Micah 1:14

Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moreshethgath: the houses of Achzib [shall be] a lie to the kings of Israel.

Therefore shalt thou give {H5414} presents {H7964} to Moreshethgath {H4182}: the houses {H1004} of Achzib {H392} shall be a lie {H391} to the kings {H4428} of Israel {H3478}.

Therefore you must bestow parting gifts upon Moreshet-Gat. The houses of Akhziv will disappoint the kings of Isra'el.

Therefore, send farewell gifts to Moresheth-gath; the houses of Achzib will prove deceptive to the kings of Israel.

Therefore shalt thou give a parting gift to Moresheth-gath: the houses of Achzib shall be a deceitful thing unto the kings of Israel.

Commentary

Micah 1:14 is part of a powerful lamentation and prophecy of judgment delivered by the prophet Micah against various towns in Judah, foreshadowing the devastating Assyrian invasion.

Context of Micah 1:14

This verse belongs to a section (Micah 1:10-16) where Micah uses a series of mournful pronouncements, often employing clever puns and wordplay on the names of towns in Judah to highlight their impending doom. The prophet, whose own hometown of Moresheth-gath is mentioned in this very verse, is describing the relentless advance of judgment from the north, sweeping through the land and bringing destruction upon its inhabitants. Each town's name becomes a poignant commentary on its fate.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Inevitable Consequence: The verse underscores the certainty of God's judgment upon a disobedient nation. The "presents" given to Moresheth-gath likely symbolize tribute or reparations paid to the invading army, signifying deep loss and submission.
  • Prophetic Wordplay and Irony: A central feature is the pun on "Achzib." The Hebrew name 'Achziv (ืึทื›ึฐื–ึดื™ื‘) literally means "deception" or "lie." Thus, the prophecy declares that the houses of Achzib, perhaps a source of hope or refuge, will prove to be a complete "lie" to the kings of Israel (referring here to Judah's leadership), offering no true security. This highlights the futility of trusting in worldly structures over God.
  • False Hope and Betrayal: The people and their leaders had placed their trust in physical strongholds or alliances that ultimately offered no protection. Achzib's fate serves as a stark reminder that anything relied upon apart from God is ultimately a source of false security and will fail.

Linguistic Insights

  • Moresheth-gath: This is the hometown of the prophet Micah himself, located in the Shephelah region of Judah. The phrase "give presents to Moreshethgath" (ืชึดึผืชึฐึผื ึดื™ ืฉึดืืœึผื•ึผื—ึดื™ื ืœึฐืžื•ึนืจึถืฉึถืืช ื’ึทึผืช) is somewhat obscure, but "presents" (shilluchim, ืฉึดืืœึผื•ึผื—ึดื™ื) can imply parting gifts, tribute, or even divorce settlements, signifying a painful separation and loss of possessions due to the invasion.
  • Achzib: As noted, the name 'Achziv (ืึทื›ึฐื–ึดื™ื‘) means "deception" or "lie." The prophetic statement "the houses of Achzib shall be a lie" is a powerful example of prophetic irony, where the town's very name reflects its ultimate fate and lack of reliability. This literary device emphasizes the bitter reality of their misplaced trust.

Practical Application and Reflection

Micah 1:14 serves as a timeless warning against placing our faith and security in temporary, worldly things. Like the kings who trusted in the "houses of Achzib," we can be deceived by false promises of stability, wealth, or power that ultimately prove to be empty. This verse calls us to examine where our true trust lies. Genuine security is found not in human constructs or fleeting alliances, but in the unwavering faithfulness and power of God. It reminds us that only God's promises are true and enduring, offering a foundation that will never prove to be a lie, as emphasized in Psalm 118:8.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Joshua 15:44

    And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:

  • 2 Kings 16:8

    And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent [it for] a present to the king of Assyria.

  • 2 Kings 18:14

    And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

  • 2 Kings 18:16

    At that time did Hezekiah cut off [the gold from] the doors of the temple of the LORD, and [from] the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

  • Psalms 118:8

    [It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

  • Psalms 118:9

    [It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

  • Jeremiah 15:18

    Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, [which] refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, [and as] waters [that] fail?
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