That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge [asketh] for a reward; and the great [man], he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
That they may do evil {H7451} with both hands {H3709} earnestly {H3190}, the prince {H8269} asketh {H7592}, and the judge {H8199} asketh for a reward {H7966}; and the great {H1419} man, he uttereth {H1696} his mischievous {H1942} desire {H5315}: so they wrap it up {H5686}.
Their hands do evil well. The prince makes his request, the judge grants it for a price, and the great man expresses his evil desires - thus they weave it together.
Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together.
Their hands are upon that which is evil to do it diligently; the prince asketh, and the judge is ready for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth the evil desire of his soul: thus they weave it together.
-
Micah 3:11
The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, [Is] not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us. -
Proverbs 4:16
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to fall. -
Proverbs 4:17
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. -
Amos 5:12
For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate [from their right]. -
Jeremiah 8:10
Therefore will I give their wives unto others, [and] their fields to them that shall inherit [them]: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. -
Matthew 26:15
And said [unto them], What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. -
Luke 12:1
¶ In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Micah 7:3 vividly portrays the deep-seated corruption prevalent in Judah during the prophet Micah's time. This verse exposes a society where wrongdoing is not merely tolerated but actively pursued by those in power, from the highest officials to the common influential person.
Context of Micah 7:3
This verse is part of Micah's lament over the moral decay and spiritual darkness gripping his nation. The prophet expresses profound sorrow, feeling isolated as he observes the widespread dishonesty and injustice, where "the good man is perished out of the earth" (Micah 7:2). Micah 7:3 specifically details how this corruption operates, highlighting the systemic nature of the problem from the top down. It sets the stage for Micah's plea for God's mercy and his ultimate hope in divine restoration.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
Practical Application
Micah 7:3 serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of corruption and the abuse of power. It reminds us that: