Micah 3:1

¶ And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; [Is it] not for you to know judgment?

And I said {H559}, Hear {H8085}, I pray you, O heads {H7218} of Jacob {H3290}, and ye princes {H7101} of the house {H1004} of Israel {H3478}; Is it not for you to know {H3045} judgment {H4941}?

"I said, 'Please listen, leaders of Ya'akov, rulers of the house of Isra'el: Shouldn't you know what justice is?

Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice?

And I said, Hear, I pray you, ye heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: is it not for you to know justice?

Micah 3:1 (KJV) opens a scathing indictment by the prophet Micah against the corrupt leaders of Israel and Judah. Micah directly addresses the heads of Jacob and the princes of the house of Israel, challenging their fundamental failure to uphold justice.

Context

The prophet Micah ministered during a tumultuous period in the 8th century BC, spanning the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah. His prophecies were directed to both the northern kingdom of Israel (often called Jacob) and the southern kingdom of Judah, with a particular focus on Jerusalem. Chapter 3 begins a section specifically targeting the ruling elite—the political, judicial, and religious leaders—who were meant to be guardians of God's law and justice but had instead become instruments of oppression and self-enrichment. This verse serves as a powerful introduction to the denunciations that follow in Micah 3:2-3, where Micah vividly describes their heinous acts against the people.

Key Themes

  • Accountability of Leadership: The verse immediately establishes that those in positions of power—"heads of Jacob" and "princes of the house of Israel"—are held to a higher standard. They have a divine mandate to administer justice, and their failure to do so is a grave sin. This theme resonates throughout the prophetic books, as seen in Jeremiah 22:3.
  • The Essence of Justice: The rhetorical question, "Is it not for you to know judgment?" highlights that understanding and enacting justice (Hebrew: mishpat, מִשְׁפָּט) is not merely an option but a core responsibility of leadership. Mishpat encompasses not just legal rulings but also moral righteousness, fairness, and equitable treatment for all, especially the vulnerable.
  • Corruption and Oppression: By implying that the leaders *do not* know judgment, Micah points to their active perversion of it. This sets the stage for the detailed descriptions of their oppressive practices and exploitation of the poor that follow in the chapter.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "know judgment" uses the Hebrew word mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט), which is far richer than just "judgment" in the English sense of a verdict. Mishpat refers to justice, righteous ordinances, legal decisions, and the entire system of equitable governance. For the leaders, "knowing mishpat" meant not just understanding the law intellectually, but actively applying it with integrity, ensuring fairness, and protecting the rights of the people. Their failure was not ignorance, but a deliberate rejection of their God-given duty to uphold what is right.

Practical Application

Micah's message in this verse remains profoundly relevant today. It serves as a timeless reminder that all forms of leadership—whether in government, business, religious institutions, or communities—carry a weighty responsibility to act justly and with integrity. Those entrusted with power are called to be servants of righteousness, advocating for the oppressed and ensuring fairness for all. This verse challenges us to hold leaders accountable and to personally strive for justice in our own spheres of influence, remembering that God cares deeply about how justice is administered on earth, as famously summarized in Micah 6:8: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

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.

  • Isaiah 1:10

    ¶ Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

  • Hosea 5:1

    ¶ Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment [is] toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.

  • Psalms 82:1

    ¶ A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

  • Psalms 82:5

    They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

  • Jeremiah 5:4

    Therefore I said, Surely these [are] poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, [nor] the judgment of their God.

  • Jeremiah 5:5

    I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, [and] the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, [and] burst the bonds.

  • Deuteronomy 1:13

    Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.

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