The Meaning of Micah 3:5 Explained

Micah 3:5

KJV: Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.

YLT: Thus said Jehovah concerning the prophets Who are causing My people to err, Who are biting with their teeth, And have cried 'Peace,' And he who doth not give unto their mouth, They have sanctified against him war.

Darby: Thus saith Jehovah concerning the prophets that cause my people to err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace! but whoso putteth not into their mouths they prepare war against him:

ASV: Thus 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:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thus saith  the LORD  concerning the prophets  that make my people  err,  that bite  with their teeth,  and cry,  Peace;  and he that putteth  not into their mouths,  they even prepare  war  against him. 

What does Micah 3:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord also had a message concerning the false prophets who were misleading His people. The false prophets gave benedictions to those who paid them, but people who did not give them anything received maledictions of doom and gloom (cf. Lamentations 2:14; Jeremiah 6:14). Self-interest motivated these prophets rather than the fear of the Lord (cf. 2 Timothy 4:3).
"It was an ancient and respectable practice for a prophet to accept payment for services rendered to his clients. After all, as Jesus affirmed, "the worker is entitled to his wages" ( Luke 10:7). But with so apparently subjective a craft as prophecy there was ever a temptation. Why not make the message match the customer"s pocket?" [1]
Even today some ministers favor those who treat them well and neglect, or worse, those who do not.
"Few men are as pitiable as those who claim to have a call from God yet tailor their sermons to please others. Their first rule is "Don"t rock the boat"; their second is "Give people what they want."" [2]

Context Summary

Micah 3:1-12 - The Punishment Of Avarice
The princes who as magistrates should have administered justice to others sat around the caldron, casting in the very flesh and skin of the people whom they were set to rule. Their perversion of justice would lead to their inability to distinguish between evil and good. Sin not only sears the conscience but darkens the understanding, Ephesians 4:18. Their punishment would be like their guilt. As they had refused the cry of the oppressed, so would God refuse theirs. The false prophets had wilfully misled the people. Their one desire was to get food. For those who provided it, they uttered peace; for those who opposed them, war. Therefore they would be left without a vision; God's Spirit would cease to strive. How great the contrast between them and Micah, who spoke with the consciousness of spiritual power! Oh, that every minister and teacher of God's holy gospel were able to utter Micah 3:8! It may be ours through the Holy Spirit. [source]

Chapter Summary: Micah 3

1  The cruelty of the princes
5  The falsehood of the prophets
8  The false security of them both

What do the individual words in Micah 3:5 mean?

Thus says Yahweh concerning the prophets who make stray - my people while they chew with their teeth and who chant Peace but nothing who puts into their mouths and who prepare against him war
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה עַל־ הַנְּבִיאִ֖ים הַמַּתְעִ֣ים אֶת־ עַמִּ֑י הַנֹּשְׁכִ֤ים בְּשִׁנֵּיהֶם֙ וְקָרְא֣וּ שָׁל֔וֹם וַאֲשֶׁר֙ לֹא־ יִתֵּ֣ן עַל־ פִּיהֶ֔ם וְקִדְּשׁ֥וּ עָלָ֖יו מִלְחָמָֽה

כֹּ֚ה  Thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֣ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
עַל־  concerning 
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.
הַנְּבִיאִ֖ים  the  prophets 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
הַמַּתְעִ֣ים  who  make  stray 
Parse: Article, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural
Root: תָּעָה  
Sense: to err, wander, go astray, stagger.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עַמִּ֑י  my  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הַנֹּשְׁכִ֤ים  while  they  chew 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: נָשַׁךְ 
Sense: to bite.
בְּשִׁנֵּיהֶם֙  with  their  teeth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc, third person masculine plural
Root: שֵׁן  
Sense: tooth, ivory.
וְקָרְא֣וּ  and  who  chant 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
שָׁל֔וֹם  Peace 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
לֹא־  nothing 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִתֵּ֣ן  who  puts 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
עַל־  into 
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.
פִּיהֶ֔ם  their  mouths 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
וְקִדְּשׁ֥וּ  and  who  prepare 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: קָדַשׁ  
Sense: to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate.
עָלָ֖יו  against  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
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.
מִלְחָמָֽה  war 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.