Micah 6:6

¶ Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, [and] bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

Wherewith shall I come before {H6923} the LORD {H3068}, and bow {H3721} myself before the high {H4791} God {H430}? shall I come before {H6923} him with burnt offerings {H5930}, with calves {H5695} of a year {H8141} old {H1121}?

"With what can I come before ADONAI to bow down before God on high? Should I come before him with burnt offerings? with calves in their first year?

With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?

Wherewith shall I come before Jehovah, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves a year old?

Micah 6:6 opens a profound dialogue between humanity and God, setting the stage for one of the most beloved declarations in all of scripture. The prophet Micah, speaking on behalf of a people grappling with their spiritual duties, poses a foundational question about how one can properly approach the Almighty.

Context

The prophet Micah ministered in Judah during a period marked by social injustice, corruption among leaders, and widespread spiritual decline. While religious rituals like sacrifices were still performed, they often lacked genuine heart and were divorced from righteous living. In this chapter, Micah enters a divine lawsuit (often called a "rib" in Hebrew, meaning a legal dispute) where God confronts His people. Verse 6 initiates the people's desperate inquiry, asking what exact acts or offerings could truly satisfy the "high God" and bridge the gap between their sin and His holiness. This question precedes the famous answer given in Micah 6:8, which clarifies God's true desires for His people.

Key Themes

  • The Inadequacy of Mere Ritual: The verse highlights the human tendency to believe that elaborate or costly religious acts can appease God. "Burnt offerings" (Hebrew: 'olah, meaning "that which ascends") and "calves of a year old" represent the most significant and valuable animal sacrifices prescribed in the Old Testament Law (Leviticus 1). The question implies a willingness to give, but perhaps a misunderstanding of what God truly desires beyond external rites.
  • Approaching a Holy God: The phrase "bow myself before the high God" underscores the awe and reverence due to the sovereign Creator. It recognizes God's transcendence and the worshiper's humility in His presence, acknowledging the vast difference between humanity and the divine.
  • Preparation for True Worship: By asking about material sacrifices, the verse sets up the divine response that true worship goes beyond external rites to encompass internal disposition and ethical action. This foreshadows the New Covenant emphasis on worshiping in spirit and truth.

Linguistic Insights

The term "burnt offerings" (Hebrew: 'olah) refers to a sacrifice entirely consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication and atonement. "Calves of a year old" specifies young, unblemished, and therefore highly valued animals, representing a significant and costly sacrifice. The questions posed are rhetorical, designed to make the listener consider the limitations of even the most perfect physical offerings in truly satisfying God's requirements.

Practical Application

Micah 6:6 remains profoundly relevant today for understanding genuine devotion. It challenges us to examine our own approach to God. Are we relying on outward displays of religiosity—church attendance, donations, or religious activities—while neglecting the deeper call to justice, mercy, and humility in our daily lives? This verse reminds us that God is not impressed by mere ritual without a transformed heart. True worship involves a holistic commitment, as echoed in other scriptures like 1 Samuel 15:22, which states, "To obey is better than sacrifice." It calls us to seek genuine relationship and obedience over superficial acts.

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.

  • Psalms 51:16

    For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give [it]: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

  • Psalms 51:17

    The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

  • Romans 10:2

    For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

  • Romans 10:3

    For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

  • Psalms 40:6

    ¶ Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

  • Psalms 40:8

    I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart.

  • Acts 2:37

    ¶ Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men [and] brethren, what shall we do?

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