Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones; New Living Translation but you are the very ones who hate good and love evil. You skin my people alive and tear the flesh from their bones. English Standard Version you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin from off my people and their flesh from off their bones, Berean Standard Bible You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones. King James Bible Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; New King James Version You who hate good and love evil; Who strip the skin from My people, And the flesh from their bones; New American Standard Bible “You who hate good and love evil, Who tear off their skin from them And their flesh from their bones, NASB 1995 “You who hate good and love evil, Who tear off their skin from them And their flesh from their bones, NASB 1977 “You who hate good and love evil, Who tear off their skin from them And their flesh from their bones, Legacy Standard Bible You who hate good and love evil, Who tear off their skin from them And their flesh from their bones, Amplified Bible “You who hate good and love evil, Who tear the skin off my people And their flesh from their bones; Christian Standard Bible You hate good and love evil. You tear off people’s skin and strip their flesh from their bones. Holman Christian Standard Bible You hate good and love evil. You tear off people’s skin and strip their flesh from their bones. American Standard Version ye who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; Contemporary English Version but you prefer to do evil instead of what is right. You skin my people alive. You strip off their flesh, English Revised Version who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; GOD'S WORD® Translation You hate good and love evil. You strip the skin off my people and the flesh off their bones. Good News Translation yet you hate what is good and you love what is evil. You skin my people alive and tear the flesh off their bones. International Standard Version you who despise good and love evil, who tear off the skin of my people, along with the flesh from their bones. NET Bible yet you hate what is good, and love what is evil. You flay my people's skin and rip the flesh from their bones. New Heart English Bible You who hate the good, and love the evil; who tear off their skin, and their flesh from off their bones; Webster's Bible Translation Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from them, and their flesh from off their bones; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleYou hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones. World English Bible You who hate the good, and love the evil; who tear off their skin, and their flesh from off their bones; Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionYou who are hating good, and loving evil, "" Taking violently their skin from off them, "" And their flesh from off their bones, Young's Literal Translation Ye who are hating good, and loving evil, Taking violently their skin from off them, And their flesh from off their bones, Smith's Literal Translation Hating the good and loving the evil; plucking off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleYou that hate good, and love evil: that violently pluck off their skins from them, and their flesh from their bones? Catholic Public Domain Version you who hold hatred for good, and love evil, who violently steal their skins from over them and their flesh from over their bones? New American Bible you who hate what is good, and love evil? You who tear their skin from them, and their flesh from their bones; New Revised Standard Version you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin off my people, and the flesh off their bones; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleO you haters of the good and lovers of evil, who strip the skin from off the people and the flesh from off their bones; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Haters of good and lovers of evil, you who snatch their skin from them and their flesh from their bones OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Who hate the good, and love the evil; Who rob their skin from off them, And their flesh from off their bones; Brenton Septuagint Translation who hate good, and seek evil; who tear their skins off them, and their flesh off their bones: Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Rulers and Prophets Condemned1Then 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. 3You eat the flesh of my people after stripping off their skin and breaking their bones. You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a cauldron.”… Cross References Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. Ezekiel 22:27 Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain. 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. Amos 5:14-15 Seek good, not evil, so that you may live. And the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have claimed. / Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” 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. 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.’ 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 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. Isaiah 59:14-15 So justice is turned away, and righteousness stands at a distance. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter. / Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil becomes prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. Proverbs 17:15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD. 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 7:15-20 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. / By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? / Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ... John 10:12-13 The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. / The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep. Matthew 23:27-28 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Treasury of Scripture Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; hate. 1 Kings 21:20 And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD. 1 Kings 22:6-8 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king… Amos 5:10-14 They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly… love. 2 Chronicles 19:2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. Psalm 15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. Psalm 139:21,22 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? … pluck. Psalm 53:4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God. Isaiah 3:15 What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts. Ezekiel 22:27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. Jump to Previous Bones Evil Flesh Good Hate Haters Hating Love Pluck Pulling Rob Skin Tear ViolentlyJump to Next Bones Evil Flesh Good Hate Haters Hating Love Pluck Pulling Rob Skin Tear ViolentlyMicah 3 1. The cruelty of the princes.5. The falsehood of the prophets. 8. The false security of them both. You hate good and love evil. This phrase highlights the moral corruption of the leaders and prophets in Israel during Micah's time. The inversion of moral values—hating good and loving evil—reflects a deep spiritual decay. This is reminiscent of Isaiah 5:20, where woe is pronounced on those who call evil good and good evil. The leaders' actions are contrary to God's nature, who is inherently good (Psalm 100:5). This moral inversion is a sign of judgment, as seen in Romans 1:28-32, where God gives people over to a depraved mind when they reject His truth. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones. Persons / Places / Events 1. MicahA prophet from Moresheth, active during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, who spoke against the corruption and injustice in Judah and Israel. 2. Leaders of Israel The primary audience of Micah's rebuke, including rulers, priests, and prophets who were leading the people astray through their unjust practices. 3. Judah and Israel The divided kingdoms of God's chosen people, often the focus of prophetic messages due to their departure from God's laws. 4. God The ultimate judge and authority who speaks through Micah, expressing His displeasure with the leaders' actions. 5. The People The common people of Israel and Judah who suffer under the unjust practices of their leaders. Teaching Points Moral ClarityAs believers, we must discern and uphold what is good according to God's standards, rejecting the inversion of moral values prevalent in society. Leadership Accountability Those in positions of authority, whether in the church or society, are called to lead with justice and integrity, serving rather than exploiting those under their care. Compassion for the Oppressed We are called to be advocates for the vulnerable and oppressed, ensuring that our actions and policies reflect God's heart for justice and mercy. Repentance and Restoration Recognizing areas where we have loved evil and hated good, we must repent and seek God's forgiveness, allowing Him to transform our hearts and actions. The Role of Prophets Prophets like Micah remind us of the importance of speaking truth to power and calling out injustice, even when it is unpopular or risky. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Micah 3In Micah 3:1-2, how could the leaders (who are described as loving evil) gain such widespread power if the Israelites were supposedly under God's guidance? Why does Micah 2:3 predict calamity without specifying verifiable events or a known historical timeline? Ezekiel 34:2 - How can we verify historically or archaeologically that corrupt leaders were truly the 'shepherds' described here? What are the main themes of the Bible's books?(2, 3) Who hate the good.--The judges, instead of fulfilling the obligations of their office, whereby they should be "for the people to God-ward," perpetrated the most flagrant cruelty upon them. Micah compares it to the process of preparing food, in which every part of the animal, even to the bones, is utilised. So the judges robbed the people until there was nothing left to them.Verse 2. - The good...the evil; i.e. goodness and wickedness. Septuagint, τὰ καλά τὰ πονηρά (Amos 5:14, etc.; John 3:20; Romans 1:32). Who pluck off their skin from off them. They are not shepherds, but butchers. We have the same figurative expression for merciless extortion and pillage. Ezekiel makes a similar complaint (Ezekiel 34:2-4). Cheyne sees in this and the following verse a possible allusion to cannibalism as at least known to the Israelites by hearsay or tradition. There is a passage in Wisdom (12:5) which somewhat countenances the idea that the Canaanites were guilty of this enormity, but it is probably only a rhetorical exaggeration of the writer. In the present passage the terms seem to be simply metaphors taken from the preparation of meat for human food. Such an allusion is natural in the mouth of one who had just been speaking of Israel as a flock (Micah 2:12). Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew You hateשֹׂ֥נְאֵי (śō·nə·’ê) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct Strong's 8130: To hate good ט֖וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good and love וְאֹ֣הֲבֵי (wə·’ō·hă·ḇê) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct Strong's 157: To have affection f evil. רָ֑ע (rā‘) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7451: Bad, evil You tear גֹּזְלֵ֤י (gō·zə·lê) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct Strong's 1497: To pluck off, to flay, strip, rob the skin עוֹרָם֙ (‘ō·w·rām) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 5785: Skin, hide, leather from My people מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (mê·‘ă·lê·hem) Preposition-m | third person masculine plural Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against and strip the flesh וּשְׁאֵרָ֖ם (ū·šə·’ê·rām) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 7607: Flesh, as living, for, food, food of any kind, kindred by blood from מֵעַ֥ל (mê·‘al) Preposition-m Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against their bones. עַצְמוֹתָֽם׃ (‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯām) Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 6106: A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame Links Micah 3:2 NIVMicah 3:2 NLT Micah 3:2 ESV Micah 3:2 NASB Micah 3:2 KJV Micah 3:2 BibleApps.com Micah 3:2 Biblia Paralela Micah 3:2 Chinese Bible Micah 3:2 French Bible Micah 3:2 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Micah 3:2 You who hate the good and love (Mc Mic. 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