Micah 2:4

In that day shall [one] take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, [and] say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed [it] from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.

In that day {H3117} shall one take up {H5375} a parable {H4912} against you, and lament {H5091} with a doleful {H5093} lamentation {H5092}, and say {H559}, We be utterly {H7703} spoiled {H7703}: he hath changed {H4171} the portion {H2506} of my people {H5971}: how hath he removed {H4185} it from me! turning away {H7725} he hath divided {H2505} our fields {H7704}.

On that day they will take up a dirge for you; sadly lamenting, they will wail, "We are completely ruined! Our people's land has changed hands. Our fields are taken away from us; instead of restoring them, he parcels them out."

In that day they will take up a proverb against you and taunt you with this bitter lamentation: ‘We are utterly ruined! He has changed the portion of my people. How He has removed it from me! He has allotted our fields to traitors.’”

In that day shall they take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We are utterly ruined: he changeth the portion of my people: how doth he remove it from me! to the rebellious he divideth our fields.

Micah 2:4 delivers a powerful prophetic warning, depicting the lamentation and utter despoilment that will befall the people of Israel (or Judah) due to their wickedness and oppression. This verse serves as a stark consequence for the social injustices condemned by the prophet.

Context

The prophet Micah ministered in the 8th century BC, primarily addressing the kingdoms of Judah and Israel. His ministry focused on the moral decay, idolatry, and severe social injustices prevalent among the people, particularly the wealthy and powerful who oppressed the poor and vulnerable. Leading up to verse 4, Micah 2:1-3 condemns those who "devise iniquity" and "covet fields, and take them by violence," promising that God will bring a calamity upon them. Verse 4 is the direct fulfillment of this divine judgment, where the tables are turned: those who dispossessed others will themselves be dispossessed, becoming the subject of a sorrowful taunt.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Justice: The verse underscores God's unwavering commitment to justice. The "lamentation" and "spoiling" are direct consequences of the people's sin, demonstrating that God holds His covenant people accountable for their actions and will not tolerate injustice indefinitely.
  • Reversal of Fortune: A central theme is the ironic reversal. Those who "changed the portion" of others and "divided their fields" by force will now have their own portion changed and their fields divided by an invading force, leading to their own bitter lament.
  • Loss of Inheritance: The "portion" and "fields" refer to the land allotted to each tribe and family in Israel, which was a foundational element of their covenant with God and their identity. The removal and division of this land signify a profound loss of their heritage and security, echoing the warnings found in passages like Deuteronomy 28:15 concerning the curses for disobedience.
  • Lamentation and Sorrow: The phrase "doleful lamentation" highlights the depth of sorrow and despair that will accompany this judgment. It's not just a loss of property but a profound national grief.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Parable" (Hebrew: mashal - מָשָׁל): While often meaning a proverb or allegory, in this context, mashal takes on the sense of a taunt, a satirical song, or a mocking lament. It's a bitter song of derision sung over the fallen.
  • "Doleful lamentation" (Hebrew: nihyah - נִהְיָה): This emphasizes a deep, mournful wailing or dirge, signifying profound grief and despair over their utter ruin.
  • "Portion" (Hebrew: cheleq - חֵלֶק): This term specifically refers to an allotted share or inheritance, particularly land. The concept of a "portion" was central to Israel's identity and God's covenant promises, as seen in the division of the land in Joshua 14:1. Its removal signifies a complete disruption of their divinely appointed order.

Practical Application

Micah 2:4 serves as a timeless reminder of several critical principles:

  • Accountability for Injustice: God sees and responds to oppression and social injustice. Those who exploit others, whether through violence, deceit, or unfair systems, will ultimately face divine reckoning.
  • Consequences of Sin: Disobedience to God's commands, particularly regarding justice and care for the vulnerable, has severe consequences. The verse highlights the principle of sowing and reaping, where the very sin committed (taking others' land) becomes the basis for the judgment received (losing one's own land).
  • The Seriousness of God's Warnings: The prophetic warnings in Scripture are not idle threats but expressions of God's righteous character and His commitment to upholding His covenant.
  • Value of True Inheritance: While the verse speaks of physical land, it can also prompt reflection on what constitutes our true "portion" or inheritance. Ultimately, believers find their secure and eternal portion not in earthly possessions, but in Christ and the kingdom of God (Colossians 3:2).
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.

  • Habakkuk 2:6

    Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth [that which is] not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!

  • Jeremiah 9:17

    Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning [women], that they may come:

  • Jeremiah 9:21

    For death is come up into our windows, [and] is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, [and] the young men from the streets.

  • Micah 1:15

    Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel.

  • Isaiah 6:11

    Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,

  • Deuteronomy 28:29

    And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save [thee].

  • Numbers 23:7

    And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, [saying], Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.

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