Micah 3:7

Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for [there is] no answer of God.

Then shall the seers {H2374} be ashamed {H954}, and the diviners {H7080} confounded {H2659}: yea, they shall all cover {H5844} their lips {H8222}; for there is no answer {H4617} of God {H430}.

The seers will be put to shame, the diviners will be disgraced. They will have to cover their mouths, because there will be no answer from God.

Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners will be disgraced. They will all cover their mouths because there is no answer from God.”

And the seers shall be put to shame, and the diviners confounded; yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.

Micah 3:7 delivers a stark prophecy concerning the fate of false prophets and diviners in ancient Israel and Judah. This verse, part of Micah’s broader indictment against the corrupt leaders and spiritual guides of his time, highlights the divine judgment awaiting those who mislead God’s people for personal gain rather than speaking truth.

Context of Micah 3:7

Chapter 3 of Micah is a powerful denunciation of the nation’s corrupt leadership—its civil rulers, priests, and prophets. Micah condemns them for their oppression of the poor, their perversion of justice, and their greed. While the rulers "eat the flesh of my people" (Micah 3:3), the prophets are equally culpable, prophesying peace only when they are paid, and declaring war against those who do not fill their mouths (Micah 3:5). Verse 7 specifically addresses these spiritual deceivers, declaring their ultimate shame and silence when God withdraws His word from them.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment on False Prophets: The verse vividly describes the public disgrace and confusion that will befall those who falsely claim to speak for God. Their lies and deceptions will be exposed, leading to their humiliation. This serves as a warning against spiritual malpractice and the dangers of false prophecy.
  • The Silence of God: The core reason for their shame is "no answer of God." This signifies a withdrawal of divine communication and revelation from those who have corrupted His message. When God’s true voice is absent, the emptiness of false claims becomes painfully evident.
  • Exposure of Deception: The phrase "they shall all cover their lips" symbolizes their shame, silence, and inability to continue their deceitful practices. It marks the end of their influence and the public acknowledgment of their fraudulent claims.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses "seers" (Hebrew: chozim) and "diviners" (Hebrew: qosemim). While "seers" often referred to legitimate prophets in early Israelite history (e.g., 1 Samuel 9:9), here it is used pejoratively, alongside "diviners," to describe those who claim spiritual insight but are in fact involved in forbidden or deceptive practices. The term "confounded" (Hebrew: chapar) implies being put to shame or disgrace, often with a sense of turning pale or blushing. The act of "covering their lips" was a customary sign of mourning or shame in the ancient Near East, indicating their profound humiliation and inability to speak their accustomed falsehoods.

Related Scriptures

The Lord repeatedly warns against false prophets throughout Scripture. For instance, Jeremiah condemns those who prophesy "a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart" (Jeremiah 14:14). Similarly, Ezekiel laments the prophets who "see vanity and divining lies unto them" (Ezekiel 13:6). The ultimate consequence of spiritual rebellion and turning from God is often a "famine of hearing the words of the Lord," as foretold in Amos 8:11, which parallels the "no answer of God" described here.

Practical Application

Micah 3:7 serves as a timeless reminder for believers today to exercise spiritual discernment. In an age of abundant information, it is crucial to test every spirit and every teaching against the unchanging standard of God's Word (1 John 4:1). This verse encourages us to seek genuine divine revelation and to be wary of those who prophesy for profit or personal gain, whose words ultimately prove empty because they lack the true anointing and authorization from God. It underscores the importance of a living, authentic relationship with God, where His voice is sought and His truth is honored above all else.

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.

  • Zechariah 13:4

    And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:

  • Isaiah 44:25

    That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

  • Ezekiel 24:17

    Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not [thy] lips, and eat not the bread of men.

  • Leviticus 13:45

    And the leper in whom the plague [is], his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

  • 1 Samuel 28:6

    And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

  • Amos 8:11

    ¶ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

  • Isaiah 47:12

    Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

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