Micah 2:6

KJV

¶ Prophesy ye not, [say they to them that] prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, [that] they shall not take shame.

KJV (with Strong's)

Prophesy {H5197} ye not, say they to them that prophesy {H5197}: they shall not prophesy {H5197} to them, that they shall not take {H5253} shame {H3639}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Don't preach!" - thus they preach! "They shouldn't preach about these things. Shame will not overtake us" -

Berean Standard Bible

“Do not preach,” they preach. “Do not preach these things; disgrace will not overtake us.”

American Standard Version

Prophesy ye not, thusthey prophesy. They shall not prophesy to these: reproaches shall not depart.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Micah 2:6 encapsulates the profound tension between divine truth and human resistance, depicting a people so entrenched in their sin that they actively silence God's prophets. This verse reveals the corrupt leadership and populace of Judah and Israel demanding that prophetic voices cease their uncomfortable pronouncements of judgment, preferring messages that affirm their self-serving lifestyles and allow them to avoid the public disgrace and spiritual conviction that God's truth would bring. It highlights a recurring biblical theme: humanity's inclination to suppress truth in pursuit of comfort and the avoidance of shame.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Micah 2:6 is situated within a series of woes pronounced by the prophet against the oppressive elite of Judah and Israel. The preceding verses, [Micah 2:1-5](/micah/2-1-5 "Micah's Denunciation of Oppressors"), detail the covetousness, violence, and land-grabbing that characterize their sin, culminating in God's declaration of impending judgment, where their own lands will be redistributed. The people's demand to silence the prophets in Micah 2:6 is a direct response to these uncomfortable truths, revealing their hardened hearts and unwillingness to repent. This section serves as a pivotal moment, illustrating the direct conflict between God's unyielding word and a defiant populace.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Micah prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (approximately 740-697 BC), a period marked by significant social injustice, political instability, and religious syncretism in both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The wealthy and powerful exploited the poor, land was unjustly seized, and legal systems were corrupted. Prophetic voices like Micah's often stood in stark contrast to the prevailing culture, challenging the status quo and calling the nation back to covenant faithfulness. The desire to silence prophets was not uncommon; false prophets often offered comforting, politically expedient messages, while true prophets delivered inconvenient truths that threatened the established order, as seen in the opposition faced by Jeremiah or Amos. The concept of "shame" (H3639, _kᵉlimmâh_) in ancient Near Eastern cultures was deeply tied to public honor and social standing, making the avoidance of disgrace a powerful motivator.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Micah and the broader prophetic literature. Foremost is the **Rejection of Divine Truth**, where the people actively resist God's word delivered through His messengers, preferring a comforting lie over a convicting truth. This stubbornness is a recurring motif, echoing the complaints found in [Jeremiah 7:26](/jeremiah/7-26 "Jeremiah 7:26 - Israel's Disobedience") or [Isaiah 30:9-11](/isaiah/30-9-11 "Isaiah 30:9-11 - Rejection of God's Word"). It also highlights the theme of **False vs. True Prophecy**, as the people implicitly prefer the "smooth words" of false prophets who do not challenge their sin, a dynamic explored in [Jeremiah 23](/jeremiah/23 "Jeremiah 23 - False Prophets"). Finally, the verse underscores the **Consequences of Unrepentant Sin**, as the desire to avoid immediate "shame" ultimately leads to greater judgment and disgrace, a principle articulated throughout the prophetic books, such as in [Hosea 4:7](/hosea/4-7 "Hosea 4:7 - Shame for Glory").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Prophesy (Hebrew, _nâṭaph'_):** From H5197, a primitive root meaning "to ooze, i.e. distil gradually; by implication, to fall in drops; figuratively, to speak by inspiration; drop(-ping), prophesy(-et)." This word choice for "prophesy" is significant. While the more common word for prophesying is _nābā'_, _nâṭaph_ (to drip or drop) evokes the image of God's word gently, yet persistently, "dropping" or "distilling" into the hearts and minds of the people, much like dew or rain. The people's command "Prophesy ye not" is a desperate attempt to stop this divine distillation of truth, to prevent any further drops of conviction from reaching them.
* **Take (Hebrew, _nâçag'_):** From H5253, a primitive root meaning "to retreat; departing away, remove, take (hold), turn away." In the phrase "they shall not take shame," _nâçag_ implies that the people's intention in silencing the prophets is to "remove" or "turn away" from the impending shame. They believe that by stopping the prophetic word, they can avoid the exposure and disgrace that their actions deserve. This reveals a superficial understanding of judgment, thinking they can evade its consequences by merely suppressing the messenger.
* **Shame (Hebrew, _kᵉlimmâh'_):** From H3639, meaning "disgrace; confusion, dishonour, reproach, shame." This term refers to the public humiliation and disgrace that would result from their sins being exposed and God's judgment being executed. It's not merely internal guilt but an external, social consequence. The people's primary motivation for silencing the prophets is to avoid this public dishonor, demonstrating a greater concern for their reputation and comfort than for true repentance and reconciliation with God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Prophesy ye not, [say they to them that] prophesy:"** This opening clause captures the direct, defiant command from the unrepentant people to God's true prophets. The repetition of "prophesy" emphasizes the very act they wish to cease. It is a bold, almost arrogant, rejection of divine authority, indicating a profound spiritual blindness and a preference for self-deception over confronting uncomfortable truths. They seek to shut down the very channel through which God communicates His will and warnings.
* **"they shall not prophesy to them,"** This phrase, often interpreted as a divine response or a consequence, can be understood in two ways: either as the people's continued insistence that the prophets *should not* prophesy to them, or as God's eventual withdrawal of His prophetic word from a people who have persistently rejected it. The latter interpretation suggests a severe judgment, where God gives them over to their desires, allowing them to remain in their spiritual darkness without the guiding light of His truth. This withdrawal signifies a deepening of their spiritual hardening.
* **"[that] they shall not take shame."** This final clause explicitly states the motivation behind the people's demand to silence the prophets. Their primary concern is to avoid the public disgrace, dishonor, or humiliation that would inevitably accompany the exposure of their sins and the execution of God's judgment. They are more concerned with maintaining their outward reputation and comfort than with genuine repentance or addressing the root causes of their impending shame. This reveals a superficial and self-serving spirituality.

