Micah 3:10

KJV

They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.

KJV (with Strong's)

They build up {H1129} Zion {H6726} with blood {H1818}, and Jerusalem {H3389} with iniquity {H5766}.

Complete Jewish Bible

who build up Tziyon with blood and Yerushalayim with wickedness.

Berean Standard Bible

who build Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem with iniquity.

American Standard Version

They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Micah 3:10 delivers a searing indictment against the corrupt leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, exposing the profound moral decay at the very foundation of their society. The prophet condemns their practice of building and maintaining the capital city, symbolically represented by Zion and Jerusalem, through violence, exploitation, and pervasive unrighteousness, rather than by justice and righteousness. This verse serves as a powerful declaration of divine judgment against those who pervert justice for personal gain, highlighting the catastrophic consequences of such systemic sin.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Micah 3:10 is situated within a passionate prophetic oracle (Micah 3:9-12) where the prophet Micah directly addresses the "heads of Jacob" and "princes of the house of Israel." This immediate context reveals that the verse is a direct accusation against the ruling elite—judges, priests, and prophets—who were responsible for upholding justice and divine law. The preceding verse, [Micah 3:9](/micah/3-9 "Micah 3:9 - Leaders Who Abhor Justice"), sets the stage by condemning these leaders for abhorring justice and perverting all equity. The subsequent verses, [Micah 3:11-12](/micah/3-11-12 "Micah 3:11-12 - Corrupt Leaders and Jerusalem's Desolation"), further elaborate on their motivations (greed and bribery) and the dire consequences of their actions, culminating in the shocking prophecy that Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins and Zion will be plowed like a field. Thus, [Micah 3:10](/micah/3-10 "Micah 3:10 - Building with Blood and Iniquity") stands as the core accusation, articulating *how* their leadership was fundamentally corrupt.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Micah prophesied in Judah during the latter half of the 8th century BC, a tumultuous period under the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. This era was characterized by significant social and economic disparity, where the wealthy and powerful exploited the poor and vulnerable. Land was seized, justice was bought, and religious leaders often colluded with the elite, offering false assurances of peace and prosperity. Culturally, Jerusalem was considered the holy city, the dwelling place of God, and Zion was its sacred mountain. The people, especially the leaders, held a false sense of security, believing that God would never allow His temple or His city to be destroyed. Micah's prophecy directly challenged this presumption, exposing the hypocrisy of a people who engaged in religious rituals while perpetrating gross injustices. The "blood" and "iniquity" refer to the systemic oppression, violence, and moral corruption that permeated the judicial, economic, and religious systems of the time, leading to the suffering and death of the innocent.
* **Key Themes:** [Micah 3:10](/micah/3-10 "Micah 3:10 - Building with Blood and Iniquity") contributes significantly to several major themes found throughout the book of Micah and broader prophetic literature. A primary theme is **Social Injustice and Oppression**, as the verse explicitly condemns the leaders for building their society on the exploitation of others. This ties into the theme of **Corrupt Leadership**, which Micah relentlessly exposes, showing how those entrusted with power abused it for personal gain, leading the nation astray. Another crucial theme is **False Security and Presumption**, as the leaders believed their status as God's chosen people and the presence of the Temple in Jerusalem would protect them, despite their blatant sin. Micah shatters this illusion, emphasizing **Divine Judgment** as an inevitable consequence of unrepentant sin, particularly when justice is perverted. The verse also highlights the **Nature of True Piety**, contrasting the leaders' outward religiosity with their inward depravity, underscoring that God desires justice and righteousness more than mere ritual, a theme echoed in [Micah 6:8](/micah/6-8 "Micah 6:8 - What the Lord Requires").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **build up (Hebrew, _bânâh'_):** From H1129, a primitive root meaning "to build" literally and figuratively. In this context, it signifies the establishment, maintenance, and growth of the city and its societal structures. The shocking indictment is that what they are building is not on a foundation of righteousness, but on corruption.
* **blood (Hebrew, _dâm'_):** From H1818, referring to that which, when shed, causes death. It signifies innocent bloodshed, violence, and the life-force unjustly taken. Here, "blood" metaphorically represents the violent and exploitative means by which the leaders enriched themselves and expanded their influence, often at the cost of human lives or livelihoods.
* **iniquity (Hebrew, _ʻevel'_):** From H5766, meaning moral evil, perverseness, unjust, unrighteousness, or wickedness. This term encompasses a broad range of moral corruption, including dishonest dealings, perversion of justice, and a general disregard for God's righteous standards. It points to the systemic and pervasive nature of the moral decay underlying their societal construction.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They build up Zion with blood":** This clause directly accuses the leaders of constructing and strengthening the city of Zion—the sacred hill of Jerusalem, often used synonymously with the city itself—through violent and oppressive means. The "blood" refers to the innocent lives exploited, oppressed, or even killed in their pursuit of wealth and power. It implies that their prosperity and urban development were not the result of legitimate labor or righteous governance, but of exploitation and bloodshed.
* **"and Jerusalem with iniquity":** This second clause parallels the first, reinforcing the accusation and broadening its scope. Jerusalem, the capital city, is depicted as being built upon "iniquity," which signifies pervasive moral evil, injustice, and unrighteousness. This suggests that the very fabric of their society, its laws, its economy, and its social structures, were fundamentally corrupt and contrary to God's righteous standards. The parallelism emphasizes the deep-seated nature of their sin, affecting both the sacred and the civil aspects of their capital.

