Micah 7:1

KJV

¶ Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: [there is] no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.

KJV (with Strong's)

Woe {H480} is me! for I am as when they have gathered {H625} the summer fruits {H7019}, as the grapegleanings {H5955} of the vintage {H1210}: there is no cluster {H811} to eat {H398}: my soul {H5315} desired {H183} the firstripe fruit {H1063}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Woe to me! for I have become like the leavings of summer fruit, like the gleanings when the vintage is finished - there isn't a cluster worth eating, no early-ripened fig that appeals to me.

Berean Standard Bible

Woe is me! For I am like one gathering summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster to eat, no early fig that I crave.

American Standard Version

Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat; my soul desireth the first-ripe fig.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Micah 7:1 opens with a poignant lament from the prophet, expressing profound despair over the moral and spiritual desolation of Judah. He likens himself to a person scavenging for any remaining fruit after a thorough harvest and gleaning, only to find nothing. This vivid agricultural metaphor underscores the utter absence of righteousness, integrity, or godly individuals in society, reflecting Micah's deep longing for genuine spiritual fruit.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Micah 7:1 serves as a sorrowful transition and summation following the prophet's severe indictments against Judah and Israel in chapters 1-6. Chapters 1-3 detail the impending judgment due to the people's sin, particularly the corruption of leaders and false prophets. Chapters 4-5 offer glimpses of future restoration and the Messiah's coming. Chapter 6 presents God's "lawsuit" against His people, where He recounts His faithfulness and their unfaithfulness, culminating in a call for justice, mercy, and humility ([Micah 6:8](/micah/6-8 "Micah 6:8 - What the Lord Requires")). The opening "Woe is me!" in [Micah 7:1](/micah/7-1 "Micah 7:1 - Micah's Lament") marks a shift from God's direct address to the prophet's personal anguish, a lament over the pervasive moral decay that has left the nation spiritually barren, despite God's clear expectations.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophet Micah ministered in Judah during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (late 8th century BC), a period of significant political upheaval and moral decline. Both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah were steeped in idolatry, social injustice, and corruption. The imagery of harvesting and gleaning was deeply embedded in ancient Israelite agrarian society. After the main harvest (summer fruits like figs and grapes), the poor and sojourners were permitted to glean any remaining produce ([Leviticus 19:9-10](/leviticus/19-9-10 "Leviticus 19:9-10 - Laws for Gleaning")). Micah's lament that there is "no cluster to eat" even after the gleanings signifies an unprecedented level of spiritual emptiness, implying a society so utterly devoid of goodness that not even the scraps of righteousness remain.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Micah and the broader prophetic literature. First, it highlights **profound despair and lament** over national sin, a common motif among prophets who grieved over their people's apostasy, echoing the anguish found in [Jeremiah 4:19](/jeremiah/4-19 "Jeremiah 4:19 - Jeremiah's Anguish"). Second, the agricultural metaphor emphasizes **spiritual barrenness and moral famine**, depicting a society where righteousness is utterly absent, akin to the "famine of hearing the words of the Lord" described in [Amos 8:11](/amos/8-11 "Amos 8:11 - Famine of the Word"). Finally, Micah's longing for "the firstripe fruit" underscores a deep **yearning for genuine righteousness and integrity**, revealing that even in the midst of widespread corruption, a remnant desires true godliness and the presence of upright individuals.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Woe (Hebrew, _ʼalᵉlay'_):** This exclamation (H480) is a strong interjection of lament, expressing deep sorrow, distress, or anguish. It often conveys a sense of impending judgment or profound personal grief over a dire situation, signaling the prophet's emotional pain at the spiritual state of his people.
* **grapegleanings (Hebrew, _ʻôlêlâh'_):** Referring to the sparse grapes left after the main vintage (H5955), this term highlights the final, minimal remnants of a harvest. Micah's use of this word, combined with the declaration that even these are absent, emphasizes the extreme scarcity and utter lack of anything good remaining in the society, beyond what is typically expected even after a thorough collection.
* **firstripe fruit (Hebrew, _bikkûwrâh'_):** This term (H1063) specifically denotes the earliest and often most prized fruits of the season, such as the early fig. In this context, it symbolizes the ideal, the best, or the most desired spiritual and moral qualities—genuine righteousness, integrity, and godly individuals—which Micah desperately longs to find but cannot.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Woe is me!":** This opening exclamation immediately establishes the prophet's personal lament and deep anguish. It is a cry of despair, not for himself personally in terms of his own sin, but in response to the overwhelming spiritual and moral decay he observes in his nation. It expresses a profound sense of grief and hopelessness over the current state of affairs.
* **"for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage:":** Micah employs a powerful agricultural metaphor to describe his situation. He compares himself to someone searching for food after the entire harvest—both the main collection of "summer fruits" (like figs and dates) and the subsequent "grapegleanings" (the last remaining grapes after the vintage)—have been thoroughly completed. This imagery conveys a sense of utter depletion and finality, implying that nothing of value is left.
* **"there is no cluster to eat:":** This phrase intensifies the preceding metaphor, emphasizing the absolute barrenness. Even after the most diligent search, not a single cluster, not even a small remnant, of good fruit (symbolizing righteousness or godly people) can be found. This highlights the complete moral and spiritual desolation of the land.
* **"my soul desired the firstripe fruit.":** Despite the bleak reality, Micah's inner being, his "soul," still yearns for something pure and excellent. The "firstripe fruit" represents the ideal, the best, and the most desirable spiritual qualities or individuals. This reveals the prophet's longing for genuine godliness and integrity in a world utterly devoid of it, underscoring his unwavering commitment to God's standards even amidst widespread apostasy.