#### Literary Devices
Micah 2:6 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. **Repetition** of the word "prophesy" (Hebrew, _nâṭaph_) three times within a single verse ("Prophesy ye not... prophesy: they shall not prophesy") underscores the central conflict: the people's desperate attempt to suppress God's word and the prophet's persistent, albeit unwelcome, delivery of it. This repetition also creates a sense of futility in the people's efforts, as the divine message cannot ultimately be silenced. There is a strong element of **Irony** in the people's demand; by seeking to avoid "shame" through silencing the truth, they are, in fact, guaranteeing a greater, more profound shame when God's inevitable judgment falls upon them. Their attempt to control the narrative ultimately leads to their undoing. The verse also functions as a **Prohibition**, a direct command from the people, highlighting their rebellion against God's authority and their preference for moral darkness over the light of truth.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Micah 2:6 stands as a stark testament to humanity's inherent resistance to divine truth, particularly when that truth exposes sin and demands repentance. It illustrates the profound spiritual danger of preferring comfort and the avoidance of shame over the transformative power of God's convicting word. This rejection of prophecy is not merely a refusal to listen to a human messenger but a direct affront to God Himself, who speaks through His chosen servants. The desire to silence the truth-tellers reveals a heart hardened by sin, unwilling to acknowledge its depravity or face the consequences of its actions. This pattern of rejecting God's messengers and His message is a recurring tragic theme throughout biblical history, ultimately leading to greater judgment.

* [Isaiah 30:10](/isaiah/30-10 "Isaiah 30:10 - Do Not Prophesy Truth")
* [Amos 7:12-13](/amos/7-12-13 "Amos 7:12-13 - Amaziah's Command to Amos")
* [Jeremiah 26:8](/jeremiah/26-8 "Jeremiah 26:8 - Jeremiah's Arrest for Prophesying")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Micah 2:6 serves as a powerful mirror, reflecting the human tendency to resist uncomfortable truths, especially when those truths challenge our comfort, expose our sin, or demand a change in our lives. In our contemporary context, this resistance can manifest in various ways: dismissing prophetic voices that speak against societal injustices, avoiding sermons that convict us personally, or seeking out messages that simply affirm our existing beliefs without challenging us to grow. The desire to "not take shame" can lead us to suppress our conscience, ignore God's warnings, and surround ourselves with voices that tell us what we want to hear, rather than what we need to hear. True spiritual health requires a willingness to embrace God's word in its entirety—its comfort and its conviction—and to allow it to expose our sin, leading us to genuine repentance and transformation, rather than clinging to a false sense of peace or an unearned reputation. We must cultivate a humility that welcomes correction and a courage that speaks truth, even when it is unpopular.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be resisting God's truth because it is uncomfortable or exposes my sin?**
* **Am I more concerned with avoiding shame or maintaining my reputation than with living in integrity before God?**
* **How can I cultivate a greater openness to prophetic messages, even when they challenge my assumptions or lifestyle?**
* **What is the danger of seeking out only messages that affirm my current beliefs, rather than those that might convict and transform me?**

