Micah 6:15

Translations

Modern

You will sow but not reap; you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil; you will tread grapes but not drink the wine.

Traditional

Thou 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.

Literal

You will sow, and you will not reap; you will tread the olives, and you will not anoint yourselves with oil, and new wine, and you will not drink the wine.

Latin

Tu seminabis, et non metes: tu calcabis olivam, et non ungeris oleo; et mustum, et non bibes vinum.

Original

Hebrew

English

You will sow but not reap; you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil; you will tread grapes but not drink the wine.

Notes

Micah 6:13–16

I am striking you severely: This phrase introduces the curses God promised to bring upon the disobedient and rebellious people of Israel (see Deuteronomy 28:15–68).

Micah 6:9–16

People in Jerusalem were invited to learn from Samaria: If you oppress others to gain wealth (Micah 6:10–12), you will never have enough, no matter how much you acquire (6:13–15). Eventually, you will lose even that (Micah 6:16). Such people deserve scorn, not honor and praise (Micah 6:16).

Micah 6:1–16

The Lord presented, argued, and decided a case against his rebellious people, Israel. This section is written as a formal legal court case. Other prophets use the same pattern (compare Isaiah 1:2–4; Jeremiah 2:4–9; Hosea 4).

Using the image of a courtroom, the Lord challenged his people to state their case against him. At the same time, he stated his case against them (Micah 6:1–5). The people had not obeyed what the Lord required of them (Micah 6:6–8), so they were found guilty (6:9–12).

After the guilty verdict, the passage describes Israel’s punishment. This final section announces the sentence that follows the judgment (Micah 6:13–16).

Theme notes and profiles

Making Sense of the Exile

Events

Prophecies of Micah

Related verses

Zephaniah 1:13
Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine.
Amos 5:11
Therefore, because you trample on the poor and exact from him a tax of grain, you will never live in the stone houses you have built; you will never drink the wine from the lush vineyards you have planted.
Jeremiah 12:13
They have sown wheat but harvested thorns. They have exhausted themselves to no avail. Bear the shame of your harvest because of the fierce anger of the LORD.”
Isaiah 62:8–9
The LORD has sworn by His right hand and by His mighty arm: “Never again will I give your grain to your enemies for food, nor will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled.
Leviticus 26:20
…and your strength will be spent in vain. For your land will not yield its produce, and the trees of the land will not bear their fruit.
Haggai 1:6
You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but never get warm. You earn wages to put into a bag pierced through.”
Deuteronomy 28:38–40
You will sow much seed in the field but harvest little, because the locusts will consume it.
Joel 1:10–12
The field is ruined; the land mourns. For the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, and the oil fails.
Isaiah 65:21–22
They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

Glossary

Anoint Book of Micah Courts and Trials Food and Food Preparation Ointment Wine

Topics

Anointing of the Body Anointing: Deprivation of, Threatened As a Punishment Oil: Extracted by Presses Reaping: The Jews often Hindered From, on Account of Their Sins The Olive-Tree: The Fruit of, Trodden in Presses to Extract the Oil Wine: Sweet, Esteemed for Flavour and Strength

Micah 6:15

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