Micah 6:7

Translations

Modern

Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

Traditional

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

Literal

Will YHWH be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriad rivers of oil? Will I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

Latin

…numquid placari potest Dominus in millibus arietum, aut in multis millibus hircorum pinguium? numquid dabo primogenitum meum pro scelere meo, fructum ventris mei pro peccato animæ meæ?

Original

Hebrew

English

Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

Notes

Micah 6:6–7

Israel's situation seemed hopeless, so they asked the Lord how to please him. They offered increasingly significant items, from calves to rams, olive oil, and even firstborn children. None of these offerings was enough or acceptable to God, who judges the heart (1 Samuel 15:22; 16:7; Jeremiah 17:9).

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

Concern for the Poor God’s Justice Pure Worship What Is Good

Events

Prophecies of Micahc. 754 BC

Related verses

2 Kings 16:3
Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
Psalm 51:16
For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.
1 Samuel 15:22
But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.
Hosea 6:6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Psalm 50:9
I have no need for a bull from your stall or goats from your pens,
2 Kings 21:6
He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.
2 Kings 3:27
So he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. And there was great fury against the Israelites, so they withdrew and returned to their own land.
2 Kings 23:10
He also desecrated Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so that no one could sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire to Molech.
Jeremiah 7:31
They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind.
Isaiah 40:16
Lebanon is not sufficient for fuel, nor its animals enough for a burnt offering.
Leviticus 18:21
You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 23:37
For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols. They have even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to Me, in the fire as food for their idols.

Glossary

Book of Amos Book of Micah Courts and Trials Oil Tree, Oleaster

Topics

Condescension of God: Expostulates with Backsliding Israel Formalism: General Scriptures Concerning Idolatry: Wicked Practices of Human Sacrifices Offerings: Useless when not Accompanied by Genuine Piety Sin: No Man Can Atone For The First Born: Precious and Valuable

Micah 6:7

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