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Micah 3:7

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Micah 3:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the seers shall be put to shame, and the diviners confounded; yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the seers shall be put to shame, and the diviners confounded; yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.
Micah 3:7 — American Standard Version

Context — Micah 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4Then shall they cry unto Jehovah, but he will not answer them; yea, he will hide his face from them at that time, according as they have wrought evil in their doings.
5Thus saith Jehovah concerning the prophets that make my people to err; that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and whoso putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him:
6Therefore it shall be night unto you, that ye shall have no vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them.
7And the seers shall be put to shame, and the diviners confounded; yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.
8But 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.
9Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, that abhor justice, and pervert all equity.
10They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.
← Micah 3:6Micah 3:8 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded, etc.] When the events of things will make it most clearly appear to all that their visions, divinations, and prophecies, are false; they will not be able to lift up their heads, or show their faces, but shame and confusion will cover them: yea, they shall all cover their lips; stop their mouths, hold their tongues, and be entirely and totally silenced; they will not pretend to utter any other vision or prophecy; nor be able to say one word in defence of themselves, and of what they have before prophesied; every thing in providence being contrary to what they had said, and agreeable to the words of the true prophets; or they shall…”
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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
“cover their lips--The Orientals prided themselves on the moustache and beard ("upper lip," Margin). To cover it, therefore, was a token of shame and sorrow (Lev 13:45; Eze 24:17, Eze 24:22). "They shall be so ashamed of themselves as not to dare to open their mouths or boast of the name of prophet" [CALVIN]. there is no answer of God--They shall no more profess to have responses from God, being struck dumb with calamities (Mic 3:6).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“They shall cover their lips - Literally, the hair of the upper lip . This was an action enjoined on lepers Leviticus 13:45, and a token of mourning Ezekiel 24:17, Ezekiel 24:22; a token then of sorrow and uncleanness. With their lips they had lied, and now they should cover their lips, as men dumb and ashamed. “For there is no answer of God,” as these deceivers had pretended to have. When all things shall come contrary to what they had promised, it shall be clear that God did not send them. And having plainly no answer of God, they shall not dare to feign one then. Jerome: “Then not even the devils shall receive power to deceive them by their craft. The oracles shall be dumb; the unclean…”
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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
“The seers - So called by the deceived people. Cover their lips - Mourners did thus, Eze 24:17, Eze 24:22. So these shall mourn and pine in their shame. No answer - Because the answer they had formerly, pretended to be from God, now appears not to have been from him. Micah 3:8”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the seers: Exo 8:18, Exo 8:19, Exo 9:11; Sa1 9:9; Isa 44:25, Isa 47:12-14; Dan 2:9-11; Zac 13:4; Ti2 3:8, Ti2 3:9 cover: Lev 13:45; Eze 24:17, Eze 24:22 lips: Heb. upper lip no: Sa1 14:37, Sa1 28:6, Sa1 28:15; Psa 74:9; Amo 8:11 Micah 3:8”
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Related study paths

Read Micah 3 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification