Micah 3:7
New International Version
The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced. They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God.”

New Living Translation
Then you seers will be put to shame, and you fortune-tellers will be disgraced. And you will cover your faces because there is no answer from God.”

English Standard Version
the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners will be disgraced. They will all cover their mouths because there is no answer from God.”

King James Bible
Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.

New King James Version
So the seers shall be ashamed, And the diviners abashed; Indeed they shall all cover their lips; For there is no answer from God.”

New American Standard Bible
The seers will be put to shame, And the diviners will be ashamed. Indeed, they will all cover their lips Because there is no answer from God.

NASB 1995
The seers will be ashamed And the diviners will be embarrassed. Indeed, they will all cover their mouths Because there is no answer from God.

NASB 1977
The seers will be ashamed And the diviners will be embarrassed. Indeed, they will all cover their mouths Because there is no answer from God.

Legacy Standard Bible
The seers will be ashamed, And the diviners will be humiliated. Indeed, they will all cover their mouths Because there is no answer from God.

Amplified Bible
The seers shall be ashamed And the diviners discredited and embarrassed; Indeed, they shall all cover their mouths [in shame] Because there is no answer from God.

Christian Standard Bible
Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners disappointed. They will all cover their mouths because there will be no answer from God.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners disappointed. They will all cover their mouths because there will be no answer from God.

American Standard Version
And the seers shall be put to shame, and the diviners confounded; yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.

Contemporary English Version
You prophets and fortunetellers will all be disgraced, with no message from me."

English Revised Version
And the seers shall be ashamed, and the diviners confounded; yea, they shall all cover their lips: for there is no answer of God.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Seers will be put to shame. Those who practice witchcraft will be disgraced. All of them will cover their faces, because God won't answer them.

Good News Translation
Those who predict the future will be disgraced by their failure. They will all be humiliated because God does not answer them.

International Standard Version
Those who see visions will be put to shame, and the diviners will be disgraced—every one of them— they will cover their faces, because there will be no answer from God.'"

Majority Standard Bible
Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners will be disgraced. They will all cover their mouths because there is no answer from God.?

NET Bible
The prophets will be ashamed; the omen readers will be humiliated. All of them will cover their mouths, for they will receive no divine oracles."

New Heart English Bible
The seers shall be disappointed, and the diviners confounded. Yes, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer from God."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yes, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.

World English Bible
The seers shall be disappointed, and the diviners confounded. Yes, they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the seers have been ashamed, "" And the diviners have been confounded, "" And all of them have covered their lip, "" For there is no answer, O God.”

Young's Literal Translation
And ashamed have been the seers, And confounded have been the diviners, And covered their lip have all of them, For their is no answer, O God.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they seeing were ashamed, and they divining were disgraced, and they covered over their lip, all of them; for no answer of God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they shall be confounded that see visions, and the diviners shall be confounded: and they shall all cover their faces, because there is no answer of God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And those who see visions will be confounded, and the diviners will be confounded. And they will all cover their faces, because there is no response from God.

New American Bible
Then the seers shall be put to shame, and the diviners confounded; They shall all cover their lips, because there is no answer from God.

New Revised Standard Version
the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then the seers shall be ashamed, and the diviners confounded; yea, they shall all cover their lips because God will not answer them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And those who are seers of visions shall be ashamed, and the Soothsayers shall be put to shame and all of them shall be covered over their lips because God has not answered them
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the seers shall be put to shame, and the diviners confounded; Yea, they shall all cover their upper lips; For there shall be no answer of God.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the seers of night-visions shall be ashamed, and the prophets shall be laughed to scorn: and all the people shall speak against them, because there shall be none to hearken to them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Rulers and Prophets Condemned
6Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them. 7Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners will be disgraced. They will all cover their mouths because there is no answer from God.” 8As for me, however, I am filled with power by the Spirit of the LORD, with justice and courage, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 14:14
“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.

Ezekiel 13:9
My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.

Zechariah 13:4
And on that day every prophet who prophesies will be ashamed of his vision, and he will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive.

Isaiah 29:10
For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has shut your eyes, O prophets; He has covered your heads, O seers.

Lamentations 2:14
The visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The burdens they envisioned for you were empty and misleading.

Ezekiel 13:3
This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit yet have seen nothing.

Isaiah 8:19
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

Jeremiah 23:16
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

Isaiah 44:25
who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,

Deuteronomy 18:20-22
But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death.” / You may ask in your heart, “How can we recognize a message that the LORD has not spoken?” / When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the message does not come to pass or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

2 Peter 2:1
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Matthew 24:24
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. / So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.


Treasury of Scripture

Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yes, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.

the seers.

Exodus 8:18,19
And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast…

Exodus 9:11
And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.

1 Samuel 9:9
(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

cover.

Leviticus 13:45
And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

Ezekiel 24:17,22
Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men…

lips.

1 Samuel 14:37
And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.

1 Samuel 28:6,15
And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets…

Psalm 74:9
We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.

Jump to Previous
Ashamed Confounded Cover Covered Disappointed Disgraced Diviners Embarrassed Faces Future Indeed Lips Mouths Readers Seers Shame Shamed Upper
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Ashamed Confounded Cover Covered Disappointed Disgraced Diviners Embarrassed Faces Future Indeed Lips Mouths Readers Seers Shame Shamed Upper
Micah 3
1. The cruelty of the princes.
5. The falsehood of the prophets.
8. The false security of them both.














