📖 Biblical Definition
Micah was the eighth-century BC prophet from Moresheth in southwestern Judah, contemporary with Isaiah, Hosea, and Amos. His book prophesied to both Israel (the northern kingdom) and Judah (the southern), condemning oppression of the poor, corrupt judges and priests, and false prophets "that bite with their teeth" for hire (Micah 3:5). Three of his oracles are especially famous. Micah 5:2: "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah... out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel" — the Bethlehem prophecy. Micah 6:8: "to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." Micah 4:1-3: the mountain of the LORD’s house in the last days (paralleled in Isaiah 2). Judgment and hope alternate.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
8th-c BC prophet from Moresheth; "do justly, love mercy."
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8th century BC prophet from Moresheth in Judah, contemporary with Isaiah, Hosea, and Amos. His seven-chapter book alternates judgment-oracles and salvation-oracles. Famous for: prediction of Bethlehem as Messiah's birthplace (Mic 5:2, quoted in Matt 2:6); the great covenant-summary "what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God" (Mic 6:8); and the eschatological vision of nations streaming to Mount Zion to be taught the law (Mic 4:1-3, paralleled in Isa 2:2-4).
📖 Key Scripture
Micah 5:2 — "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel."
Micah 6:8 — "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"
Micah 4:2 — "And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Mic 6:8 frequently quoted in isolation, as if the three together summarize all religion; the rest of Micah's hard judgment-oracles are usually omitted.
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Mic 6:8 is often used as if it summarizes all biblical religion: just behave decently. The verse comes in a context of fierce judgment-oracles against oppression, false prophecy, and corrupt leadership. Read in context, the verse is a summons back from those evils, not a free-standing ethical maxim.
Recover the whole book: Bethlehem-prophecy in chapter 5, justice-mercy-humility in chapter 6, hope-of-pardon in chapter 7. Hard chapters earn the famous lines.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Mikayahu — who is like YHWH.
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['Hebrew', 'H4318', 'Mikayah', 'Micah']
Usage
"Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly."
"Bethlehem — Messiah's birthplace foretold."
"Hard chapters earn famous lines."