The Meaning of Micah 7:18 Explained

Micah 7:18

KJV: Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

YLT: Who is a God like Thee? taking away iniquity, And passing by the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance, He hath not retained for ever His anger, Because He -- He delighteth in kindness.

Darby: Who is a God like unto thee, that forgiveth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in loving-kindness.

ASV: Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth over the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in lovingkindness.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who [is] a God  like unto thee, that pardoneth  iniquity,  and passeth by  the transgression  of the remnant  of his heritage?  he retaineth  not his anger  for ever,  because he delighteth  [in] mercy. 

What does Micah 7:18 Mean?

Study Notes

remnant
thee Remnant.
Jeremiah 15:11-21 ; Jeremiah 23:3-8 ; Jeremiah 31:7 ; Jeremiah 31:14 ; Isaiah 1:9 ; Ezekiel 6:8 ; Ezekiel 8:11-14 ; Ezekiel 9:4 ; Ezekiel 11:16-21 ; Joel 2:32 ; Amos 5:15 ; Ezekiel 8:11-14 ; Micah 4:1 ; Micah 5:3 ; Micah 7:18 ; Zephaniah 2:7 ; Zephaniah 3:13 ; Haggai 1:14 ; Zechariah 8:6 ; Malachi 3:16-18 ; Romans 11:5 . (See Scofield " Romans 11:5 ") .
redeem (See Scofield " Isaiah 59:20 ") See Scofield " Exodus 14:30 ".
thee Marg
redeem
thee Remnant.
Jeremiah 15:11-21 ; Jeremiah 23:3-8 ; Jeremiah 31:7 ; Jeremiah 31:14 ; Isaiah 1:9 ; Ezekiel 6:8 ; Ezekiel 8:11-14 ; Ezekiel 9:4 ; Ezekiel 11:16-21 ; Joel 2:32 ; Amos 5:15 ; Micah 2:12 ; Micah 4:1 ; Micah 5:3 ; Micah 7:18 ; Zephaniah 2:7 ; Zephaniah 3:13 ; Haggai 1:14 ; Zechariah 8:6 ; Malachi 3:16-18 ; Romans 11:5 . (See Scofield " Romans 11:5 ") .
redeem (See Scofield " Isaiah 59:20 ") See Scofield " Exodus 14:30 ".
redeem
thee Remnant.
Jeremiah 15:11-21 ; Jeremiah 23:3-8 ; Jeremiah 31:7 ; Jeremiah 31:14 ; Isaiah 1:9 ; Ezekiel 6:8 ; Micah 2:12 ; Ezekiel 9:4 ; Ezekiel 11:16-21 ; Joel 2:32 ; Amos 5:15 ; Micah 2:12 ; Micah 4:1 ; Micah 5:3 ; Micah 7:18 ; Zephaniah 2:7 ; Zephaniah 3:13 ; Haggai 1:14 ; Zechariah 8:6 ; Malachi 3:16-18 ; Romans 11:5 . (See Scofield " Romans 11:5 ") .
redeem (See Scofield " Isaiah 59:20 ") See Scofield " Exodus 14:30 ".

Verse Meaning

The prophet praised Yahweh as a God who is unique in that He pardons the rebellious sins of the surviving remnant of His people. "Who is a God like You?" is another rhetorical question (cf. Exodus 15:11; Psalm 35:10; Psalm 71:19; Psalm 77:13; Psalm 89:6; Psalm 113:5), and it may be a play on Micah"s name, which means, "Who is like Yahweh?" No one is just like Him! Pardoning such grave sins is contrary to human behavior, but Yahweh would not retain His anger against the Israelites forever (cf. Psalm 103:9). He will pardon them (cf. Micah 1:5; Micah 3:8; Micah 6:7; Exodus 34:6-7) because He delights to be faithful to His love (Heb. hesed) for them (cf. Micah 7:20).

Context Summary

Micah 7:1-20 - God's Compassion For An Erring People
Things had come to an awful pass in the favored city. Oppression, bribery, and bloodshed, were everywhere in the ascendant. Men wrought evil with both hands. Husbands could not trust their wives. At such a time there is no refuge for God's children save in God, Micah 7:7-13.
When we have learned our lesson we find God appearing for our help. He brings forth to the light and vindicates us. Then those that hated us, and suggested that He had forsaken, will be compelled to admit that He has completely vindicated us from their reproach. Be of good cheer, believer; wait for God. He will bring out thy righteousness as the light and thy judgment as the noonday, Micah 7:10-12.
Next, the prophet pleads with Israel's Shepherd to repeat the marvels of the Exodus. He knows that God will not only pardon iniquities but subdue them, trampling them beneath His feet. This anticipates the Ascension, Ephesians 1:20-23. When a stone sinks into ocean depths, it cannot be recovered; and when sin is forgiven God never recalls it either here or hereafter. [source]

Chapter Summary: Micah 7

1  The church, complaining of her small number,
3  and the general corruption,
5  puts her confidence not in man, but in God
8  She triumphs over her enemies
14  She prays to God
15  God comforts her by promises of confusion to her enemies;
18  and by his mercies

What do the individual words in Micah 7:18 mean?

Who [is] a God like You Pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage not He does retain forever His anger because delights [in] mercy He
מִי־ אֵ֣ל כָּמ֗וֹךָ נֹשֵׂ֤א עָוֺן֙ וְעֹבֵ֣ר עַל־ פֶּ֔שַׁע לִשְׁאֵרִ֖ית ؟ נַחֲלָת֑וֹ לֹא־ הֶחֱזִ֤יק לָעַד֙ אַפּ֔וֹ כִּֽי־ חָפֵ֥ץ חֶ֖סֶד הֽוּא

מִי־  Who  [is] 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
אֵ֣ל  a  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
כָּמ֗וֹךָ  like  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: כְּמֹו  
Sense: like, as, the like of which conj.
נֹשֵׂ֤א  Pardoning 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
עָוֺן֙  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
וְעֹבֵ֣ר  and  passing 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
עַל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
פֶּ֔שַׁע  the  transgression 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּשַׁע  
Sense: transgression, rebellion.
לִשְׁאֵרִ֖ית  of  the  remnant 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: שְׁאֵרִית  
Sense: rest, residue, remainder, remnant.
؟ נַחֲלָת֑וֹ  of  His  heritage 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
הֶחֱזִ֤יק  He  does  retain 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
לָעַד֙  forever 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַד  
Sense: perpetuity, for ever, continuing future.
אַפּ֔וֹ  His  anger 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
כִּֽי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
חָפֵ֥ץ  delights 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: חָפֵץ 
Sense: to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with.
חֶ֖סֶד  [in]  mercy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.