‘at·tāh (Adv) -- Now. From eth; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive.">“Now</a> <a href="/hebrew/3045.htm" title="3045: yā·ḏa‘·tî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- A primitive root; to know; used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially.">I know</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/3190.htm" title="3190: yê·ṭîḇ (V-Hifil-Imperf-3ms) -- To be good, well, glad, or pleasing. A primitive root; to be make well, literally or figuratively.">will be good</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- ">to me,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">because</a> <a href="/hebrew/3881.htm" title="3881: hal·lê·wî (Art:: N-proper-ms) -- Desc. of Levi. Or Leviy; patronymically from Leviy; a Levite or descendant of Levi.">a Levite</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: hā·yāh- (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">has become</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- ">my</a> <a href="/hebrew/3548.htm" title="3548: lə·ḵō·hên (Prep-l:: N-ms) -- Priest. Active participle of kahan; literally, one officiating, a priest; also an acting priest.">priest.”</a> </span><div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/14-12.htm">Proverbs 14:12</a></span><br />There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-10.htm">Isaiah 44:10-20</a></span><br />Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. / The blacksmith takes a tool and labors over the coals; he fashions an idol with hammers and forges it with his strong arms. Yet he grows hungry and loses his strength; he fails to drink water and grows faint. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/7-4.htm">Jeremiah 7:4-10</a></span><br />Do not trust in deceptive words, saying: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’ / For if you really correct your ways and deeds, if you act justly toward one another, / if you no longer oppress the foreigner and the fatherless and the widow, and if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place or follow other gods to your own harm, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-21.htm">Matthew 7:21-23</a></span><br />Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. / Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ / Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_timothy/3-5.htm">2 Timothy 3:5</a></span><br />having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-11.htm">Isaiah 1:11-15</a></span><br />“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. / When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you—this trampling of My courts? / Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/8-2.htm">Hosea 8:2-4</a></span><br />Israel cries out to Me, “O our God, we know You!” / But Israel has rejected good; an enemy will pursue him. / They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/15-8.htm">Matthew 15:8-9</a></span><br />‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-22.htm">1 Samuel 15:22-23</a></span><br />But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. / For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/33-31.htm">Ezekiel 33:31-32</a></span><br />So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. / Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/3-11.htm">Micah 3:11</a></span><br />Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/10-2.htm">Romans 10:2-3</a></span><br />For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge. / Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-33.htm">2 Kings 17:33-34</a></span><br />They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away. / To this day they are still practicing their former customs. None of them worship the LORD or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom He named Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/4-22.htm">John 4:22-24</a></span><br />You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. / But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. / God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/5-21.htm">Amos 5:21-23</a></span><br />“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. / Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard. / Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/14-12.htm">Proverbs 14:12</a></b></br> There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof <i>are</i> the ways of death.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/44-20.htm">Isaiah 44:20</a></b></br> He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, <i>Is there</i> not a lie in my right hand?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/6-3.htm">Isaiah 6:3,4</a></b></br> And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, <i>is</i> the LORD of hosts: the whole earth <i>is</i> full of his glory… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/17-12.htm">Levite</a> <a href="/judges/17-12.htm">Micah</a> <a href="/judges/17-12.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/joshua/1-7.htm">Prosper</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/18-3.htm">Levite</a> <a href="/judges/18-2.htm">Micah</a> <a href="/judges/18-4.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/1_samuel/10-10.htm">Prosper</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 17</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/17-1.htm">Of the money that Micah first stole, then restored, his mother makes idols</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/17-5.htm">And he makes ornaments for them</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/17-7.htm">He hires a Levite to be his priest</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/17.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/judges/17.