#### Literary Devices
Micah 3:10 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where "Zion" is paired with "Jerusalem" and "blood" is paired with "iniquity." This technique reinforces the message, showing that both the sacred and civil aspects of the capital were equally corrupted, and that violence and moral perversion were inextricably linked. The phrase "build up... with blood" and "build... with iniquity" functions as a potent **Metaphor**, depicting the city's foundations and growth as being literally constructed from the very instruments of their sin. This vivid imagery is a form of **Hyperbole**, exaggerating the extent of their corruption to emphasize that their entire societal edifice was tainted by injustice, rather than merely having isolated instances of sin. The stark contrast between the holy city and its unholy foundation also creates a strong sense of **Irony**, as the place meant to embody God's righteousness was instead built upon its antithesis.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Micah 3:10 stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of true righteousness and God's unwavering commitment to justice. It reveals that God is not impressed by outward religious observance or the grandeur of human achievements if they are built upon a foundation of injustice and oppression. The verse underscores the biblical principle that societal health and divine favor are contingent upon ethical leadership and the equitable treatment of all people, especially the vulnerable. The "blood" and "iniquity" symbolize a systemic failure to uphold God's covenantal demands for justice and compassion. This prophetic condemnation serves as a timeless reminder that genuine prosperity and stability can only be established on righteousness, and that perverting justice for gain invites divine judgment.

* [Amos 5:24](/amos/5-24 "Amos 5:24 - Let Justice Roll Down"): "But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream."
* [Isaiah 1:15-17](/isaiah/1-15-17 "Isaiah 1:15-17 - Wash Yourselves; Learn to Do Well"): "And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow."
* [Proverbs 29:2](/proverbs/29-2 "Proverbs 29:2 - When the Righteous Are in Authority"): "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Micah 3:10 offers a sobering mirror for self-examination, challenging us to consider the foundations upon which our own lives, communities, and institutions are built. Are our successes and comforts achieved at the expense of others, through unjust practices, or by compromising ethical principles? The "blood" and "iniquity" can manifest in subtle ways today, from exploitative labor practices and unfair economic systems to systemic biases and a disregard for human dignity. This verse calls us to cultivate a profound commitment to justice in all spheres of life, advocating for the marginalized and holding accountable those in positions of power. It reminds us that true flourishing, both individually and corporately, is inextricably linked to righteousness and integrity, echoing the timeless truth that what is built on injustice will ultimately crumble. Our spiritual health is intertwined with our ethical conduct and our pursuit of righteousness, urging us to ensure that our "Zion" and "Jerusalem"—our homes, churches, businesses, and nations—are built on foundations pleasing to God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, or the institutions I am part of, be inadvertently "building with blood and iniquity" through neglect, complicity, or active participation in unjust systems?**
* **How can I actively promote justice and righteousness in my sphere of influence, challenging practices that exploit or oppress others?**
* **What does it mean for me to build my own life and relationships on a foundation of integrity and love, rather than self-interest or unrighteous gain?**

### FAQ

**Who are "they" in Micah 3:10?**

Answer: "They" refers primarily to the corrupt leaders of Judah and Jerusalem during Micah's time. As indicated in the preceding verses, especially [Micah 3:9](/micah/3-9 "Micah 3:9 - Leaders Who Abhor Justice") and [Micah 3:11](/micah/3-11 "Micah 3:11 - Corrupt Leaders' Motives"), these include the "heads of Jacob" and "princes of the house of Israel," as well as the judges, priests, and prophets who were perverting justice, teaching for hire, and divining for money. They were the ruling elite responsible for the nation's governance and spiritual guidance, yet they were leading it into moral decay.

**What does it mean to "build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity"?**

Answer: This powerful imagery is a metaphor for the profound corruption at the heart of Judah's leadership and society. "Building up" refers to the establishment, maintenance, and prosperity of the capital city, Jerusalem (which includes Zion, its sacred hill). "With blood" signifies that this prosperity and growth were achieved through violence, exploitation, and the shedding of innocent lives—either literally through unjust killings or metaphorically through oppressive practices that led to suffering and ruin for the poor. "With iniquity" broadens this to include all forms of moral evil, perversion of justice, dishonesty, and unrighteousness. In essence, the city's very foundations and its ongoing development were tainted by systemic injustice and moral depravity, rather than being built on the principles of God's law and righteousness.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Micah 3:10, with its scathing indictment of corrupt leaders who build on injustice, finds its ultimate fulfillment and counterpoint in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Micah condemned those who built earthly cities with blood and iniquity, Christ came to establish a heavenly kingdom built on righteousness, justice, and His own innocent blood. The leaders condemned by Micah were those who exploited the poor and perverted justice, much like the religious leaders of Jesus' day, whom He frequently rebuked for their hypocrisy and burdening the people ([Matthew 23:1-36](/matthew/23 "Matthew 23 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees")). Jesus, the true King and ultimate Judge, did not build His kingdom through oppression or violence, but through self-sacrifice. His blood, unlike the "blood" of exploitation mentioned by Micah, was shed not to condemn but to redeem, establishing a new covenant of grace and forgiveness ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")). He is the foundation stone of a new, spiritual Jerusalem, a community built not on human wickedness but on divine love and justice ([Ephesians 2:19-22](/ephesians/2-19-22 "Ephesians 2:19-22 - Built on the Apostles and Prophets")). Thus, Micah's prophecy foreshadows the need for a radically different kind of leadership and a fundamentally righteous foundation, perfectly embodied in Christ, who builds His church, His true Zion, with His own perfect and atoning blood, bringing true peace and equity.

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

Habakkuk 2:9

Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!

Habakkuk 2:12

Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!

Jeremiah 22:13

Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; [that] useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;

Jeremiah 22:17

But thine eyes and thine heart [are] not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do [it].

Ezekiel 22:25

[There is] a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.

Ezekiel 22:28

And her prophets have daubed them with untempered [morter], seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.

Matthew 27:25

Then answered all the people, and said, His blood [be] on us, and on our children.