The big picture
Micah 6 opens in verse 1 with “Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 8 with “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to…”, and closes in verse 16 with “For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, hear, people, house, controversy. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Micah · King James Version · 16Micah 6:1-8
1–8: Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the…
Micah 6:1–8 opens with “Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills…” and reaches “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Mountains called as witnesses while a worshiper asks what offering is enough and hears the call to justice, mercy, and humble walking, with particular weight carried by LORD, Hear, people.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 4 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.” Naming Arise and Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Micah 6:1-8
King James Version1Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
2Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’s controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.
3O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.
4For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
5O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD .
6Wherewith 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?
7Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8He 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 6:9-16
9–16: The LORD’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see…
Micah 6:9–16 opens with “The LORD’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the…” and reaches “For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Mountains called as witnesses while a worshiper asks what offering is enough and hears the call to justice, mercy, and humble walking, with particular weight carried by deceitful, house, inhabitants.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“The LORD’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Micah 6:9-16
King James Version9The LORD’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.
10Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?
11Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?
12For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
13Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.
14Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.
15Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.
16For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Micah 6:1 begins with “Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.”
Where the chapter turns
Micah 6:8 forms a natural hinge: “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?”
The final note
Micah 6:16 leaves the reader with “For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, hear, people, house, controversy, deceitful help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What repeated description explains the judgment?
The earth is corrupt and filled with violence, especially in verses 11-13.
What does obedience look like here?
Detailed preparation, gathering provisions and constructing what God commands.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.