Study
Micah
The Minor Prophets · Doctrinal study

Micah: The Ruler from Bethlehem

Judgment on corrupt leaders, the King born in a little town, and the God who delights in mercy

At a Glance

Micah at a Glance

Micah was a country prophet. While Isaiah spoke to kings in the capital, Micah spoke from a village, for people whose fields were being taken by the powerful. His book is short, and it holds some of the best-known verses in the Old Testament, including the birthplace of Christ.

  • Author. Micah of Moresheth, a village in the hills of southwest Judah (Micah 1:1; Micah 1:14). His name means, Who is like the LORD?
  • Date. About 735 to 700 BC, in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Isaiah and Hosea were his contemporaries.
  • Written To. Samaria and Jerusalem, the capitals of Israel and Judah (Micah 1:1).
  • Setting. Assyria was on the rise. Samaria fell in 722 BC, and Judah was invaded in 701 BC. At home, rich men seized the fields of poor families (Micah 2:1–2), and leaders, priests, and prophets were for hire (Micah 3:11).
  • Key Verse. out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel (Micah 5:2).
  • Key Word or Theme. Hear. Judgment on a corrupt people, and the promised Ruler who will bring peace.

Loading the rest of this article

Further reading

For Deeper Study

As an Amazon Associate, Theologica earns from qualifying purchases.

Continue exploring

Jonah

A prophet runs from God's call to a hated city, is swallowed by a great fish, preaches, and watches Nineveh repent, then learns that God's mercy is wider than his own heart.

Open Doctrine