Micah 1:12

12 Those who live in Maroth^[a] writhe in pain, waiting for relief, because disaster has come from the LORD, even to the gate of Jerusalem.

Micah 1:12 in Other Translations

12 For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.

12 For the inhabitants of Maroth wait anxiously for good, because disaster has come down from the LORD to the gate of Jerusalem.

12 The people of Maroth anxiously wait for relief, but only bitterness awaits them as the LORD ’s judgment reaches even to the gates of Jerusalem.

12 The villagers of Bittertown wait in vain for sweet peace. Harsh judgment has come from God and entered Peace City.

12 For the inhabitant of Maroth waiteth anxiously for good, because evil is come down from Jehovah unto the gate of Jerusalem.

12 Wait anxiously for good, inhabitants of Maroth. From the LORD disaster will come on the gates of Jerusalem.

12 Though the residents of Maroth anxiously wait for something good, calamity has come from the Lord to the gate of Jerusalem.

12 Those who live in Maroth will groan with pain as they wait for help. That's because the LORD will bring trouble on them. It will reach the very gate of Jerusalem.

Micah 1:12 Meaning and Commentary

Micah 1:12

For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good
Or, "though [they] waited for good" ^F18; expected to have it, yet the reverse befell them: or "verily [they were] grieved for good" ^F19; for the good things they had lost, or were likely to lose; and which they had no more hope of, when they saw Jerusalem in distress. Grotius thinks, by transposition of letters, Ramoth is intended by Maroth, or the many Ramahs which were in Judah and Benjamin; but Hillerus ^F20 is of opinion that Jarmuth is meant, a city of Judah, ( Joshua 15:35 ) ; the word Maroth signifies "bitterness"; see ( Ruth 1:20 ) ; and, according to others, "rough places"; and may design the inhabitants of such places that were in great bitterness and trouble because of the invasion of the enemy, who before that had promised themselves good things, and lived in the expectation of them: but evil came down from the Lord unto the gate of Jerusalem;
meaning the Assyrian army under Sennacherib, which came into the land of Judea by the order, direction, and providence of God, like an overflowing flood; which spread itself over the land, and reached to the very gates of Jerusalem, which was besieged by it, and threatened with destruction: or "because evil came down" that is, "because" of that, the inhabitants of Maroth grieved, or were in pain, as a woman in travail.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (yk) "quamvis".
F19 (bwjl hlx yk) "certe doluit propter bonum", Vatablus; "siquidem doluit", Pagninus, Montanus; "quia doluit propter bonum", Burkius.
F20 Onomast. p. 87, 951.

Micah 1:12 In-Context

10 Tell it not in Gath ; weep not at all. In Beth Ophrahroll in the dust.

11 Pass by naked and in shame, you who live in Shaphir.Those who live in Zaananwill not come out. Beth Ezel is in mourning; it no longer protects you.

12 Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain, waiting for relief, because disaster has come from the LORD, even to the gate of Jerusalem.

13 You who live in Lachish, harness fast horses to the chariot. You are where the sin of Daughter Zion began, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.

14 Therefore you will give parting gifts to Moresheth Gath. The town of Akzib will prove deceptive to the kings of Israel.

Cross References

• 1. Jeremiah 14:19
• 2. Jeremiah 40:2

Footnotes

• [a]. "Maroth" sounds like the Hebrew for "bitter."