The Meaning of Micah 4:12 Explained

Micah 4:12

KJV: But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.

YLT: They have not known the thoughts of Jehovah, Nor have they understood His counsel, For He hath gathered them as a sheaf into a threshing-floor.

Darby: But they know not the thoughts of Jehovah, neither understand they his counsel; for he hath gathered them together as the sheaves into the threshing-floor.

ASV: But they know not the thoughts of Jehovah, neither understand they his counsel; for he hath gathered them as the sheaves to the threshing-floor.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But they know  not the thoughts  of the LORD,  neither understand  they his counsel:  for he shall gather  them as the sheaves  into the floor. 

What does Micah 4:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Micah 4:1-13 - The Promise Of Peace
It is not improbable that Isaiah, Micah 2:1-4, and Micah quoted an older prophecy, which in its fullness, is yet to be fulfilled. In the millennial age Israel, in her restored beauty, will be the center of a renovated world. That restoration will bring great glory to God and blessing to mankind, Romans 11:15. The time center of unity is not to be found in creeds or systems, but in the impulse of a common desire after God and common worship. When men have found their unity in God they will renounce war; and the home-life will become the preservative of society, Micah 4:4. Micah 4:6-7 foretell the gathering of Israel to their own land. Babylon probably stands not only for the literal nation by which the Jews were carried into captivity, but for all of the Gentile nations that have afflicted the Chosen People. Notice that God's deliverances discover and help us in the midst of our direct affliction. [source]

Chapter Summary: Micah 4

1  The glory,
5  and the peace of Christ's kingdom
6  The restoration,
11  and victory of the church

What do the individual words in Micah 4:12 mean?

But they not do know the thoughts of Yahweh nor do they understand His counsel for He will gather them like sheaves to the threshing floor
וְהֵ֗מָּה לֹ֤א יָֽדְעוּ֙ מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת יְהוָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א הֵבִ֖ינוּ עֲצָת֑וֹ כִּ֥י קִבְּצָ֖ם כֶּעָמִ֥יר גֹּֽרְנָה

וְהֵ֗מָּה  But  they 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
יָֽדְעוּ֙  do  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת  the  thoughts 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מַחֲשָׁבָה  
Sense: thought, device.
יְהוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְלֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הֵבִ֖ינוּ  do  they  understand 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
עֲצָת֑וֹ  His  counsel 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֵצָה 
Sense: counsel, advice, purpose.
קִבְּצָ֖ם  He  will  gather  them 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: קָבַץ  
Sense: to gather, assemble.
כֶּעָמִ֥יר  like  sheaves 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָמִיר  
Sense: swath, a row of fallen grain.
גֹּֽרְנָה  to  the  threshing  floor 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: גֹּרֶן  
Sense: threshing-floor.