Micah 2:8

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Micah 2:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye strip the robe from off the garment from them that pass by securely [as men] averse from war.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye strip the robe from off the garment from them that pass by securely [as men] averse from war.
Micah 2:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Micah 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8But of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye strip the robe from off the garment from them that pass by securely [as men] averse from war.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy, etc.] Or “yesterday”f110; meaning a very little while before this prophecy, the people of Israel, those of the ten tribes, who were the people of God by profession, rose up as an enemy, not only to God and true religion, worshipping idols; but rather to their brethren, those of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin; as they did in the times of Pekah king of Israel, who slew a hundred and twenty thousand of them in one day, (<142806>2 Chronicles 28:6); and which is here mentioned as a reason why the Spirit of the Lord in his prophets threatened them with evil, and did not promise them good things: ye pull off the robe with the garment; the upper…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Your ways are not such that I can deal with you as I would with the upright. Even of late--literally, "yesterday," "long ago." So "of old." Hebrew, "yesterday" (Isa 30:33); "heretofore," Hebrew, "since yesterday" (Jos 3:4). my people is risen up as an enemy--that is, has rebelled against My precepts; also has become an enemy to the unoffending passers-by. robe with the garment--Not content with the outer "garment," ye greedily rob passers-by of the ornamental "robe" fitting the body closely and flowing down to the feet [LUDOVICUS DE DIEU] (Mat 5:40). as men averse from war--in antithesis to (My people) "as an enemy." Israel treats the innocent passers-by, though "averse from war," as an…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Even of late - (Literally, yesterday.) Jerome: “He imputeth not past sins, but those recent and, as it were, of yesterday.” “My people is risen up vehemently”. God upbraideth them tenderly by the title, “Mine own people,” as John complaineth, “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not” John 1:11. God became not their enemy, but they arose as one man, - “is risen up,” the whole of it, as His. In Him they might have had peace and joy and assured gladness, but they arose in rebellion against Him, requiting Him evil for good, (as bad Christians do to Christ,) and brought war upon their own heads. This they did by their sins against their brethren. Casting off the love of man, they…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Is risen up - They have risen up, Israel against Judah, and Judah against Israel, and of late the tribes have conspired against one another; subjects against their kings, and great ones against the meaner sort. With the garment - You strip those that fearing no evil, go about their private affairs. Micah 2:9”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“of late: Heb. yesterday risen: Ch2 28:5-8; Isa 9:21 with the garment: Heb. over against a garment securely: Sa2 20:19; Ch2 28:8; Psa 55:20, Psa 120:6, Psa 120:7 Micah 2:9”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“"But yesterday my people rises up as en enemy: off from the garment ye draw the cloak from those who pass by carelessly, averted from war. Mic 2:9. The women of my people ye drive away out of the house of their delights; from their children ye take my ornament for ever." 'Ethmūl, yesterday, lately, not = long ago, but, as yeqōmēm shows, denoting an action that is repeated, equivalent to "again, recently." קומם is not used here in a causative sense, "to set up," but as an intensified kal, to take a standing = to stand up or rise up. The causative view, They set up my people as an enemy (Ewald), yields no fitting sense; and if the meaning were, "My people causes me to rise up as its enemy"…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification