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Micah 2:11

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If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, [saying], I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

If {H3863} a man {H376} walking {H1980} in the spirit {H7307} and falsehood {H8267} do lie {H3576}, saying, I will prophesy {H5197} unto thee of wine {H3196} and of strong drink {H7941}; he shall even be the prophet {H5197} of this people {H5971}.

If a man who walks in wind and falsehood tells this lie: "I will preach to you of [how good it is to drink] wine and strong liquor" - this people will accept him as their preacher!

If a man of wind were to come and say falsely, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be just the preacher for this people!

If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

Commentary

This verse from Micah paints a stark picture of the spiritual corruption prevalent in Israel during the prophet's time. It highlights the people's willingness to accept false prophets who told them what they wanted to hear, rather than the difficult truth from God.

Context

Micah chapter 2 delivers a powerful indictment against the wealthy and powerful in Israel who oppressed the poor, coveted land, and lived in defiance of God's law. Amidst this moral decay, false prophets emerged, promising peace and prosperity, which contrasted sharply with Micah's messages of judgment. This verse specifically describes the kind of deceptive message that was popular and readily accepted by the people.

Key Themes

  • False Prophecy: The core theme is the nature and acceptance of prophecy not inspired by God but by deception ("spirit and falsehood").
  • Preference for Comforting Lies: The people preferred messages about "wine and strong drink," symbolizing material comfort, pleasure, and assured prosperity, over warnings of impending judgment or calls to repentance.
  • Rejection of Truth: This verse implicitly contrasts the acceptance of these false prophets with the rejection of true prophets like Micah, whose message was unwelcome because it exposed sin and foretold hardship.
  • Spiritual Blindness: It reveals a spiritual state where deception is embraced when it aligns with worldly desires, indicating a lack of discernment between truth and falsehood.

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "walking in the spirit and falsehood" does not refer to the Holy Spirit, but rather to a spirit of deceit or perhaps the prophet's own deceitful disposition. The prophecy "of wine and of strong drink" is a metaphor for promises of abundance, ease, and lack of trouble – precisely the opposite of the judgment God was actually sending. This highlights the purely materialistic and self-serving nature of the false prophet's message, designed to please the audience's carnal desires.

Reflection and Application

Micah's words serve as a timeless warning. People are often drawn to messages that affirm their current lifestyle, promise ease, and avoid challenging truths about sin or consequences. This verse underscores the importance of testing what we hear against the true word of God (see 1 John 4:1). We must be wary of those who promise only comfort and prosperity without calling for repentance and faithfulness, much like the warnings given to the church in later times about people seeking teachers who will tell them what their "itching ears" want to hear. True biblical teaching, while ultimately bringing hope, often involves confronting difficult truths about ourselves and the world.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 5:31 (7 votes)

    The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love [to have it] so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

  • Isaiah 30:10 (6 votes)

    Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

  • Isaiah 30:11 (6 votes)

    Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:13 (5 votes)

    For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:15 (5 votes)

    Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

  • Jeremiah 23:32 (4 votes)

    Behold, I [am] against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 23:17 (4 votes)

    They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.