#### Literary Devices
Micah 7:1 is rich in **Metaphor**, primarily employing agricultural imagery to convey spiritual and moral truths. The prophet compares the spiritual state of Judah to a land completely stripped of its harvest, where "summer fruits" and "grapegleanings" are entirely absent, symbolizing the lack of righteous individuals or deeds. The phrase "Woe is me!" is a classic prophetic **Lament**, expressing profound personal sorrow and grief over the nation's sin and its consequences. The declaration that "there is no cluster to eat" even after the gleanings uses **Hyperbole** to emphasize the extreme and pervasive nature of the moral corruption, suggesting an unprecedented level of spiritual barrenness. This imagery also functions as powerful **Symbolism**, where the absence of fruit symbolizes the absence of spiritual fruit, righteousness, and justice in the society.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Micah's lament in [Micah 7:1](/micah/7-1 "Micah 7:1 - Micah's Lament") resonates deeply with the biblical understanding of sin's devastating impact on human society and the heart of a righteous prophet. It reflects the sorrow of God's faithful servants when confronted with widespread apostasy and moral decay, a sorrow that mirrors God's own grief over His people's unfaithfulness. The imagery of a barren harvest speaks to the consequences of covenant breaking, where the land itself, and by extension the people, fail to produce the expected fruit of righteousness. This spiritual famine is a direct result of turning away from God's commands, leading to a society where justice is perverted, and integrity is a rarity. Yet, even in this bleak assessment, the prophet's "desire" for "firstripe fruit" hints at a yearning for divine restoration and the ultimate triumph of God's character, a hope that finds its ultimate fulfillment in God's redemptive plan.

* [Jeremiah 4:19](/jeremiah/4-19 "Jeremiah 4:19 - Jeremiah's Anguish")
* [Amos 8:11](/amos/8-11 "Amos 8:11 - Famine of the Word")
* [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1-7 "Isaiah 5:1-7 - The Song of the Vineyard")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Micah's lament in [Micah 7:1](/micah/7-1 "Micah 7:1 - Micah's Lament") serves as a timeless mirror for believers, prompting us to honestly assess the spiritual landscape around us and within our own hearts. In a world often characterized by moral compromise, social injustice, and spiritual apathy, the prophet's cry of "Woe is me!" can become our own, not in despair, but in a spirit of godly grief over sin. This verse challenges us to move beyond superficial assessments and to deeply consider whether we are producing the "firstripe fruit" of righteousness in our lives, our families, and our communities. It calls us to actively resist the pervasive spiritual barrenness by cultivating personal holiness, pursuing justice, and extending mercy, thereby becoming the "fruit" that Micah so desperately longed to find. Our longing for genuine godliness should fuel our prayers for revival and our commitment to living out the transformative power of the Gospel in a world that desperately needs to see and taste true spiritual fruit.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life or community do I observe a "spiritual barrenness" similar to what Micah described?**
* **How does Micah's lament challenge me to grieve over sin and injustice, rather than becoming complacent?**
* **What "firstripe fruit" (qualities of righteousness, integrity, or godly character) am I actively cultivating in my own life?**
* **How can I contribute to producing more spiritual "fruit" in my sphere of influence, even when surrounded by moral decay?**

