Micah 7:18
New International Version
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.

New Living Translation
Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.

English Standard Version
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.

Berean Standard Bible
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?

King James Bible
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

New King James Version
Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.

New American Standard Bible
Who is a God like You, who pardons wrongdoing And passes over a rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.

NASB 1995
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love.

NASB 1977
Who is a God like Thee, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love.

Legacy Standard Bible
Who is a God like You, who forgives iniquity And passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? He does not hold fast to His anger forever Because He delights in lovingkindness.

Amplified Bible
Who is a God like You, who forgives wickedness And passes over the rebellious acts of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He [constantly] delights in mercy and lovingkindness.

Christian Standard Bible
Who is a God like you, forgiving iniquity and passing over rebellion for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not hold on to his anger forever because he delights in faithful love.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Who is a God like You, removing iniquity and passing over rebellion for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not hold on to His anger forever, because He delights in faithful love.

American Standard Version
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth over the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in lovingkindness.

Contemporary English Version
Our God, no one is like you. We are all that is left of your chosen people, and you freely forgive our sin and guilt. You don't stay angry forever; you're glad to have pity

English Revised Version
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Who is a God like you? You forgive sin and overlook the rebellion of your faithful people. You will not be angry forever, because you would rather show mercy.

Good News Translation
There is no other god like you, O LORD; you forgive the sins of your people who have survived. You do not stay angry forever, but you take pleasure in showing us your constant love.

International Standard Version
Is there any God like you, forgiving iniquity, passing over transgressions by the survivors who are your heritage? He is not angry forever, because he delights in gracious love.

Majority Standard Bible
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance?who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?

NET Bible
There is no other God like you! You forgive sin and pardon the rebellion of those who remain among your people. You do not remain angry forever, but delight in showing loyal love.

New Heart English Bible
Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn't retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness.

Webster's Bible Translation
Who is a God like to thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

World English Bible
Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn’t retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Who [is] a God like You? Taking away iniquity, "" And passing by the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance, "" He has not retained His anger forever, "" Because He delights [in] kindness.

Young's Literal Translation
Who is a God like Thee? taking away iniquity, And passing by the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance, He hath not retained for ever His anger, Because He -- He delighteth in kindness.

Smith's Literal Translation
Who is God as thee, lifting up iniquity and passing by transgression to the remnant of his inheritance? he held not his anger forever for he delighted in mercy.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who is a God like to thee, who takest away iniquity, and passest by the sin of the remnant of thy inheritance? he will send his fury in no more, because he delighteth in mercy.

Catholic Public Domain Version
What God is like you, who takes away iniquity and passes over the sin of the remnant of your inheritance? No longer will he send forth his fury, because he is willing to be merciful.

New American Bible
Who is a God like you, who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but instead delights in mercy,

New Revised Standard Version
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in showing clemency.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
There is no God like thee, who pardons iniquity and removes the sins of the remnant of his inheritance; thou retainest not thy anger for ever, because thou delightest in mercy.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
There is no God like you who forgives evil and passes over the sin of the remainder of his inheritance, and you do not hold a grudge to eternity because you have chosen grace
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth the iniquity, And passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, Because He delighteth in mercy.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Who is a God like thee, cancelling iniquities, and passing over the sins of the remnant of his inheritance? and he has not kept his anger for a testimony, for he delights in mercy.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Compassion on Israel
17They will lick the dust like a snake, like reptiles slithering on the ground. They will crawl from their holes in the presence of the LORD our God; they will tremble in fear of You. 18Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance— who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion? 19He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea.…

Cross References
Exodus 34:6-7
Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, / maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

Psalm 103:8-12
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. / He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever. / He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities. ...

Isaiah 43:25
I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

Jeremiah 31:34
No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

Nehemiah 9:17
They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them.

Daniel 9:9
To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him

Joel 2:13
So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.

Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. / They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

Psalm 86:5
For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.

Psalm 130:3-4
If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand? / But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.

Romans 5:8
But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

Ephesians 2:4-5
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, / made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!

Colossians 1:13-14
He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, / in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.


Treasury of Scripture

Who is a God like to you, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retains not his anger for ever, because he delights in mercy.

a God.

Exodus 15:11
Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Deuteronomy 33:26
There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.

1 Kings 8:23
And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:

that.

Exodus 33:18,19
And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory…

Exodus 34:6,7
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, …

Numbers 14:18,19
The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation

passeth.

Numbers 23:21
He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.

Amos 7:8
And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:

Amos 8:2
And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.

the remnant.

Micah 7:14
Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.

Micah 2:12
I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.

Micah 4:7
And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.

he retaineth.

Psalm 77:6-10
I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search…

Psalm 85:4,5
Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease…

Psalm 103:9
He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

Jump to Previous
Act Anger Angry Delight Delighteth Delights Disobedience Evil-Doing Forever Forgiveness Forgives Forgiveth Heritage Inheritance Iniquity Kindness Loving Mercy Offering Overlooking Pardons Passes Passeth Passing Possession Rebellious Remnant Rest Retain Retaineth Show Sin Sins Steadfast Transgression Unchanging Wrath
Jump to Next
Act Anger Angry Delight Delighteth Delights Disobedience Evil-Doing Forever Forgiveness Forgives Forgiveth Heritage Inheritance Iniquity Kindness Loving Mercy Offering Overlooking Pardons Passes Passeth Passing Possession Rebellious Remnant Rest Retain Retaineth Show Sin Sins Steadfast Transgression Unchanging Wrath
Micah 7
1. The church, complaining of her small number,
3. and the general corruption,
5. puts her confidence not in man, but in God.
8. She triumphs over her enemies.
14. She prays to God.
15. God comforts her by promises of confusion to her enemies;
18. and by his mercies.














