Micah 2:6
in Micah 2“Do not preach,” they preach. “Do not preach these things; disgrace will not overtake us.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Prophesy ye not, thus they prophesy. They shall not prophesy to these: reproaches shall not depart.
KJV
Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.
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This verse in Micah 2
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy; they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame - The words are very emphatic in Hebrew, from their briefness, “Prophesy not; they shall indeed prophesy; they shall not prophesy to these; shame shall not depart.” The people, the false prophets, the politicians, forbade God and Micah to prophesy; “Prophesy not.” God, by Micah recites their prohibition to themselves, and forewarns them of the consequences. Prophesy ye not - , literally drop not. Amaziah and the God-opposing party had already given an ungodly meaning to the word . “Drop not,” “distill not,” thus unceasingly, these same words, ever warning, ever telling of “lamentation and mourning and woe Eze 2:10; prophesying not good concerning us, but evil” 1Ki 22:18. So their descendants commanded the Apostles Act 4:18; Act 5:40 not to speak at all or to teach in the Name of Jesus Act 5:28. Did we not straitly command you, that ye should not teach in this Name? Act 6:13. This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. God answers; They shall certainly prophesy. The Hebrew word is emphatic. The prophets had their commission from God, and Him they must obey, whether Israel Eze 2:5, Eze 2:7 would hear or whether they would forbear. So must Micah and Isaiah Isa 28:9-14, Isa 28:22 now, or Jeremiah Jer 1:7, Jer 1:17; Jer 26:10-15, Ezekiel, and the rest afterward. “They shall not prophesy to these.” He does not say only, “They shall not prophesy to them,” but, to these; that is, they shall prophesy to others who would receive their words: God’s word would not be stayed; they who would hearken shall never be deprived of their portion; but to these who despise, “they shall not prophesy.” It shall be all one, as though they did not prophesy; the soft rain shall not bedew them. […]
This site's exposition
Prophesy ye not
on Micah 2:6-7
The false teachers and the landed men Micah has just accused answer him by trying to silence him, prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy, refusing to hear a word that will bring them shame. Verse 7 answers with a question rather than a threat, is the spirit of the Lord straitened, are these his doings, asking whether the Lord has changed or whether the people's own conduct has cut them off from the good his words were meant to do the upright. The commentators read the verse as Micah's own defense of true prophecy against a comfortable silence.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Verses 6-8) Do not speak, speaking ones, for the droppings will not fall upon them, confusion will not overtake them, says the house of Jacob. Has the spirit of the Lord been shortened, or are such his thoughts? Are not my words good when dealing with the one who walks rightly? And yet my people have risen up against me as an adversary, you have lifted up the tunic, the cloak, over those who pass by innocently, and you have turned them into battle.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
English Version is supported by the parallelism: wherein the similarity of sound and word implies how exactly God makes their punishment answer to their sin, and takes them at their own word. "Prophesy," literally, "drop" (De 32:2;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Prophesy ye not - Do not predict any more evils - we have as many as we can bear. We are utterly ruined - shame and confusion cover our faces. The original is singular, and expressive of sorrow and sobbing.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אַל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תַּטִּ֖פוּ | tatifu | you prophesy | H5197 → | 18 times |
| יַטִּיפ֑וּן | yatifun | they prophesy ! | H5197 → | 18 times |
| לֹֽא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יַטִּ֣פוּ | yatifu | they will prophesy | H5197 → | 18 times |
| לָאֵ֔לֶּה | laeleh | of these [things] | H428 → | |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יִסַּ֖ג | yisag | it will be turned back | H5253 → | |
| כְּלִמּֽוֹת׃ | kelimot | ignomini[es] | H3639 → |
אַל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
תַּטִּ֖פוּyou prophesy
tatifuH5197 →18 times
יַטִּיפ֑וּןthey prophesy !
yatifunH5197 →18 times
לֹֽא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
יַטִּ֣פוּthey will prophesy
yatifuH5197 →18 times
לָאֵ֔לֶּהof these [things]
laelehH428 →
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יִסַּ֖גit will be turned back
yisagH5253 →
כְּלִמּֽוֹת׃ignomini[es]
kelimotH3639 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 30:10They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions.
it leads to
- Amos 7:13
But never prophesy at Bethel again, because it is the sanctuary of the king and the temple of the kingdom.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Jeremiah 11:21
Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning the people of Anathoth who are seeking your life and saying, “You must not prophesy in the name of the LORD, or you will die by…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 16:18
For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
- Ezekiel 13:7–10
Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?
- Amos 2:12
“But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.
- Amos 7:13
Through
Acts 5:40At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.
it leads to
- Matthew 10:17
But beware of men; for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues.
- Matthew 10:17
Through
Ezekiel 3:26I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, and you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, though they are a rebellious house.
it leads to
- Ezekiel 24:27
On that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped; you will speak and no longer be mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that…
- Ezekiel 24:27
Through
Amos 2:12“But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.
it leads to
- Isaiah 30:10
They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions.
- Isaiah 30:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Micah
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Micah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.