Micah 7:17

They will lick the dust like a snake, like reptiles slithering on the ground. They will come trembling from their strongholds in the presence of the LORD our God; they will tremble in fear of You.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet Micah addresses Israel regarding the future submission of hostile nations to Yahweh’s judgment and mercy. The passage contrasts the nations’ present shame with their eventual forced acknowledgment of God’s authority.

The words — The Hebrew יְלַחֲכ֤וּ (ye.la.cha.Khu) literally means “they will lick up,” paired with עָפָר (‘a.Far) for “dust.” The verb יִרְגְּז֖וּ (yir.ge.Zu) denotes “they will quake” or tremble as they exit their fortified places.

The thread — The “licking dust” motif appears in Isaiah 49:23 and Psalms 72:9, while only Psalms 18:45 shares the specific imagery of foreign powers trembling from their strongholds. These parallels trace a consistent biblical pattern of defeated nations acknowledging divine sovereignty.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human power structures cannot withstand divine judgment and must ultimately yield to God’s authority. Readers are called to align their perspective with the nations’ eventual submission, acknowledging God’s mercy alongside His sovereign rule.

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

יְלַחֲכ֤וּye.la.cha.Khuthey will lick up עָפָר֙'a.Fardust כַּנָּחָ֔שׁka./na.Chashlike <the>/ snake כְּזֹחֲלֵ֣יke./zo.cha.Leilike/ [things which] crawl of אֶ֔רֶץ'E.retz[the] earth יִרְגְּז֖וּyir.ge.Zuthey will quake מִמִּסְגְּרֹֽתֵיהֶ֑םmi./mis.ge.ro.tei./Hemfrom/ strongholds/ their אֶל־'el-to יְהוָ֤הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙'e.lo.Hei./nuGod/ our יִפְחָ֔דוּyif.Cha.duthey will be in dread וְיִֽרְא֖וּve./yir.'Uand/ they may be afraid מִמֶּֽךָּ׃mi.Me./kafrom/ you

King James Version

They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the Lord our God, and shall fear because of thee.

Cross-references

Isaiah 49:23 Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.”
Psalms 72:9 May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust.
Psalms 18:45 Foreigners lose heart and come trembling from their strongholds.
Genesis 3:14 So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and every beast of the field! On your belly will you go, and dust you will eat, all the days of your life.
Revelation 6:15 Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
Exodus 15:14 The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the dwellers of Philistia.
Joshua 2:9 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you.
Joshua 9:24 The Gibeonites answered, “Your servants were told clearly that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and wipe out all its inhabitants before you. So we greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we have done this.
1 Samuel 14:11 So the two of them showed themselves to the outpost of the Philistines, who exclaimed, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they were hiding!”
Psalms 9:20 Lay terror upon them, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men. Selah