Then the seers will be ashamed
In the context of ancient Israel, seers were individuals who claimed to have the ability to perceive divine messages and visions. The term "ashamed" indicates a profound sense of disgrace and failure. This shame arises because their predictions and insights are proven false or ineffective. In biblical history, true prophets were validated by the fulfillment of their prophecies (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). The seers' shame reflects their inability to deliver true messages from God, contrasting with the genuine prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah, who spoke with authority and accuracy.

and the diviners will be disgraced.
Diviners were those who practiced divination, attempting to foretell the future or gain insight through supernatural means, often condemned in the Hebrew Scriptures (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Their disgrace comes from their reliance on false methods and their failure to provide true guidance. This reflects the broader biblical theme of the futility of trusting in human wisdom or pagan practices over divine revelation. The disgrace of the diviners underscores the superiority of God's wisdom over human attempts to control or predict the future.

They will all cover their mouths
Covering the mouth is a cultural expression of silence, shame, or mourning. In the ancient Near East, this gesture signified an acknowledgment of one's inability to speak or defend oneself, often in the face of judgment or failure. This imagery is used elsewhere in Scripture to depict silence before divine authority (Job 40:4). The seers and diviners, once vocal and confident, are now rendered speechless, highlighting their impotence and the futility of their practices.

because there is no answer from God.”
The absence of an answer from God signifies divine judgment and the withdrawal of His guidance. In the biblical narrative, God's silence often indicates disfavor or a response to persistent disobedience (1 Samuel 28:6). This silence contrasts with times when God actively communicated with His people through prophets. The lack of divine response underscores the seriousness of Israel's spiritual condition and the consequences of turning away from God. It also foreshadows the coming of Christ, who is the ultimate revelation and communication of God to humanity (Hebrews 1:1-2).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Micah
A prophet in the 8th century BC, Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea. He prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and his messages were directed towards both Israel and Judah.

2. Seers
Individuals in ancient Israel who claimed to have the ability to see visions and predict the future. They were often consulted for divine guidance.

3. Diviners
Practitioners who attempted to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge through various means, often considered illegitimate or false prophets in the biblical context.

4. Judah and Israel
The divided kingdoms of the Hebrew people during Micah's time. Judah was the southern kingdom, and Israel was the northern kingdom.

5. God's Judgment
The event or action of divine retribution that Micah prophesies against the false prophets and leaders of Israel and Judah for their corruption and misleading of the people.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of False Prophecy
False prophets and diviners will face shame and disgrace when their predictions fail, highlighting the importance of truth and integrity in spiritual leadership.

The Silence of God
When God does not answer, it is often a sign of judgment or disapproval. This silence serves as a warning to seek genuine repentance and alignment with God's will.

Discernment in Leadership
Believers are called to discern the truth and be wary of those who claim to speak for God without evidence of His endorsement. True prophecy aligns with God's revealed word.

The Importance of Accountability
Spiritual leaders are accountable to God for their teachings. Misleading others for personal gain leads to divine judgment and public disgrace.

Repentance and Restoration
While Micah 3:7 speaks of judgment, it also implies the possibility of restoration through repentance. Turning back to God can restore communication and favor.(7) They shall all cover their lips.--As the lepers, who were cut off from all communication with men, so also these false prophets, being cut off from all communion with God, were to "put a covering upon the upper lip." It was also a sign of mourning for one dead, and Ezekiel was commanded to awaken the astonishment of the people by omitting to cover his upper lip when his wife died.

Verse 7. - Shall the seers be ashamed. The false prophets shall be ashamed because their oracles are proved to be delusive. They shall all cover their lips; the upper lip; i.e. the face up to the nose, in sign of mourning and shame (see Leviticus 13:45; Ezekiel 24:17, 22). It is equivalent to covering the head for the same reason, as Esther 6:12; Jeremiah 14:4. Septuagint, Καταλαλήσουσι καὶ αὐτῶν πάντες αὐτοί, taking the verb to mean "shall open" (not "cover") their lips against them. For there is no answer of God. There was no revelation (Psalm 74:9; Ezekiel 7:26). Septuagint, Διότι οὐκ ἔσται ὁ ἐπακούων αὐτῶν, "Because there shall be none that hearkeneth unto them."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the seers
הַחֹזִ֗ים (ha·ḥō·zîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2374: A beholder in vision, a compact

will be ashamed
וּבֹ֣שׁוּ (ū·ḇō·šū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 954: To pale, to be ashamed, to be disappointed, delayed

and the diviners
הַקֹּ֣סְמִ֔ים (haq·qō·sə·mîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7080: To distribute, determine by lot, magical scroll, to divine

disgraced.
וְחָֽפְרוּ֙ (wə·ḥā·p̄ə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2659: To blush, to be ashamed, disappointed, to shame, reproach

They will all
כֻּלָּ֑ם (kul·lām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

cover
וְעָט֥וּ (wə·‘ā·ṭū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5844: To wrap oneself, enwrap, envelop oneself

their mouths
שָׂפָ֖ם (śā·p̄ām)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8222: The beard

because
כִּ֛י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

[there is] no
אֵ֥ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

answer
מַעֲנֵ֖ה (ma·‘ă·nêh)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4617: An answer, response

from God.
אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


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OT Prophets: Micah 3:7 The seers shall be disappointed and (Mc Mic. Mi)
Micah 3:6
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