The Meaning of Micah 7:3 Explained

Micah 7:3

KJV: That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.

YLT: On the evil are both hands to do it well, The prince is asking -- also the judge -- for recompence, And the great -- he is speaking the mischief of his soul, And they wrap it up.

Darby: Both hands are for evil, to do it well. The prince asketh, and the judge is there for a reward; and the great man uttereth his soul's greed: and together they combine it.

ASV: Their hands are upon that which is evil to do it diligently; the prince asketh, and the judge is ready for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth the evil desire of his soul: thus they weave it together.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That they may do evil  with both hands  earnestly,  the prince  asketh,  and the judge  [asketh] for a reward;  and the great  [man], he uttereth  his mischievous  desire:  so they wrap it up. 

What does Micah 7:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

They were so skillful at doing evil that it seemed they could do it equally well with either hand; they were ambidextrous when it came to sinning. Another view is that ""both hands" refer to "the great man" and the officials next to him.... The king and his depraved minions flagrantly pervert the covenant ..." [1] The leaders always had their hands out to receive a bribe (cf. Micah 3:11). The powerful could expect to get the evil things they wanted because they pulled the necessary strings. These leaders formed networks of conspiracy, like a basket, to entrap the weak.

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 7:3 mean?

Upon evil with both hands that they may successfully do the prince asks [for gifts] and the judge [seeks] a bribe and the great [man] utters evil his desire he so they scheme together
עַל־ הָרַ֤ע כַּפַּ֙יִם֙ לְהֵיטִ֔יב הַשַּׂ֣ר שֹׁאֵ֔ל וְהַשֹּׁפֵ֖ט בַּשִׁלּ֑וּם‪‬‪‬ וְהַגָּד֗וֹל דֹּבֵ֨ר הַוַּ֥ת נַפְשׁ֛וֹ ה֖וּא וַֽיְעַבְּתֽוּהָ

עַל־  Upon 
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.
הָרַ֤ע  evil 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
כַּפַּ֙יִם֙  with  both  hands 
Parse: Noun, fd
Root: כַּף  
Sense: palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand.
לְהֵיטִ֔יב  that  they  may  successfully  do 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: יָטַב  
Sense: to be good, be pleasing, be well, be glad.
הַשַּׂ֣ר  the  prince 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
שֹׁאֵ֔ל  asks  [for  gifts] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁאַל 
Sense: to ask, enquire, borrow, beg.
וְהַשֹּׁפֵ֖ט  and  the  judge  [seeks] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
בַּשִׁלּ֑וּם‪‬‪‬  a  bribe 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שִׁלּוּם  
Sense: requital, reward.
וְהַגָּד֗וֹל  and  the  great  [man] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
דֹּבֵ֨ר  utters 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
הַוַּ֥ת  evil 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: הַוָּה 
Sense: desire.
נַפְשׁ֛וֹ  his  desire 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
וַֽיְעַבְּתֽוּהָ  so  they  scheme  together 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person feminine singular
Root: עָבַת  
Sense: (Piel) to wind, weave, weave together.