Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice?
Parallel translations
- WEB I said, “Please listen, you heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: Isn’t it for you to know justice?
- KJV 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?
- NKJV And I said: “Hear now, O heads of Jacob, And you rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice?
- NASB And I said, “Hear now, you leaders of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice?
- NLT I said, “Listen, you leaders of Israel! You are supposed to know right from wrong,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Micah confronts Israel's rulers, asking whether they, of all people, should not know justice. It indicts leaders for failing their basic duty.
Overview
The 'heads' and 'rulers' were responsible to administer justice, yet they had abandoned it. Micah's pointed question exposes the gap between their office and their conduct. Leaders bear heightened accountability before God for how they treat those under their care.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Jer 5:4–5Then I said, “They are only the poor; they have played the fool, for they do not know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.
- Ps 82:1–5A Psalm of Asaph. God presides in the divine assembly; He renders judgment among the gods:
- Isa 1:10Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
- Hos 5:1“Hear this, O priests! Take heed, O house of Israel! Give ear, O royal house! For this judgment is against you because you have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor.
- Amos 4:1Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, who say to your husbands, “Bring us more to drink.”
- Mic 3:9–10Now hear this, O leaders of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who despise justice and pervert all that is right,
- Jer 22:2–3saying, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who sits on the throne of David—you and your officials and your people who enter these gates.
- Ps 14:4Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD.
- 1 Cor 6:5I say this to your shame. Is there really no one among you wise enough to arbitrate between his brothers?
- Deut 16:18You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.
- Deut 1:13–17Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.”
- 2 Chr 19:5–10He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah.
- Jer 13:15–18Listen and give heed. Do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken.
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Micah names the town — 'But you, Bethlehem... from you shall come forth one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origins are from of old' — the birthplace of the eternal King.
How Micah 3:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.