### FAQ

**What does "Woe is me!" signify in Micah 7:1?**

Answer: The phrase "Woe is me!" (Hebrew: *ʼalᵉlay*) is a powerful expression of lament and deep sorrow. In [Micah 7:1](/micah/7-1 "Micah 7:1 - Micah's Lament"), it signifies the prophet Micah's profound anguish and despair, not over personal suffering, but over the pervasive moral and spiritual corruption of Judah. It conveys his grief at the nation's spiritual barrenness and the absence of righteousness, reflecting a heart burdened by the sin he observes.

**Why does Micah use agricultural imagery like "summer fruits" and "grapegleanings"?**

Answer: Micah uses the imagery of "summer fruits" (figs, dates) and "grapegleanings" (the last grapes after harvest) to vividly illustrate the utter spiritual desolation of Judah. In ancient Israel, gleaning was a customary practice where the poor could collect what was left after the main harvest ([Leviticus 19:9-10](/leviticus/19-9-10 "Leviticus 19:9-10 - Laws for Gleaning")). By stating that even after the gleaning, "there is no cluster to eat," Micah emphasizes that there is absolutely nothing good left—no righteous individuals, no acts of justice, no moral integrity. This metaphor powerfully conveys the extent of the nation's moral decay, akin to a land completely stripped of its produce.

**What is the significance of Micah's "soul desired the firstripe fruit"?**

Answer: The "firstripe fruit" (Hebrew: *bikkûwrâh*) refers to the earliest and often most prized produce of the season. In [Micah 7:1](/micah/7-1 "Micah 7:1 - Micah's Lament"), it symbolizes the ideal, the best, and the most desirable spiritual qualities: genuine righteousness, integrity, and the presence of truly godly individuals. Despite the widespread moral famine, Micah's "soul" (his inner being, his very essence) longs for these pure and excellent manifestations of godliness. This expresses his unwavering hope and desire for spiritual purity and a return to covenant faithfulness, even when such fruit seems entirely absent.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Micah's lament in [Micah 7:1](/micah/7-1 "Micah 7:1 - Micah's Lament") finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in several ways. The prophet's cry of "Woe is me!" over a spiritually barren people foreshadows Jesus' own lament over Jerusalem, a city that repeatedly rejected God's prophets and ultimately Him ([Matthew 23:37-39](/matthew/23-37-39 "Matthew 23:37-39 - Jesus' Lament over Jerusalem")). Jesus, the perfect "firstripe fruit" and the embodiment of all righteousness, came into a world that was spiritually desolate, much like the barren harvest Micah described. He found little faith and much corruption, even among the religious leaders of His day ([Matthew 16:4](/matthew/16-4 "Matthew 16:4 - A Wicked Generation Seeks a Sign")). Yet, unlike the prophet who found "no cluster to eat," Jesus Himself is the true and abundant "fruit" of God's kingdom, the one who brings forth righteousness and life where there was only spiritual death ([John 15:5](/john/15-5 "John 15:5 - Jesus, the True Vine")). His perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection provide the ultimate "firstripe fruit" of salvation, enabling believers to bear the fruit of the Spirit, transforming barren lives into fruitful ones for God's glory ([Galatians 5:22-23](/galatians/5-22-23 "Galatians 5:22-23 - The Fruit of the Spirit")).

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

Isaiah 28:4

And the glorious beauty, which [is] on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, [and] as the hasty fruit before the summer; which [when] he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.

Isaiah 24:13

¶ When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, [there shall be] as the shaking of an olive tree, [and] as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.

Hosea 9:10

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: [but] they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto [that] shame; and [their] abominations were according as they loved.

Isaiah 17:6

¶ Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two [or] three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four [or] five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel.

Isaiah 6:5

¶ Then said I, Woe [is] me! for I am undone; because I [am] a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

Jeremiah 15:10

¶ Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; [yet] every one of them doth curse me.

Jeremiah 45:3

Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.