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Micah 3:1 Then I said: "Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice?
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Should you not embrace justice,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/micah/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />I said, “Listen, you leaders of Israel! You are supposed to know right from wrong,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/micah/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/micah/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/micah/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; <i>Is it</i> not for you to know judgment?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/micah/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And I said: “Hear now, O heads of Jacob, And you rulers of the house of Israel: <i>Is it</i> not for you to know justice?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/micah/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And I said, “Hear now, you leaders of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/micah/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />And I said, “Hear now, heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know justice?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/micah/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And I said, “Hear now, heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know justice?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/micah/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And I said, “Hear now, heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know justice?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/micah/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And I said, “Hear now, heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know <i>and</i> administer justice?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/micah/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then I said, “Now listen, leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Aren’t you supposed to know what is just?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/micah/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then I said, “Now listen, leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Aren’t you supposed to know what is just? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/micah/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And I said, Hear, I pray you, ye heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: is it not for you to know justice?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/micah/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Listen to me, you rulers of Israel! You know right from wrong, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/micah/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And I said, Hear, I pray you, ye heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: is it not for you to know judgment?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/micah/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Then I said: Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel. You should know justice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/micah/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Listen, you rulers of Israel! You are supposed to be concerned about justice, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/micah/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"He will say, 'Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you officials of the house of Israel! You should know justice, should you not?—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/micah/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then I said: ?Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/micah/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />I said, "Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel! You ought to know what is just, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/micah/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />I said, "Please listen, you heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: Isn't it for you to know justice?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/micah/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know judgment?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/micah/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />I said, “Please listen, you heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: Isn’t it for you to know justice? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/micah/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And I say, “Now hear, O heads of Jacob, "" And you judges of the house of Israel, "" Is it not for you to know the judgment?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/micah/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And I say, 'Hear, I pray you, heads of Jacob, And ye judges of the house of Israel, Is it not for you to know the judgment?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/micah/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And saying, Hear now, ye heads of Jacob, and ye judges of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know judgment?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/micah/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And I said: Hear, O ye princes of Jacob, and ye chiefs of the house of Israel: Is it not your part to know judgment, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/micah/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And I said: Listen, leaders of Jacob and chiefs of the house of Israel. Does it not belong to you to know judgment,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/micah/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />And I said: Hear, you leaders of Jacob, rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not your duty to know what is right, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/micah/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />And I said: Listen, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Should you not know justice?—<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/micah/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />THEN the LORD said, Hear these things, O you chiefs of the house of Jacob and you princes of the house of Israel: Is it not meet for you to know justice?