### FAQ

**What does "Prophesy ye not" mean in Micah 2:6?**

Answer: In Micah 2:6, "Prophesy ye not" is a direct command from the unrepentant people of Judah and Israel to God's true prophets. It signifies their desire to silence the divine message, particularly the uncomfortable pronouncements of judgment and condemnation of their sins. They wish to stop the flow of God's truth because it exposes their wrongdoing and threatens their comfortable, unjust lifestyles. This reflects a deep-seated resistance to God's authority and a preference for spiritual blindness over conviction and repentance, a theme seen throughout the Old Testament when people reject God's messengers, as in [Jeremiah 20:1-2](/jeremiah/20-1-2 "Jeremiah 20:1-2 - Pashhur Strikes Jeremiah").

**Why did the people want to avoid "shame"?**

Answer: The people wanted to avoid "shame" (Hebrew, _kᵉlimmâh_, meaning disgrace, dishonor, or reproach) because it represented the public exposure and humiliation that would result from their sins being revealed and God's judgment being executed. In ancient Near Eastern societies, honor and shame were powerful social motivators. To "take shame" meant to lose one's reputation, standing, and dignity in the community. Their desire to silence the prophets was rooted in a superficial concern for their outward image and comfort, rather than a genuine desire for repentance or reconciliation with God. They believed that by suppressing the message, they could avert the consequences, a futile attempt to escape divine justice. This focus on outward appearance over inward reality is often condemned in scripture, for example in [Matthew 23:27-28](/matthew/23-27-28 "Matthew 23:27-28 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees").

**How does this verse relate to the concept of true vs. false prophecy?**

Answer: Micah 2:6 implicitly highlights the tension between true and false prophecy. The people's demand to silence the prophets suggests they prefer the "smooth words" of false prophets who would tell them what they want to hear—messages of peace and prosperity, regardless of their sin—rather than the convicting truth from God. True prophets, like Micah, delivered God's unvarnished word, which often included warnings of judgment for sin. The people's rejection of Micah's message underscores their preference for deception over divine revelation, a recurring problem in Israel's history, where false prophets often outnumbered and out-influenced true ones, as detailed in [Jeremiah 14:14](/jeremiah/14-14 "Jeremiah 14:14 - False Prophecy").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Micah 2:6, with its depiction of a people rejecting God's prophetic word to avoid shame, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. He is the **Prophet par excellence**, the very Word of God made flesh, who came to speak truth to a world steeped in sin ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). Like the prophets of old, Jesus' message was often unwelcome, exposing the hypocrisy of the religious leaders and the sin of the people, leading them to demand, "Prophesy ye not!" His teachings on the kingdom of God, righteousness, and repentance were convicting, challenging the comfortable status quo and threatening the "shame-free" existence of those unwilling to change ([Matthew 23](/matthew/23 "Matthew 23 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees")). Ultimately, the world's rejection of Jesus led to His crucifixion, where He willingly "took shame" upon Himself, enduring the ultimate disgrace of the cross, not for His own sin, but for ours ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus Endured the Cross")). By bearing our shame and sin, He offers us true freedom from condemnation and the opportunity to be clothed in His righteousness, so that we "shall not take shame" in the day of judgment, but rather receive eternal glory ([Romans 10:11](/romans/10-11 "Romans 10:11 - No Shame for Believers")). He is the truth that the world rejected, yet through His sacrifice, He became the only path to genuine peace and reconciliation with God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Amos 2:12

But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.

Isaiah 30:10

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

Acts 5:40

And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten [them], they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Jeremiah 8:11

For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when [there is] no peace.

Jeremiah 8:12

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

Psalms 74:9

We see not our signs: [there is] no more any prophet: neither [is there] among us any that knoweth how long.

Ezekiel 20:46

Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop [thy word] toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;