Micah 3:6

Therefore night [shall be] unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.

Therefore night {H3915} shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision {H2377}; and it shall be dark {H2821}{H2821} unto you, that ye shall not divine {H7080}; and the sun {H8121} shall go down {H935} over the prophets {H5030}, and the day {H3117} shall be dark {H6937} over them.

"Therefore you will have night, not vision, darkness and not divination; the sun will go down on the prophets, over them the day will be black."

Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them.

Therefore it shall be night unto you, that ye shall have no vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them.

Context

Micah 3:6 is part of a powerful denunciation by the prophet Micah against the corrupt leaders, priests, and especially the false prophets of Judah and Israel. In the preceding verses (Micah 3:5), Micah condemns those who prophesy "peace" only when paid, but declare "war" against those who do not fill their mouths. This verse pronounces the divine judgment upon these deceitful individuals, indicating a severe withdrawal of God's communication due to their unfaithfulness and greed. The audience for these false prophets, who relied on them for divine guidance, would also suffer from this spiritual darkness.

Meaning and Key Themes

This verse vividly portrays the consequences of spiritual corruption: a complete cessation of genuine divine revelation. The imagery of "night" and "darkness" emphasizes a profound spiritual blindness and the absence of truth. Key themes include:

  • Divine Judgment: God's response to the perversion of truth and prophetic office. He withdraws His presence and communication from those who have abused it.
  • Spiritual Blindness: The false prophets, who claimed to see and speak for God, will now be plunged into literal and metaphorical darkness, unable to receive any true vision or divine message.
  • Cessation of Prophecy: The phrase "not have a vision" and "not divine" directly points to the end of their supposed prophetic activity. The "sun shall go down over the prophets" signifies the end of their 'day' of influence and revelation.
  • Consequences of False Leadership: The verse highlights the dire outcome for those who mislead God's people, suggesting that their spiritual insight will be utterly extinguished.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words reinforce the verse's stark message:

  • "Vision" (חָזוֹן - chazon): Refers to a prophetic revelation, often received through dreams or trances. The cessation of chazon means no more authentic divine messages.
  • "Divine" (קָסַם - qasam): While sometimes associated with pagan divination, in this context, it refers to the act of receiving and interpreting divine knowledge or guidance. The judgment is that they will no longer be able to "divine" or interpret God's will.
  • The repetition of "night" and "dark" (לַיְלָה - laylah, חָשַׁךְ - chashakh) underscores the totality of the spiritual blackout, emphasizing that the source of their (false) light will be completely snuffed out.

Prophetic Significance and Application

Micah 3:6 serves as a powerful warning throughout history about the dangers of spiritual deception and the consequences for those who propagate it. It speaks to a time when God's word becomes scarce due to the unfaithfulness of those meant to deliver it, a condition also echoed in Amos 8:11-12, predicting a "famine of hearing the words of the LORD."

For believers today, this verse underscores the critical importance of spiritual discernment (Hebrews 5:14) and holding spiritual leaders accountable to God's truth. It reminds us that authentic spiritual guidance comes from God alone and is not for sale or manipulated for personal gain. When truth is suppressed or corrupted, the consequence is spiritual darkness, not just for the false prophets but for all who relied on them. It encourages us to seek God's genuine word and to pray for true, Spirit-led leadership in the church.

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 8:20

    To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.

  • Isaiah 8:22

    And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and [they shall be] driven to darkness.

  • Isaiah 29:10

    For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.

  • Amos 8:9

    And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:

  • Amos 8:10

    And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only [son], and the end thereof as a bitter day.

  • Isaiah 59:10

    We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if [we had] no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; [we are] in desolate places as dead [men].

  • Jeremiah 15:9

    She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while [it was] yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.

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