Micah 2:11

11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says, ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’ that would be just the prophet for this people!

Micah 2:11 in Other Translations

KJV
11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.
ESV
11 If a man should go about and utter wind and lies, saying, "I will preach to you of wine and strong drink," he would be the preacher for this people!
NLT
11 Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you, “I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!” That’s just the kind of prophet you would like!
MSG
11 If someone showed up with a good smile and glib tongue and told lies from morning to night - 'I'll preach sermons that will tell you how you can get anything you want from God: More money, the best wines . . . you name it' - you'd hire him on the spot as your preacher!
CSB
11 If a man of spirit comes and invents lies: "I will preach to you about wine and beer," he would be just the preacher for this people!

Micah 2:11 Meaning and Commentary

Micah 2:11

If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie
Who pretends to be a prophet, and a spiritual man, and to be under the inspiration and influence of the Spirit of God, but utters nothing but lies and falsehoods; or who is actuated by a spirit of falsehood and lying; or, as in the margin, "walks with the wind, and lies falsely" {u}; is full of wind and vanity; "after the wind" F23; and follows the dictates of his vain mind, and coins lies, and speaks false things: [saying], I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink;
or "drop [a word] unto thee" F24; that there will be good times, and nothing but good eating and drinking; and that men need not fear such dismal things befalling them as the prophets of the Lord spoke of; but may be cheerful and merry, and drink wine and strong drink, and not be afraid of their evil tidings: or, for wine and strong drink F25, so Kimchi; and the meaning is, that if they would give him a cup of wine, or a draught of strong drink, he would prophesy good things to them; the reverse of what is before said, as that they should continue in their land, and not depart from it; that this should be their rest, and they should remain therein, and not be destroyed in it, or cast out of it: he shall even be the prophet of this people;
a "dropper" F26 to them; see ( Micah 2:6 ) ; such an one shall be acceptable to them; they will caress him, and prefer him to the true prophets of the Lord; which is mentioned to show the temper of the people, and how easily they were imposed upon, and their disrespect to the prophets of the Lord, as in ( Micah 2:6 Micah 2:7 ) ; to which subject the prophet here returns, as Kimchi observes.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 (bzk rqvw xwr Klwh) "qui ambulat cum vento et falsitate mentiatur", Piscator; "ambulantem cum vento et fasitate mendacem", Cocceius.
F23 So Hillerus in Burkius.
F24 (Kl Pyja) "stillabo tibi", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Burkius.
F25 (Nyyl) "pro vino", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius.
F26 (Pyjm) "stillator", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius, Cocceius.

Micah 2:11 In-Context

9 You drive the women of my people from their pleasant homes. You take away my blessing from their children forever.
10 Get up, go away! For this is not your resting place, because it is defiled, it is ruined, beyond all remedy.
11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says, ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’ that would be just the prophet for this people!
12 “I will surely gather all of you, Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people.
13 The One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the LORD at their head.”

Cross References 3

  • 1. S 2 Chronicles 36:16; Jeremiah 5:31
  • 2. S Leviticus 10:9
  • 3. Isaiah 30:10
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