Micah 1:7

And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered [it] of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.

And all the graven images {H6456} thereof shall be beaten to pieces {H3807}, and all the hires {H868} thereof shall be burned {H8313} with the fire {H784}, and all the idols {H6091} thereof will I lay {H7760} desolate {H8077}: for she gathered {H6908} it of the hire {H868} of an harlot {H2181}, and they shall return {H7725} to the hire {H868} of an harlot {H2181}.

All her carved images will be smashed to pieces, all she earned consumed by fire; and I will reduce her idols to rubble. She amassed them from a whore's wages, and as a whore's wages they will be spent again."

All her carved images will be smashed to pieces; all her wages will be burned in the fire, and I will destroy all her idols. Since she collected the wages of a prostitute, they will be used again on a prostitute.

And all her graven images shall be beaten to pieces, and all her hires shall be burned with fire, and all her idols will I lay desolate; for of the hire of a harlot hath she gathered them, and unto the hire of a harlot shall they return.

Micah 1:7 delivers a powerful declaration of God's severe judgment against the idolatry and spiritual infidelity of Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The verse graphically describes the utter destruction of their false gods and the ill-gotten gains associated with their worship, likening their practices to the "hire of an harlot."

Context

This verse is part of Micah's opening prophecy, which begins with a vision of God's coming judgment upon both Samaria (the Northern Kingdom) and Jerusalem (the Southern Kingdom) due to their pervasive sin. In Micah 1:5-6, Samaria is specifically identified as the focus of "Jacob's transgression" and the "sins of the house of Israel." Their idolatry, often intertwined with political alliances and material prosperity gained through ungodly means, is depicted as spiritual prostitution—a betrayal of their covenant relationship with the Lord. The impending destruction is a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness, signifying a complete reversal of their corrupt fortunes.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment on Idolatry: The verse vividly portrays God's active role in dismantling false worship. "Beaten to pieces," "burned with the fire," and "lay desolate" emphasize the absolute and comprehensive nature of His judgment against all forms of idolatry, reflecting the command against making graven images.
  • Consequences of Spiritual Adultery: The metaphor of the "hire of an harlot" underscores Israel's unfaithfulness to God. Just as a prostitute earns wages through illicit means, Israel sought prosperity and security through alliances with pagan nations and worship of their gods, rather than trusting in the Lord. This spiritual harlotry, also a prominent theme in prophets like Hosea and Ezekiel, brought divine wrath.
  • Futility of Ill-Gotten Gains: The phrase "they shall return to the hire of an harlot" signifies that wealth or benefits gained through ungodly means are cursed and will ultimately be rendered worthless, returning to their corrupt source. This highlights the principle that riches acquired through sin or idolatry cannot truly prosper, echoing Proverbs 10:2, "Treasures of wickedness profit nothing."

Linguistic Insights

The term "graven images" translates the Hebrew word pesilim (פסילים), referring to carved or sculpted idols, often made of wood or stone, which were central to pagan worship. The word "hires" comes from the Hebrew ethnan (אתנן), which specifically denotes the payment or wages received by a harlot. Its repeated use powerfully reinforces the metaphor of spiritual prostitution, emphasizing the defiled and illicit nature of the gains Samaria acquired through its idolatrous practices and unholy alliances.

Practical Application

Micah 1:7 serves as a timeless warning against any form of idolatry, whether it involves literal carved images or modern-day substitutes for God. Anything we prioritize above God—be it wealth, power, pleasure, career, or even relationships—can become a "graven image" in our hearts. The verse reminds us that true prosperity and security come only from faithful devotion to the Lord. Any "gain" achieved through ungodly compromises or spiritual infidelity is ultimately futile and subject to divine judgment. It calls us to examine our allegiances and ensure our worship is directed solely to the one true God, understanding that we cannot serve both God and mammon.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, 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. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Deuteronomy 23:18

    Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these [are] abomination unto the LORD thy God.

  • Hosea 2:12

    And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These [are] my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.

  • Hosea 8:6

    For from Israel [was] it also: the workman made it; therefore it [is] not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

  • Hosea 10:5

    The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof [that] rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.

  • Hosea 10:6

    It shall be also carried unto Assyria [for] a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

  • Revelation 18:3

    For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

  • Jeremiah 44:17

    But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for [then] had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.

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