Micah 7:18

Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Micah speaks on behalf of the humbled remnant of Israel, addressing God directly at the moment of their national collapse and trembling return (7:17). It is a prayer of recognition following confession.

The words — נֹשֵ֤א (no.Se') literally means "bearing up" or "carrying," not merely erasing; the verse pairs it with two distinct sin-terms, עָוֹן ('a.Von, iniquity) and פֶּ֔שַׁע (Pe.sha', transgression), marking the breadth of what is pardoned.

The thread — Isaiah 43:25 and 44:22 echo the same "blotting out" of transgressions for God's own sake; Ephesians 2:4 grounds the "delights in loving devotion" motif in God's richness in mercy.

Why it lands — It asks the reader to stop treating God as a bookkeeper of debts and to reckon with what He actually delights in: loyal love, not the retention of anger.

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

מִי־mi-who?אֵ֣ל'el[is] a God כָּמ֗וֹךָka.Mo./khalike/ you נֹשֵׂ֤אno.Se'[who] forgives עָוֹן֙'a.Voniniquity וְעֹבֵ֣רve./'o.Verand/ [who] passes עַל־'al-over פֶּ֔שַׁעPe.sha'transgression לִשְׁאֵרִ֖יתli/sh.'e.Ritto/ [the] remnant of נַחֲלָת֑וֹna.cha.la.T/oinheritance/ his לֹא־lo'-not הֶחֱזִ֤יקhe.che.Zikhe keeps hold of לָעַד֙la./'Adfor/ ever אַפּ֔וֹ'a.P/oanger/ his כִּֽי־ki-for חָפֵ֥ץcha.Fetz[is one] desirous of חֶ֖סֶדChe.sedcovenant loyalty הֽוּא׃Hu'he

King James Version

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

Cross-references

Isaiah 43:25 I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
Ephesians 2:4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
Psalms 103:8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.
Jeremiah 50:20 In those days and at that time, declares the LORD, a search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none, and for Judah’s sins, but they will not be found; for I will forgive the remnant I preserve.
Acts 13:38 Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
Jeremiah 32:41 Yes, I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.
Exodus 15:11 Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?
Psalms 130:7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is loving devotion, and with Him is redemption in abundance.
Jeremiah 3:12 Go, proclaim this message toward the north: ‘Return, O faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will no longer look on you with anger, for I am merciful,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will not be angry forever.