Micah

Also known as: Micah of Moresheth, Mikayahu

Prophet · From Moresheth

Micah of Moresheth prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah — a contemporary of Isaiah — addressing both the northern and southern kingdoms. Like Amos, Micah was from a small rural town and directed his sharpest criticism at the powerful who oppressed the poor: leaders who "pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones" (Micah 3:3). He prophesied the destruction of Samaria (fulfilled in 722 BCE) and warned that Jerusalem would also fall: "Zion shall be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps" (Micah 3:12). Remarkably, Jeremiah 26:18 records that this prophecy was remembered a century later and cited to save Jeremiah's life. Micah's most famous prophecy named the birthplace of the Messiah: "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2). Matthew 2:6 quotes this verse in connection with Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. Micah also summarized the heart of true religion: "What doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:8).

Key Events

1Prophesied the fall of Samaria — fulfilled 722 BCE
2Predicted the destruction of Jerusalem
3Named Bethlehem as birthplace of the Messiah (Micah 5:2)
4"Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly" — heart of true religion
5His prophecy was cited to save Jeremiah's life a century later

What Scripture Says (28 verses)

Judges 17:1

And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.

Judges · Chapter 17

Judges 17:4

Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.

Judges · Chapter 17

Judges 17:5

And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

Judges · Chapter 17

Judges 17:8

And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

Judges · Chapter 17

Judges 17:9

And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.

Judges · Chapter 17

Judges 17:10

And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.

Judges · Chapter 17

Judges 17:12

And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

Judges · Chapter 17

Judges 17:13

Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.

Judges · Chapter 17

Judges 18:2

And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.

Judges · Chapter 18

Judges 18:3

When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?

Judges · Chapter 18

Showing 10 of 28 verses

Church Tradition

Death

Not recorded in scripture

Legendary

Details

From: Moresheth, Judah
Verses: 28
Category: prophet

Appears In

Micah Jeremiah Matthew

Key Verses

Micah 3:12

Micah 5:2

Micah 6:8

Micah 7:18-19