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Then Micah said</b><br>Micah, a resident of the hill country of Ephraim, is a central figure in this narrative. His actions reflect the spiritual confusion and idolatry prevalent in Israel during the time of the Judges, a period marked by the absence of centralized leadership and widespread moral decay (<a href="/judges/21-25.htm">Judges 21:25</a>). Micah's statement reveals his personal beliefs and the syncretism that had infiltrated Israelite worship.<p><b>“Now I know that the LORD will be good to me</b><br>Micah's confidence in receiving the LORD's favor is based on his own understanding and manipulation of religious practices. This reflects a common misconception that God's blessings can be earned through human actions or arrangements, rather than through obedience and faithfulness to His covenant. This attitude contrasts with the biblical teaching that God's favor is not transactional but relational, rooted in His grace and the covenant relationship with His people (<a href="/deuteronomy/7-9.htm">Deuteronomy 7:9</a>).<p><b>because a Levite has become my priest.”</b><br>The Levite's role as a priest in Micah's household is significant. Levites were set apart for religious duties, but only descendants of Aaron were to serve as priests (<a href="/numbers/3-10.htm">Numbers 3:10</a>). Micah's installation of a Levite as his personal priest indicates a departure from the prescribed order of worship. This act of appointing a Levite outside the established priestly line highlights the disorder and disregard for God's commandments during this era. It also foreshadows the later establishment of unauthorized worship centers in Israel, such as those set up by Jeroboam (<a href="/1_kings/12-31.htm">1 Kings 12:31</a>). This situation underscores the need for a faithful priesthood, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, our High Priest, who mediates a new covenant (<a href="/hebrews/4-14.htm">Hebrews 4:14-16</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/micah.htm">Micah</a></b><br>A man from the hill country of Ephraim who creates a shrine and appoints his own son as a priest before hiring a Levite.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/l/levite.htm">Levite</a></b><br>A young man from Bethlehem in Judah, of the tribe of Levi, who becomes a priest for Micah, despite the irregularity of the situation.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/e/ephraim.htm">Ephraim</a></b><br>A region in Israel where Micah resides, known for its central location and significance in Israelite history.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/b/bethlehem_in_judah.htm">Bethlehem in Judah</a></b><br>The Levite's original home, a town with significant biblical history, including being the birthplace of King David and later Jesus.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_shrine.htm">The Shrine</a></b><br>A place of worship created by Micah, which includes an idol and household gods, contrary to the commandments given to Israel.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/m/misplaced_confidence.htm">Misplaced Confidence</a></b><br>Micah's belief that having a Levite as a priest guarantees God's favor reflects a misunderstanding of true worship and obedience. Our confidence should be in God's promises and commands, not in external symbols or arrangements.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_syncretism.htm">The Danger of Syncretism</a></b><br>Micah's blending of true worship with idolatry serves as a warning against mixing biblical faith with cultural or personal preferences. True worship requires adherence to God's instructions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_leadership.htm">The Role of Leadership</a></b><br>The Levite's willingness to serve in an unauthorized capacity highlights the importance of godly leadership. Leaders should guide others in truth, not accommodate practices that deviate from God's Word.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/seeking_god's_will.htm">Seeking God's Will</a></b><br>Micah's actions demonstrate the human tendency to seek God's blessing through our own means. Instead, we should seek to understand and follow God's will as revealed in Scripture.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience.htm">The Importance of Obedience</a></b><br>Micah's account reminds us that obedience to God's commands is more important than religious rituals or symbols. True blessing comes from a heart aligned with God's will.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_17.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 17</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible_books'_order.htm">What is the order of the Bible's books?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_micah_make_an_idol_and_hire_a_priest.htm">Why did Micah create an idol and hire a priest?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_the_levite's_status_credible_in_judges_17.htm">In Judges 17:7–13, how credible is the Levite’s priestly status, given the requirements found elsewhere in the Old Testament regarding priestly lineage? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_a_carved_image_allowed_in_judges_18_31.htm">How do we reconcile the setting up of a carved image in Judges 18:31 with the strict prohibition against idolatry found elsewhere in the Old Testament?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/17.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(13) <span class= "bld">That the Lord will do me good.</span>--In this anticipation we find a very little further on that he was rudely undeceived, and we are hardly in a position to know whether it was due to hypocrisy or to mere ignorance. So far as Micah was devout and sincere, we must feel that the Lord did him good by stripping him of his gorgeous instruments of superstition and humbling his pride.<p><span class= "bld">I have a Levite to my priest.