And I said, “Hear now, you leaders of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to 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?
- BSB Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice?
- 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?
- 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, “Surely these are poor. They are foolish; for they don’t know the way of Yahweh, nor the law of their God.
- Ps 82:1–5A Psalm by Asaph. God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods.
- Isa 1:10Hear Yahweh’s word, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
- Hos 5:1“Listen to this, you priests! Listen, house of Israel, and give ear, house of the king! For the judgment is against you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread on Tabor.
- Amos 4:1Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husbands, “Bring us drinks!”
- Mic 3:9–10Please listen to this, you heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice, and pervert all equity.
- Jer 22:2–3‘Hear Yahweh’s word, king of Judah, who sits on David’s throne, you, and your servants, and your people who enter in by these gates.
- Ps 14:4Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on Yahweh?
- 1 Cor 6:5I say this to move you to shame. Isn’t there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between his brothers?
- Deut 16:18You shall make judges and officers in all your gates, which Yahweh your God gives you, according to your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.
- Deut 1:13–17Take wise men of understanding and well known according to your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.”
- 2 Chr 19:5–10He set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,
- Jer 13:15–18Hear, and give ear. Don’t be proud; for Yahweh 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.