The Meaning of Micah 3:8 Explained

Micah 3:8

KJV: But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

YLT: And yet I have been full of power by the Spirit of Jehovah, And of judgment, and of might, To declare to Jacob his transgression, And to Israel his sin.

Darby: But truly I am filled with power by the Spirit of Jehovah, and with judgment and with might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

ASV: But 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But truly  I am full  of power  by the spirit  of the LORD,  and of judgment,  and of might,  to declare  unto Jacob  his transgression,  and to Israel  his sin. 

What does Micah 3:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

In contrast to the false prophets who were full of greed (cf. Acts 5:3), Micah claimed to be full of spiritual power (not ecstasy) as a result of God"s Spirit. He virtually claimed that his prophecies were inspired. This statement also implies that Micah experienced continuous empowerment by the Holy Spirit as a prophet (cf. Ezekiel 2:2; Ezekiel 3:12; Ezekiel 3:14). Whereas the Spirit empowered some Old Testament servants of the Lord only temporarily (cf. Judges 3:10; Judges 6:34; Judges 11:29; Judges 13:25; Judges 14:6; Judges 14:19; Judges 15:14; 1 Samuel 16:14), He apparently empowered others, including most of the writing prophets, more or less continuously (cf. Numbers 11:17; 1 Samuel 11:6; 1 Samuel 16:13). [1] Micah followed the will of God, and God"s Spirit filled him (cf. Ephesians 5:18). Justice marked his pronouncements (cf. Micah 3:1-3; Micah 3:5) and courage his ministry (cf. Micah 3:4; Micah 3:6-7; cf. Acts 4:13). He did not tailor his prophecies to his honorarium or fear what people might withhold from him if his message was negative (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:2-6). His ministry was to declare the sins of the Israelites (as well as their future hope), and he fulfilled it faithfully and boldly.

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 3:8 mean?

But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of Yahweh and of justice and might to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin -
וְאוּלָ֗ם אָנֹכִ֞י מָלֵ֤אתִי כֹ֙חַ֙ אֶת־ ר֣וּחַ יְהוָ֔ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּגְבוּרָ֑ה לְהַגִּ֤יד לְיַֽעֲקֹב֙ פִּשְׁע֔וֹ וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חַטָּאתֽוֹ ס

וְאוּלָ֗ם  But  truly 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אוּלָם  
Sense: but, but indeed (a strong adversative).
מָלֵ֤אתִי  am  full 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.
כֹ֙חַ֙  of  power 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּחַ 
Sense: strength, power, might.
ר֣וּחַ  the  Spirit 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
יְהוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט  and  of  justice 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
וּגְבוּרָ֑ה  and  might 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: גְּבוּרָה  
Sense: strength, might.
לְהַגִּ֤יד  to  declare 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
לְיַֽעֲקֹב֙  to  Jacob 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
פִּשְׁע֔וֹ  his  transgression 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: פֶּשַׁע  
Sense: transgression, rebellion.
וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  and  to  Israel 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
חַטָּאתֽוֹ  his  sin 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חַטָּאָה 
Sense: sin, sinful.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation