Fragments cumulatively containing all verses of this chapter were found among the
Dead Sea Scrolls, including 4Q82 (4QXIIg; 25 BCE) with extant verses 1‑3, 20;[6][7][8] and
Wadi Murabba'at Minor Prophets (Mur88; MurXIIProph; 75-100 CE) with extant verses 1–20.[7][9]
"For the son dishonoureth": Septuagint, ἀτιμάζει: Vulgate, contumeliam facit; literally, "treats as a fool", "despises" (
Deuteronomy 32:6, 15). (Also see
Matthew 10:21, 35, etc.).[13]
"men of his own house": his sons and his servants, who should honour his person, defend his property, and promote his interest; but, instead of that, do everything that is injurious to him. These words are referred to by Christ, and used by him to describe the times in which he lived,
Matthew 10:35; and the prophet may be thought to have an eye to the same, while he is settling forth the badness of his own times; and the Jews seem to think he had a regard to them, since they say,[14] that, when the Messiah comes, "the son shall dishonour his father", etc. plainly having this passage in view; and the; whole agrees with the times of Christ, in which there were few good men; it was a wicked age, an adulterous generation of men, he lived among; great corruption there was in princes, priests, and people; in the civil and ecclesiastical rulers, and in all ranks and degrees of men; and he that ate bread with Christ, even
Judas Iscariot, lifted up his heel against him. The times in which Micah the prophet here speaks of seem to be the times of
Ahaz, who was a wicked prince; and the former part of
Hezekiah's reign, before a reformation was started, or at least brought about, in whose reigns he prophesied; though some have thought he here predicts the sad times in the reign of Manasseh, which is not so probable.[15]
Verse 18
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity,
and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?
"Who is a God like unto thee? The question seems to recall the prophet's own name (micha-yah), which means, "Who is like Jehovah?" and the clause in Moses' song (
Exodus 15:11), "Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods?" Such comparisons are made from the standpoint of the nations who believe in the real existence of their false gods.[13]
"That pardoneth", and beareth and taketh away also, "and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage", that is, His heritage, which is a remnant still when "the rest are blinded"
Romans 11:7; and this, not of its merits but of His mercy; since it is not His nature to "retain His anger forever"; not for anything in them, but "because He delighteth in mercy", as He saith, "I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever"
Jeremiah 3:12. "I am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins"
Isaiah 43:25. Although God for a time is angry with His elect and chastens them mercifully in this life, yet in the end He has compassion on them and gives them everlasting consolations.[17]
"The remnant" — who shall be permitted to survive the previous judgment: the elect remnant of grace (
Micah 4:7;
5:3, 7, 8).[18]
^
abJoseph S. Exell; Henry Donald Maurice Spence-Jones (Editors). The
Pulpit Commentary. 23 volumes. First publication: 1890. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
public domain.
^John Gill. John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible. Exposition of the Old and New Testament. Published in 1746-1763. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
public domain.
^Barnes, AlbertNotes on the Old Testament. London, Blackie & Son, 1884. Reprint, Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
public domain.
Fragments cumulatively containing all verses of this chapter were found among the
Dead Sea Scrolls, including 4Q82 (4QXIIg; 25 BCE) with extant verses 1‑3, 20;[6][7][8] and
Wadi Murabba'at Minor Prophets (Mur88; MurXIIProph; 75-100 CE) with extant verses 1–20.[7][9]
"For the son dishonoureth": Septuagint, ἀτιμάζει: Vulgate, contumeliam facit; literally, "treats as a fool", "despises" (
Deuteronomy 32:6, 15). (Also see
Matthew 10:21, 35, etc.).[13]
"men of his own house": his sons and his servants, who should honour his person, defend his property, and promote his interest; but, instead of that, do everything that is injurious to him. These words are referred to by Christ, and used by him to describe the times in which he lived,
Matthew 10:35; and the prophet may be thought to have an eye to the same, while he is settling forth the badness of his own times; and the Jews seem to think he had a regard to them, since they say,[14] that, when the Messiah comes, "the son shall dishonour his father", etc. plainly having this passage in view; and the; whole agrees with the times of Christ, in which there were few good men; it was a wicked age, an adulterous generation of men, he lived among; great corruption there was in princes, priests, and people; in the civil and ecclesiastical rulers, and in all ranks and degrees of men; and he that ate bread with Christ, even
Judas Iscariot, lifted up his heel against him. The times in which Micah the prophet here speaks of seem to be the times of
Ahaz, who was a wicked prince; and the former part of
Hezekiah's reign, before a reformation was started, or at least brought about, in whose reigns he prophesied; though some have thought he here predicts the sad times in the reign of Manasseh, which is not so probable.[15]
Verse 18
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity,
and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?
"Who is a God like unto thee? The question seems to recall the prophet's own name (micha-yah), which means, "Who is like Jehovah?" and the clause in Moses' song (
Exodus 15:11), "Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods?" Such comparisons are made from the standpoint of the nations who believe in the real existence of their false gods.[13]
"That pardoneth", and beareth and taketh away also, "and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage", that is, His heritage, which is a remnant still when "the rest are blinded"
Romans 11:7; and this, not of its merits but of His mercy; since it is not His nature to "retain His anger forever"; not for anything in them, but "because He delighteth in mercy", as He saith, "I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever"
Jeremiah 3:12. "I am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins"
Isaiah 43:25. Although God for a time is angry with His elect and chastens them mercifully in this life, yet in the end He has compassion on them and gives them everlasting consolations.[17]
"The remnant" — who shall be permitted to survive the previous judgment: the elect remnant of grace (
Micah 4:7;
5:3, 7, 8).[18]
^
abJoseph S. Exell; Henry Donald Maurice Spence-Jones (Editors). The
Pulpit Commentary. 23 volumes. First publication: 1890. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
public domain.
^John Gill. John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible. Exposition of the Old and New Testament. Published in 1746-1763. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
public domain.
^Barnes, AlbertNotes on the Old Testament. London, Blackie & Son, 1884. Reprint, Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
public domain.