Micah 3:1
New International Version
Then I said, “Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel. Should you not embrace justice,

New Living Translation
I said, “Listen, you leaders of Israel! You are supposed to know right from wrong,

English Standard Version
And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?—

Berean Standard Bible
Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice?

King James Bible
And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?

New King James Version
And I said: “Hear now, O heads of Jacob, And you rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice?

New American Standard Bible
And I said, “Hear now, you leaders of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice?

NASB 1995
And I said, “Hear now, heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know justice?

NASB 1977
And I said, “Hear now, heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know justice?

Legacy Standard Bible
And I said, “Hear now, heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know justice?

Amplified Bible
And I said, “Hear now, heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know and administer justice?

Christian Standard Bible
Then I said, “Now listen, leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Aren’t you supposed to know what is just?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then I said, “Now listen, leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Aren’t you supposed to know what is just?

American Standard Version
And I said, Hear, I pray you, ye heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: is it not for you to know justice?

Contemporary English Version
Listen to me, you rulers of Israel! You know right from wrong,

English Revised Version
And I said, Hear, I pray you, ye heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: is it not for you to know judgment?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then I said: Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel. You should know justice.

Good News Translation
Listen, you rulers of Israel! You are supposed to be concerned about justice,

International Standard Version
"He will say, 'Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you officials of the house of Israel! You should know justice, should you not?—

Majority Standard Bible
Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice?

NET Bible
I said, "Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel! You ought to know what is just,

New Heart English Bible
I said, "Please listen, you heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: Isn't it for you to know justice?

Webster's Bible Translation
And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know judgment?

World English Bible
I said, “Please listen, you heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: Isn’t it for you to know justice?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I say, “Now hear, O heads of Jacob, "" And you judges of the house of Israel, "" Is it not for you to know the judgment?

Young's Literal Translation
And I say, 'Hear, I pray you, heads of Jacob, And ye judges of the house of Israel, Is it not for you to know the judgment?

Smith's Literal Translation
And saying, Hear now, ye heads of Jacob, and ye judges of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know judgment?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I said: Hear, O ye princes of Jacob, and ye chiefs of the house of Israel: Is it not your part to know judgment,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I said: Listen, leaders of Jacob and chiefs of the house of Israel. Does it not belong to you to know judgment,

New American Bible
And I said: Hear, you leaders of Jacob, rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not your duty to know what is right,

New Revised Standard Version
And I said: Listen, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Should you not know justice?—
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
THEN the LORD said, Hear these things, O you chiefs of the house of Jacob and you princes of the house of Israel: Is it not meet for you to know justice?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said: ”Hear therefore these things, Heads of the house of Yaqob and Rulers of the house of Israel! Was it not fitting for you to know judgment?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I said: Hear, I pray you, ye heads of Jacob, And rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he shall say, Hear now these words, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and ye remnant of the house of Israel; is it not for you to know judgment?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Rulers and Prophets Condemned
1Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice? 2You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones.…

Cross References
Isaiah 1:23
Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.

Jeremiah 5:28
They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.

Ezekiel 22:27
Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.

Zechariah 7:9-10
“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Administer true justice. Show loving devotion and compassion to one another. / Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’

Isaiah 10:1-2
Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, / to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder.

Jeremiah 23:1-2
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD. / Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 34:2-4
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? / You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock. / You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.

Amos 5:12
For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate.

Isaiah 3:14-15
The LORD brings this charge against the elders and leaders of His people: “You have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses. / Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.

Jeremiah 22:3
This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Luke 11:42
Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

Matthew 23:2-4
“The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. / So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. / They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

Luke 20:46-47
“Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. / They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”

Matthew 15:14
Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”


Treasury of Scripture

And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and you princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?

Cir.

Micah 3:9,10
Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity…

Isaiah 1:10
Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

Jeremiah 13:15-18
Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken…

Is it.

Deuteronomy 1:13-17
Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you…

Deuteronomy 16:18
Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

2 Chronicles 19:5-10
And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city, …

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Micah 3
1. The cruelty of the princes.
5. The falsehood of the prophets.
8. The false security of them both.














Then I said
The phrase "Then I said" indicates a direct speech from the prophet Micah, who is acting as God's mouthpiece. The Hebrew root for "said" is אָמַר (amar), which is often used in prophetic literature to introduce divine messages. This highlights the authority and urgency of the message that follows, emphasizing that it is not merely Micah's opinion but a divine mandate.

Hear now
The command "Hear now" is a call to attention, urging the audience to listen carefully. The Hebrew word for "hear" is שָׁמַע (shama), which implies not just auditory reception but also obedience and understanding. This reflects the biblical theme that true hearing involves a response, particularly in the context of covenantal faithfulness.

O heads of Jacob
"Heads of Jacob" refers to the leaders or chiefs of the tribes of Israel, descendants of Jacob. The term "heads" (רֹאשׁ, rosh) signifies those in positions of authority and responsibility. Historically, these leaders were expected to guide the people according to God's laws. The mention of "Jacob" connects the leaders to their patriarchal heritage, reminding them of their covenantal obligations.

and you rulers of the house of Israel
The "rulers of the house of Israel" further specifies the audience as those in governmental or judicial positions. The Hebrew word for "rulers" is קָצִין (qatsin), which can denote officials or commanders. This phrase underscores the accountability of those who govern, as they are stewards of justice and righteousness in the community.

Should you not know justice?
This rhetorical question challenges the leaders' understanding and practice of justice. The Hebrew word for "know" is יָדַע (yada), which implies an intimate, experiential knowledge. "Justice" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat) is a central biblical concept, encompassing fairness, equity, and adherence to God's law. The question implies that the leaders, by virtue of their position, should inherently understand and execute justice, yet their actions suggest otherwise. This serves as a powerful indictment of their failure to uphold divine standards, calling them to repentance and reform.

III.

(1) Hear, I pray you.--In the second division of his prophecy Micah protests against the evil influences exercised upon the people in high places. The princes, the prophets, and the priests, to whom their interests were confided, were guilty of wrong, oppression, and robbery.

Ye princes.--Rather, judges, magistrates; but a different word is used from that which was given to the chiefs in the old days "when the judges ruled."

Verse 1-ch. 5:15. - Part II. DENUNCIATION OF THE CRIMES OF THE GRANDEES, FOLLOWED BY A PROMISE OF THE GLORIFICATION OF ZION, THE BIRTH OF MESSIAH, AND THE HIGHEST EXALTATION OF THE PEOPLE. Verses 1-4. - § 1. Sins of the rulers, and their punishment. Verse 1. - The prophet denounces the sins of the rulers, false prophets, and priests; and begins with the injustice and oppression practised by the great men. And I said. The new address is thus introduced as being analogous to the denunciations in the preceding chapter, which were interrupted by the promise of deliverance, to which there is no reference here. O heads of Jacob; synonymous with princes of the house of Israel (comp. ver. 8; Micah 1:5). Micah addresses the heads of families and the officials to whom the administration of justice appertained. These magistrates and judges seem to have been chiefly members of the royal family, at any rate in Judah; see Jeremiah 21:11, 12 (Cheyne). Septuagint, οἱ κατάλοιποι οἴκου Ἰσραήλ, "ye remnant of the house of Israel." Is it not for you to know judgment? Ye, of all men, ought to know what is just and fair, and to practise it (compare the opening of the Book of Wisdom).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then I said:
וָאֹמַ֗ר (wā·’ō·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Hear
שִׁמְעוּ־ (šim·‘ū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

now,
נָא֙ (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

O leaders
רָאשֵׁ֣י (rā·šê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7218: The head

of Jacob,
יַעֲקֹ֔ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

you rulers
וּקְצִינֵ֖י (ū·qə·ṣî·nê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7101: A magistrate, other leader

of the house
בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

Should you not
הֲל֣וֹא (hă·lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

know
לָדַ֖עַת (lā·ḏa·‘aṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3045: To know

justice?
הַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃ (ham·miš·pāṭ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style


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OT Prophets: Micah 3:1 I said Please listen you heads (Mc Mic. Mi)
Micah 2:13
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