</span>--Rather, <span class= "ital">the Levite. </span>The article may be generic, meaning "one of the Levites;" but Jonathan, as a son of Gershom, has a special right to be called "<span class= "ital">the </span>Levite," as a representative of the tribe. It is at least doubtful whether the priestly functions expected of him in this instance included sacrifice; but, in any case, Micah could hardly have been entirely unaware that the Levites were incapable of priestly functions ("Seek ye the <span class= "ital">priesthood </span>also?"--<a href="/numbers/16-10.htm" title="And he has brought you near to him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you: and seek you the priesthood also?">Numbers 16:10</a>), or of the fact that the authorised worship of the nation was to be confined to the place which God should choose, which in this instance was Shiloh. In any case, however, the passage furnishes us with a fresh proof of the utter neglect of the Mosaic law, as represented in the Book of Leviticus, from a very early period. His "house of God" seems to have resembled the high places, which even the faithful kings of Israel were unable or unwilling to clear away. They were ultimately cleared away by Hezekiah, but not without so great a shock to the then established custom, that Rabshakeh actually appeals to the fact in proof of Hezekiah's impiety, and as a sign that he has forfeited the favour of Jehovah (<a href="/2_kings/18-22.htm" title="But if you say to me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and Jerusalem, You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?">2Kings 18:22</a>).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/17.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 13.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Then said Micah</span>, etc. We may notice this incidental proof that the Levites in the time of Micah held the religious position which is ascribed to them in the Pentateuch. <span class="cmt_word">I have a Levite</span>. Rather, <span class="accented">the Levite</span>, meaning the particular Levite of whom it is the question. <span class="accented">A Levite</span> would be without the article, as in ver. 7, or would be expressed as in <a href="/judges/19-1.htm">Judges 19:1</a> (Hebrews), a man a <span class="accented">Levite.</span> <p> <p> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/17-13.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Then Micah</span><br /><span class="heb">מִיכָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(mî·ḵāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4318.htm">Strong's 4318: </a> </span><span class="str2">Micah -- the name of several Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">said,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֣אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Now</span><br /><span class="heb">עַתָּ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(‘at·tāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6258.htm">Strong's 6258: </a> </span><span class="str2">At this time</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I know</span><br /><span class="heb">יָדַ֔עְתִּי</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ḏa‘·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3045.htm">Strong's 3045: </a> </span><span class="str2">To know</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">will be good</span><br /><span class="heb">יֵיטִ֥יב</span> <span class="translit">(yê·ṭîḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3190.htm">Strong's 3190: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be good, well, glad, or pleasing</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to me,</span><br /><span class="heb">לִ֑י</span> <span class="translit">(lî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">because</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֧י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a Levite</span><br /><span class="heb">הַלֵּוִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(hal·lê·wî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3881.htm">Strong's 3881: </a> </span><span class="str2">Levites -- descendant of Levi</span><br /><br /><span class="word">has become</span><br /><span class="heb">הָיָה־</span> <span class="translit">(hā·yāh-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my priest.”</span><br /><span class="heb">לְכֹהֵֽן׃</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḵō·hên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3548.htm">Strong's 3548: </a> </span><span class="str2">Priest</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/17-13.htm">Judges 17:13 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/17-13.htm">Judges 17:13 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/17-13.htm">Judges 17:13 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/17-13.htm">Judges 17:13 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/17-13.htm">Judges 17:13 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/17-13.htm">Judges 17:13 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/17-13.htm">Judges 17:13 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/17-13.htm">Judges 17:13 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/17-13.htm">Judges 17:13 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/17-13.htm">Judges 17:13 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/17-13.htm">OT History: Judges 17:13 Then said Micah Now know I that (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/17-12.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 17:12"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 17:12" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/18-1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 18:1"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 18:1" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>