Micah 3:8

As for me, however, I am filled with power by the Spirit of the LORD, with justice and courage, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Micah speaks as a true prophet confronting Israel, directly contrasting his message with the silenced false seers and diviners of verse 7. He addresses the nation of Jacob and Israel immediately before turning his rebuke to the corrupt rulers in verse 9.

The words — The Hebrew מָלֵאתִי כֹחַ (ma.Le.ti kho.ach) literally means "I am full of power," modified by ר֣וּחַ יְהוָ֔ה (Ru.ach Yah.weh), "the spirit of Yahweh," to specify the source of his authority. The conjunction וְ/אוּלָ֗ם (ve./'u.Lam), "but/however," signals a sharp pivot from the preceding verse's description of empty divination.

The thread — This Spirit-empowered proclamation aligns with Isaiah 58:1's command to cry aloud without restraint, while Paul later cites the same Spirit-derived power as the basis for his preaching in 1 Corinthians 2:4 and 2:12.

Why it lands — The text states that prophetic boldness and the declaration of national sin originate from God's Spirit rather than human strategy, requiring the reader to accept divine correction without relying on persuasive rhetoric or social standing.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְאוּלָ֗םve./'u.Lamand/ but אָנֹכִ֞י'a.no.KhiI מָלֵ֤אתִיma.Le.tiI am full כֹ֙חַ֙kho.achpower אֶת־'et-with ר֣וּחַRu.ach[the] spirit of יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh וּמִשְׁפָּ֖טu./mish.Patand/ justice וּגְבוּרָ֑הu./ge.vu.Rahand/ might לְהַגִּ֤ידle./ha.Gidto/ declare לְיַֽעֲקֹב֙le./ya.'a.Koto/ Jacob פִּשְׁע֔וֹpish.'/Otransgression/ its וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לu./le./Yis.ra.'Eland/ to/ Israel חַטָּאתֽוֹ׃ סcha.ta.T/osin/ its

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Isaiah 58:1 “Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins.
1 Corinthians 2:12 We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
1 Corinthians 2:4 My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.
Job 32:18 For I am full of words, and my spirit within me compels me.
Jeremiah 15:19 Therefore this is what the LORD says: “If you return, I will restore you; you will stand in My presence. And if you speak words that are noble instead of worthless, you will be My spokesman. It is they who must turn to you, but you must not turn to them.
Ezekiel 16:2 “Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her abominations
Ezekiel 43:10 As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, so that they may be ashamed of their iniquities. Let them measure the plan,
Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!
Acts 7:54 On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.