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/micah/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he said: ”Hear therefore these things, Heads of the house of Yaqob and Rulers of the house of Israel! Was it not fitting for you to know judgment?<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/micah/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And I said: Hear, I pray you, ye heads of Jacob, And rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/micah/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he shall say, Hear now these words, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and ye remnant of the house of Israel; is it not for you to know judgment?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/micah/3-1.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/V9AM9A76_xQ?start=361" 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/micah/3.htm">Rulers and Prophets Condemned</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: wā·’ō·mar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">Then I said:</a> <a href="/hebrew/8085.htm" title="8085: šim·‘ū- (V-Qal-Imp-mp) -- To hear. A primitive root; to hear intelligently.">“Hear</a> <a href="/hebrew/4994.htm" title="4994: nā (Interjection) -- I (we) pray, now. ">now,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7218.htm" title="7218: rā·šê (N-mpc) -- Head. From an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head, whether literal or figurative.">O leaders</a> <a href="/hebrew/3290.htm" title="3290: ya·‘ă·qōḇ (N-proper-ms) -- A son of Isaac, also his desc. From aqab; heel-catcher; Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch.">of Jacob,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7101.htm" title="7101: ū·qə·ṣî·nê (Conj-w:: N-mpc) -- A chief, ruler. From qatsah in the sense of determining; a magistrate or other leader.">you rulers</a> <a href="/hebrew/1004.htm" title="1004: bêṯ (N-msc) -- A house. Probably from banah abbreviated; a house.">of the house</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">of Israel.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: hă·lō·w (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">Should you not</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/3045.htm" title="3045: lā·ḏa·‘aṯ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- A primitive root; to know; used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially.">know</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4941.htm" title="4941: ham·miš·pāṭ (Art:: N-ms) -- Judgment. ">justice?</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones.…<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="/isaiah/1-23.htm">Isaiah 1:23</a></span><br />Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/5-28.htm">Jeremiah 5:28</a></span><br />They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/22-27.htm">Ezekiel 22:27</a></span><br />Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/7-9.htm">Zechariah 7:9-10</a></span><br />“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Administer true justice. Show loving devotion and compassion to one another. / Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/10-1.htm">Isaiah 10:1-2</a></span><br />Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, / to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/23-1.htm">Jeremiah 23:1-2</a></span><br />“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD. / Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/34-2.htm">Ezekiel 34:2-4</a></span><br />“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? / You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock. / You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/5-12.htm">Amos 5:12</a></span><br />For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/3-14.htm">Isaiah 3:14-15</a></span><br />The LORD brings this charge against the elders and leaders of His people: “You have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses. / Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/22-3.htm">Jeremiah 22:3</a></span><br />This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-23.htm">Matthew 23:23</a></span><br />Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/11-42.htm">Luke 11:42</a></span><br />Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-2.htm">Matthew 23:2-4</a></span><br />“The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. / So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. / They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/20-46.htm">Luke 20:46-47</a></span><br />“Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. / They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/15-14.htm">Matthew 15:14</a></span><br />Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and you princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?</p><p class="hdg">Cir.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/micah/3-9.htm">Micah 3:9,10</a></b></br> Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/1-10.htm">Isaiah 1:10</a></b></br> Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/13-15.htm">Jeremiah 13:15-18</a></b></br> Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken… </p><p class="hdg">Is it.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/1-13.htm">Deuteronomy 1:13-17</a></b></br> Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/16-18.htm">Deuteronomy 16:18</a></b></br> Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_chronicles/19-5.htm">2 Chronicles 19:5-10</a></b></br> And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city, … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/micah/1-2.htm">Ear</a> <a href="/micah/1-16.htm">Heads</a> <a href="/micah/1-2.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/micah/2-9.htm">House</a> <a href="/micah/2-12.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/micah/2-12.htm">Jacob</a> <a href="/obadiah/1-21.htm">Judges</a> <a href="/amos/7-4.htm">Judgment</a> <a href="/amos/6-12.htm">Justice</a> <a href="/hosea/7-16.htm">Leaders</a> <a href="/jonah/4-3.htm">Please</a> <a href="/amos/2-3.htm">Princes</a> <a href="/jonah/4-11.htm">Right</a> <a href="/hosea/13-10.htm">Rulers</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/micah/3-9.htm">Ear</a> <a href="/micah/3-9.htm">Heads</a> <a href="/micah/3-4.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/micah/3-9.htm">House</a> <a href="/micah/3-8.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/micah/3-8.htm">Jacob</a> <a href="/micah/3-9.htm">Judges</a> <a href="/micah/3-8.htm">Judgment</a> <a href="/micah/3-8.htm">Justice</a> <a href="/micah/3-9.htm">Leaders</a> <a href="/micah/3-9.htm">Please</a> <a href="/micah/3-9.htm">Princes</a> <a href="/micah/3-9.htm">Right</a> <a href="/micah/3-9.htm">Rulers</a><div class="vheading2">Micah 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/micah/3-1.htm">The cruelty of the princes.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/micah/3-5.htm">The falsehood of the prophets.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/micah/3-8.htm">The false security of them both.</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 /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <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/micah/3.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/micah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/micah/3.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Then I said:</b><br>This phrase indicates the beginning of a prophetic message delivered by Micah. Prophets often began their messages with a declaration to capture attention and assert the divine origin of their words. Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, around the 8th century BC.<p><b>Hear now,</b><br>The call to "hear" is a common prophetic summons, urging the audience to listen carefully to the message from God. It emphasizes the importance and urgency of the message. This is similar to the calls found in other prophetic books, such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, where the prophets demand attention to God's word.<p><b>O leaders of Jacob,</b><br>"Leaders of Jacob" refers to the political and religious leaders of the nation. Jacob, another name for Israel, highlights the covenant relationship between God and His people. The leaders are being directly addressed, indicating their responsibility and accountability for the nation's spiritual and moral state.<p><b>you rulers of the house of Israel.</b><br>This phrase further specifies the audience as those in positions of authority over the people of Israel. The "house of Israel" encompasses the entire nation, including both the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah). The rulers are expected to lead with integrity and justice, reflecting God's character.<p><b>Should you not know justice?</b><br>This rhetorical question challenges the leaders' understanding and practice of justice. In the biblical context, justice is a fundamental attribute of God's character and a requirement for His people, especially those in leadership. The leaders' failure to uphold justice is a central theme in Micah's prophecy, as seen in the broader context of <a href="/micah/3.htm">Micah 3</a>, where he condemns their corruption and exploitation. This call to justice echoes throughout Scripture, such as in <a href="/deuteronomy/16-20.htm">Deuteronomy 16:20</a> and <a href="/isaiah/1-17.htm">Isaiah 1:17</a>, where justice is a key component of righteous living.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/micah.htm">Micah</a></b><br>A prophet from Moresheth, active during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, who spoke against the injustices of Israel and Judah.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/h/heads_of_jacob.htm">Heads of Jacob</a></b><br>Refers to the leaders and elders of the tribes of Israel, who were responsible for guiding the people according to God's laws.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/r/rulers_of_the_house_of_israel.htm">Rulers of the House of Israel</a></b><br>These are the political and judicial leaders who were expected to uphold justice and righteousness in the nation.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jacob.htm">Jacob</a></b><br>Another name for Israel, representing the collective tribes descended from Jacob, the patriarch.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/j/justice.htm">Justice</a></b><br>A central theme in Micah's prophecy, emphasizing the moral and ethical standards expected by God from His people, especially their leaders.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_responsibility_of_leadership.htm">The Responsibility of Leadership</a></b><br>Leaders are accountable to God for their actions and must prioritize justice and righteousness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_justice.htm">The Call to Justice</a></b><br>Justice is not optional for God's people; it is a divine mandate that reflects God's character.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/awareness_of_injustice.htm">Awareness of Injustice</a></b><br>Believers must be vigilant and aware of injustices around them, advocating for those who cannot speak for themselves.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/m/moral_integrity.htm">Moral Integrity</a></b><br>Personal and communal integrity is essential for a society that honors God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_standard_vs._human_standard.htm">God's Standard vs. Human Standard</a></b><br>God's standard of justice often contrasts with human standards, calling believers to align with divine principles.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_micah_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Micah 3</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_evil_leaders_gain_power_in_micah_3.htm">In Micah 3:1–2, how could the leaders (who are described as loving evil) gain such widespread power if the Israelites were supposedly under God’s guidance? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/names_and_meanings_of_israel's_tribes.htm">What are the names and meanings of Israel's twelve tribes?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_verify_ezekiel_34_2's_leaders.htm">Ezekiel 34:2 – How can we verify historically or archaeologically that corrupt leaders were truly the “shepherds” described here? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/do_records_confirm_ancient_israel's_hierarchy.htm">Ecclesiastes 5:8 mentions oppression under layers of authority; do historical or archaeological records confirm or conflict with such a power structure in ancient Israel? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/micah/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>III.</span><p>(1) <span class= "bld">Hear, I pray you.</span>--In the second division of his prophecy Micah protests against the evil influences exercised upon the people in high places. The princes, the prophets, and the priests, to whom their interests were confided, were guilty of wrong, oppression, and robbery.<p><span class= "bld">Ye princes.</span>--Rather, <span class= "ital">judges, magistrates;</span> but a different word is used from that which was given to the chiefs in the old days "when the judges ruled."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/micah/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1-ch. 5:15</span>. - Part II. DENUNCIATION OF THE CRIMES OF THE GRANDEES, FOLLOWED BY A PROMISE OF THE GLORIFICATION OF ZION, THE BIRTH OF MESSIAH, AND THE HIGHEST EXALTATION OF THE PEOPLE. <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 1-4.</span> - § 1. <span class="accented">Sins of the rulers, and their punishment.</span> <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - The prophet denounces the sins of the rulers, false prophets, and priests; and begins with the injustice and oppression practised by the great men. <span class="cmt_word">And I said.</span> The new address is thus introduced as being analogous to the denunciations in the preceding chapter, which were interrupted by the promise of deliverance, to which there is no reference here. <span class="cmt_word">O heads of Jacob; synonymous with princes of the house of Israel</span> (comp. ver. 8; <a href="/micah/1-5.htm">Micah 1:5</a>). Micah addresses the heads of families and the officials to whom the administration of justice appertained. These magistrates and judges seem to have been chiefly members of the royal family, at any rate in Judah; see <a href="/jeremiah/21-11.htm">Jeremiah 21:11, 12</a> (Cheyne). Septuagint, <span class="greek">οἱ</span> <span class="greek">κατάλοιποι οἴκου Ἰσραήλ</span>, "ye remnant of the house of Israel." <span class="cmt_word">Is it not for you to know judgment?</span> Ye, of all men, ought to know what is just and fair, and to practise it (compare the opening of the Book of Wisdom). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/micah/3-1.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 I said:</span><br /><span class="heb">וָאֹמַ֗ר</span> <span class="translit">(wā·’ō·mar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common 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">“Hear</span><br /><span class="heb">שִׁמְעוּ־</span> <span class="translit">(šim·‘ū-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8085.htm">Strong's 8085: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hear intelligently</span><br /><br /><span class="word">now,</span><br /><span class="heb">נָא֙</span> <span class="translit">(nā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interjection<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4994.htm">Strong's 4994: </a> </span><span class="str2">I pray', 'now', 'then'</span><br /><br /><span class="word">O leaders</span><br /><span class="heb">רָאשֵׁ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(rā·šê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7218.htm">Strong's 7218: </a> </span><span class="str2">The head</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Jacob,</span><br /><span class="heb">יַעֲקֹ֔ב</span> <span class="translit">(ya·‘ă·qōḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3290.htm">Strong's 3290: </a> </span><span class="str2">Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you rulers</span><br /><span class="heb">וּקְצִינֵ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(ū·qə·ṣî·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7101.htm">Strong's 7101: </a> </span><span class="str2">A magistrate, other leader</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the house</span><br /><span class="heb">בֵּ֣ית</span> <span class="translit">(bêṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1004.htm">Strong's 1004: </a> </span><span class="str2">A house</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Israel.</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל</span> <span class="translit">(yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Should you not</span><br /><span class="heb">הֲל֣וֹא</span> <span class="translit">(hă·lō·w)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">know</span><br /><span class="heb">לָדַ֖עַת</span> <span class="translit">(lā·ḏa·‘aṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<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">justice?</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃</span> <span class="translit">(ham·miš·pāṭ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4941.htm">Strong's 4941: </a> </span><span class="str2">A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/micah/3-1.htm">Micah 3:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/micah/3-1.htm">Micah 3:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/micah/3-1.htm">Micah 3:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/micah/3-1.htm">Micah 3:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/micah/3-1.htm">Micah 3:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/micah/3-1.htm">Micah 3:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/micah/3-1.htm">Micah 3:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/micah/3-1.htm">Micah 3:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/micah/3-1.htm">Micah 3:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/micah/3-1.htm">Micah 3:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/micah/3-1.htm">OT Prophets: Micah 3:1 I said Please listen you heads (Mc Mic. Mi)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/micah/2-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Micah 2:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Micah 2:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/micah/3-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Micah 3:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Micah 3:2" /></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>