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Micah 6:1

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¶ Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.

Hear {H8085} ye now what the LORD {H3068} saith {H559}; Arise {H6965}, contend {H7378} thou before the mountains {H2022}, and let the hills {H1389} hear {H8085} thy voice {H6963}.

So listen now to what ADONAI says: "Stand up and state your case to the mountains, let the hills hear what you have to say."

Hear now what the LORD says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.

Hear ye now what Jehovah saith: Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.

Commentary

Commentary on Micah 6:1

Micah 6:1 serves as a dramatic and powerful introduction to a significant section of the prophet Micah's message, often referred to as God's "controversy" or "lawsuit" against His people.

Context

The prophet Micah ministered in Judah during the reigns of Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (late 8th century BC), a period marked by social injustice, corruption, and spiritual apostasy despite outward religious observance. This verse dramatically introduces a divine lawsuit, where God Himself brings a formal case against His people, much like Hosea 4:1 describes God's controversy with the inhabitants of the land. The setting is grand and solemn: the Lord calls upon Micah, or perhaps the people, to contend before the ancient, unchanging mountains and hills, implying that nature itself is summoned as a witness to this divine judgment.

Key Themes

  • Divine Summons and Judgment: The verse opens with a direct command to "Hear ye now what the LORD saith," indicating an urgent and authoritative message from God. It sets the stage for a divine legal proceeding, where God is the plaintiff bringing charges against His covenant people.
  • Cosmic Witness: The command "Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice" emphasizes the immense gravity of the situation. The invocation of the 'mountains' and 'hills' as witnesses or audience underscores the gravity and public nature of this divine summons, echoing similar themes where heaven and earth are called to witness God's case against Israel's rebellion.
  • Covenant Accountability: This opening immediately points to the core issue of the book: Israel's failure to uphold their covenant obligations to the Lord, despite His faithfulness.

Linguistic Insight

The key Hebrew word in this verse is riv (רִיב), translated as "contend." This term frequently appears in legal contexts, signifying a dispute, quarrel, or a formal lawsuit. By commanding Micah to "contend before the mountains," God is initiating a forensic debate or trial, where He will present His case against His people for their unfaithfulness. The mountains and hills are not just a dramatic backdrop; they are ancient, enduring elements of creation, serving as silent, impartial witnesses to the long history of God's covenant with Israel and their subsequent transgressions.

Practical Application

Micah 6:1 serves as a powerful reminder that God is a God of justice and accountability. Just as He called ancient Israel to account, He continues to call humanity to respond to His truth. This verse urges us to:

  • Pay Attention: The opening "Hear ye now what the LORD saith" is a timeless call to listen intently to God's Word and His voice in our lives.
  • Examine Ourselves: It prompts self-reflection on our own faithfulness to God's covenant and commands, urging us to consider if there are areas where we have fallen short.
  • Recognize God's Sovereignty: The dramatic imagery of mountains and hills bearing witness highlights God's supreme authority and the universal scope of His moral law.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 22:29 (91 votes)

    O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

  • Deuteronomy 32:1 (88 votes)

    ¶ Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

  • Micah 1:2 (62 votes)

    Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.

  • Ezekiel 36:1 (55 votes)

    ¶ Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD:

  • Psalms 50:4 (53 votes)

    He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

  • Deuteronomy 4:26 (45 votes)

    I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong [your] days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.

  • Isaiah 1:2 (43 votes)

    ¶ Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.