O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.
Parallel translations
- WEB My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me!
- BSB ‘My people, what have I done to you? Testify against Me how I have wearied you!
- NKJV “O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.
- NASB “My people, what have I done to you, And how have I wearied you? Answer Me.
- NLT “O my people, what have I done to you? What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me!
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
God tenderly asks His people what He has done to weary them, exposing that their unfaithfulness has no just cause. It shows that Israel's rebellion is against a God who has only blessed them.
Overview
Rather than opening with accusation, the LORD pleads with disarming gentleness, "My people, what have I done to you?" This rhetorical question highlights that God's covenant has been a burden of grace, not oppression, and that the fault lies entirely with Israel. It anticipates the heart of a God who would later be wounded by those He loved, supremely at the cross.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Jer 2:5Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
- Isa 43:22–23But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.
- Jer 2:31O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?
- Ps 81:13Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
- Ps 50:7Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.
- Mic 6:5O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.
- Rom 3:19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
- Rom 3:4–5God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
- Ps 81:8Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;
- Ps 51:4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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 6:3 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.