Who is a God like You
This phrase sets the tone for the entire verse, emphasizing the uniqueness and incomparability of God. The Hebrew word "El" (אֵל) is used here, which is a common term for God, but the context elevates it to highlight His unparalleled nature. Historically, this echoes the monotheistic belief central to Israel's faith, contrasting with the polytheistic cultures surrounding them. The rhetorical question invites reflection on God's attributes, urging believers to recognize His supreme power and grace.

who pardons iniquity
The Hebrew word for "pardons" is "nasa" (נָשָׂא), meaning to lift, carry, or take away. This conveys the idea of God lifting the burden of sin from His people. "Iniquity" refers to moral perversity or sin, emphasizing the depth of human wrongdoing. Theologically, this highlights God's willingness to forgive, a theme central to the Gospel message, where Christ's sacrifice is seen as the ultimate act of pardon.

and passes over the transgression
"Passes over" is derived from the Hebrew "abar" (עָבַר), meaning to pass by or overlook. This is reminiscent of the Passover event in Exodus, where God spared the Israelites from judgment. "Transgression" refers to rebellion against God's law. This phrase underscores God's mercy, choosing not to punish His people as they deserve, which is a profound expression of His grace.

of the remnant of His inheritance
"Remnant" refers to a small, surviving group of people. In the Hebrew context, it often denotes those who remain faithful to God despite widespread apostasy. "Inheritance" signifies the people of Israel, whom God has chosen as His own. This phrase reassures believers of God's enduring commitment to His covenant people, promising preservation and blessing despite their failures.

He does not retain His anger forever
The Hebrew word for "retain" is "chazaq" (חָזַק), meaning to hold fast or strengthen. God's anger is righteous and just, yet He chooses not to hold onto it indefinitely. This reflects His patience and readiness to forgive, aligning with the New Testament portrayal of God as "slow to anger" (2 Peter 3:9).

because He delights in loving devotion
"Loving devotion" is translated from the Hebrew "chesed" (חֶסֶד), a rich term encompassing love, kindness, mercy, and faithfulness. God's delight in "chesed" reveals His character as one who finds joy in showing steadfast love. This is a cornerstone of the biblical narrative, where God's covenant love is unwavering, offering hope and assurance to believers that His love is not contingent on human merit but on His own gracious nature.

(18) Who is a God like unto thee?--Micah, with an allusion to the significance of his own name, concludes his book with a burst of enthusiastic homage to the God of gods. The gracious character here ascribed to Jehovah is unparalleled in the Bible in human utterances; it is the response of the prophet to the glorious words spoken by Jehovah of Himself (Exodus 34:6-7). The promise there made to Moses is here extended by the inspiration of the prophet to the Gentiles. The "remnant" refers to the returned from the captivity.

Verses 18-20. - § 8. The book ends with a lyric ode in praise of God's mercy and faithfulness. Verse 18. - In view of the many provocations and backslidings of the people, Micah is filled with wonder at the goodness and long suffering of God. Who is a God like unto thee? The question seems to recall the prophet's own name, which means, "Who is like Jehovah?" and the clause in Moses' song (Exodus 15:11), "Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods?" Such comparisons are made from the standpoint of the nations who believe in the real existence of their false gods. That pardoneth iniquty (comp. Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18). Passeth by the transgression; Septuagint, ὑπερβαίνων ἀσεβείας, "passing over iniquities;" Vulgate, transis peccatum. To pass by, or pass over, is to forgive, as Amos 7:8. There is probably an allusion, as Jerome says, to the night of the Exodus. As the destroying angel passed over the Israelites and destroyed them not, so God spares his people, imputing not their iniquities unto them. The remnant (Micah 2:12; Micah 4:6, 7). The true Israel, which is only s remnant (Isaiah 10:21; Romans 9:27). He retaineth not his anger forever (Psalm 103:9). The word rendered "forever" is translated by Jerome ultra, and by the Septuagint εἰς μαρτύριον, i.e. to testify the justice of his punishment. He delighteth in mercy. As the Collect says, "O God, whose nature and property is always to have mercy and to forgive" (comp. Wisd. 11:24).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Who
מִי־ (mî-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

is a God
אֵ֣ל (’êl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty

like You,
כָּמ֗וֹךָ (kā·mō·w·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3644: Like, as, when

who pardons
נֹשֵׂ֤א (nō·śê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

iniquity
עָוֺן֙ (‘ā·wōn)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity

and passes
וְעֹבֵ֣ר (wə·‘ō·ḇêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

over
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the transgression
פֶּ֔שַׁע (pe·ša‘)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6588: Transgression

of the remnant
לִשְׁאֵרִ֖ית (liš·’ê·rîṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7611: Rest, residue, remnant, remainder

of His inheritance—
נַחֲלָת֑וֹ (na·ḥă·lā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5159: Something inherited, occupancy, an heirloom, an estate, patrimony, portion

who does not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

retain
הֶחֱזִ֤יק (he·ḥĕ·zîq)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

His anger
אַפּ֔וֹ (’ap·pōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire

forever,
לָעַד֙ (lā·‘aḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5703: A, terminus, duration, advance, perpetuity

because
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

He
הֽוּא׃ (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

delights
חָפֵ֥ץ (ḥā·p̄êṣ)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2654: To incline to, to bend, to be pleased with, desire

in loving devotion?
חֶ֖סֶד (ḥe·seḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty


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OT Prophets: Micah 7:18 Who is a God like you who (Mc Mic. Mi)
Micah 7:17
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