Micah 3:8
in Micah 3As 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But as for me, I am full of power by the Spirit of Jehovah, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
KJV
But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
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This verse in Micah 3
Commentary
10 notes on this verseIf, further, one works through the twelve minor prophets, many testimonies to the Holy Spirit are to be found. Thus Micah speaks as God's mouthpiece and says, "Truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord." Joel cries, " 'And it shall come to pass afterwards,' says God, 'that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh' " and what follows.
This site's exposition
I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord
Micah sets himself against the prophets just condemned in the sharpest contrast the chapter offers, full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin, exactly the message the hired prophets refused to speak. The commentators read the verse as Micah's own credential, his authority resting on the Spirit rather than on payment, the true mark distinguishing him from the men of verse 5. He names sin plainly where they cried peace falsely.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(V. 5 seq.) This is what the Lord says about the prophets who deceive my people: they bite with their teeth and proclaim peace. But if someone does not give them something to eat, they declare war against him. Therefore, night will be for you instead of a vision and darkness instead of divination. The sun will go down on the prophets and the day will be darkened for them. Those who see visions will be put to shame, and the diviners will be confounded. They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God.
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 5 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
The third ground of the influx of fortitude is from God indwelling. Whence in Micah: "I am filled with the fortitude of the Lord, with judgment and power." The human body, when it does not have a spirit, does not have power, even if it …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord,.... Or, "full of power, even, the Spirit of the Lord", as Gussetius (f), by way of contrast, and as explaining what is meant by power; for so the Spirit is sometimes called from his gifts and graces, which are powerful in men; see Luk 24:
) why he was so bold, because he had commission and instruction from God to say what he said, and was carried out in it by a higher spirit and power than his own.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
What is the chaff to the wheat? What is painted fire to real fire? What the qualifications were with which this prophet was endured: He was full of power, and of judgment, and of might; he had an ardent love to God and to the souls of men, a deep concern for his glory and their salvation, and a flaming zeal against sin.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
But - I am full of power - Here is the character of the true prophet. He is filled, all his soul is occupied with power, כח coach, with heavenly energy; by the Spirit of the Lord, the fountain of all truth and might; and of judgment, which enables him to make a proper discernment between the precious and the vile; and of might, גבורה geburah, prevalent power, against which vice shall not be able to prevail, and before which iniquity shall not be able to stand: but all shall fall together, and be confounded.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Or, "judgment" to discern between graver and lighter offenses, and to denounce punishments accordingly [GROTIUS]. might--moral intrepidity in speaking the truth at all costs (2Ti 1:7). to declare unto Jacob his . . . sin-- (Isa 58:1). Not to flatter the sinner as the false prophets do with promises of peace.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And truly I - (Literally, contrariwise I,) that is, whereas they shall be void and no word in them, “I am full of (or filled with) power by the Spirit of the Lord and of judgment and might.” The false prophets, walked after their own spirit, Eze 13:3. Their only power or influence was from without, from favoring circumstances, from adapting themselves to the great or to the people, going along with the tide, and impelling persons whither they wished to go. The power of the true prophet was inherent, and that by gift of “the Spirit of the Lord”. And so, while adverse circumstances silenced the false prophets, they called forth the more the energy of the true, whose power was from Him in whose Hands the world is. The adverse circumstances to the false prophets were God’s judgments; to the true, they were man’s refractoriness, rebellion, oppressiveness. Now was the time of the false prophets; now, at a distance, they could foretell hardily, because they could not yet be convicted of untruth. When trouble came, they went into the inner chamber to hide 1Ki 22:25 themselves. Micah, amid the wild tumult of the people Psa 65:7, was fearless, upborne by Him who controls, stills, or looses it, to do His Sovereign Will. I am filled with power - So our Lord bade His Apostles, “Tarry ye, until ye be endued with power from on high” Luk 24:49: “ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” Act 1:8; and “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost” Act 2:4. The three gifts, “power, judgment, might,” are the fruits of the One Spirit of God, through whom the prophet was filled with them. Of these, “power” is always strength residing in the person, whether it be the “power” (Exo 15:6; Exo 32:11; Num 14:17, etc.) or “might of wisdom” Job 36:5 of Almighty God Himself, or “power” which He imparts Deu 8:18; Jdg 16:5, Jdg 16:9, Jdg 16:19 or implants . […]
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְאוּלָ֗ם | veulam | and but | H199 → | |
| אָנֹכִ֞י | ʾanokhi | I | H595 → | |
| מָלֵ֤אתִי | maleti | I am full | H4390 → | |
| כֹ֙חַ֙ | khoach | power | H3581 → | |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | with | H853 → | 10935 times |
| ר֣וּחַ | ruach | [the] spirit of | H7307 → | 378 times |
| יְהוָ֔ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט | umishpat | and justice | H4941 → | 422 times |
| וּגְבוּרָ֑ה | ugevurah | and might | H1369 → | |
| לְהַגִּ֤יד | lehagid | to declare | H5046 → | 370 times |
| לְיַֽעֲקֹב֙ | leyaako | to Jacob | H3290 → | 350 times |
| פִּשְׁע֔וֹ | pisho | transgression its | H6588 → | 93 times |
| וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל | uleyisrael | and to Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| חַטָּאתֽוֹ׃ ס | chatato | sin its | H2403 → | 295 times |
וְאוּלָ֗םand but
veulamH199 →
אָנֹכִ֞יI
ʾanokhiH595 →
מָלֵ֤אתִיI am full
maletiH4390 →
כֹ֙חַ֙power
khoachH3581 →
אֶת־with
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
ר֣וּחַ[the] spirit of
ruachH7307 →378 times
יְהוָ֔הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
וּמִשְׁפָּ֖טand justice
umishpatH4941 →422 times
וּגְבוּרָ֑הand might
ugevurahH1369 →
לְהַגִּ֤ידto declare
lehagidH5046 →370 times
לְיַֽעֲקֹב֙to Jacob
leyaakoH3290 →350 times
פִּשְׁע֔וֹtransgression its
pishoH6588 →93 times
וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לand to Israel
uleyisraelH3478 →2507 times
חַטָּאתֽוֹ׃ סsin its
chatatoH2403 →295 times
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
1 Corinthians 2:4My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 4:20
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:5
because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake.
- 1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
- 1 Corinthians 2:1
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
- Romans 15:19
by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 4:20
Through
Isaiah 58:1“Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins.
it leads to
- Titus 2:15
Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
- Hosea 8:1
Put the ram’s horn to your lips! An eagle looms over the house of the LORD, because the people have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law.
- Acts 20:26–27
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
- Titus 2:15
About Micah
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 5; Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 15:29; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Micah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.