Micah 6:7

7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

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Micah 6:7 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
English Standard Version (ESV)
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
New Living Translation (NLT)
7 Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins?
The Message Bible (MSG)
7 Would God be impressed with thousands of rams, with buckets and barrels of olive oil? Would he be moved if I sacrificed my firstborn child, my precious baby, to cancel my sin?
American Standard Version (ASV)
7 will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams, [or] with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams or with endless streams of olive oil? Should I give him my firstborn child because of my rebellious acts? Should I give him my young child for my sin?
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
7 Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousand streams of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the child of my body for my own sin?
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams? Will he take delight in 10,000 rivers of olive oil? Should we offer our oldest sons for the wrong things we've done? Should we sacrifice our own children to pay for our sins?"

Micah 6:7 Meaning and Commentary

Micah 6:7

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams
If single burnt offerings of bullocks and heifers will not do, will rams, and thousands of them, be acceptable to him? if they will, they are at his service, even as many as he pleases; such creatures, as well as oxen, were offered by Balak, ( Numbers 23:1 Numbers 23:2 Numbers 23:4 Numbers 23:29 Numbers 23:30 ) ; [or] with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
for meat offerings, as Jarchi, in which oil was used: this is a hyperbolical expression, as Kimchi rightly observes; suggesting that he was willing to be at any expenses, even the most extravagant, if he could but gain his point, and get the God of Israel on his side. Some render it, "ten thousands of fat valleys" F4; abounding with corn, and wine, and oil; the produce of which, had he so many, he could freely part with, could he but obtain his end; see ( Job 20:17 ) ; shall I give my firstborn [for] my transgression, the fruit of my body
[for] the sin of my soul?
his Son, his firstborn, his own flesh and blood, to make atonement for his sins and transgressions; this betrays the person speaking. The people of Israel, though they were sometimes guilty of this horrid, unnatural, and abominable sin, in the height of their degeneracy and apostasy, as to sacrifice their children to Moloch; yet when convinced of their sins, and humbling themselves before God for them, even though but in a hypocritical way, could never be so weak and foolish, so impious and audacious, as to propose that to God, which they knew was so contrary to his will, and so abominable in his sight, ( Leviticus 18:21 ) ; but this comes well enough from a Heathen prince, with whom it was the, height of his devotion and religion, and the greatest sacrifice he thought he could offer up to God; for there is a climax, a gradation in the words from lesser things to greater; and this is the greatest of all, and what was done among the Heathens, ( 2 Kings 17:31 ) ; and was afterwards done by a king of Moab, ( 2 Kings 3:26 2 Kings 3:27 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F4 (Nmv ylxn twbbrb) "in decem millibus vallium pinguium", Munster.

Micah 6:7 In-Context

5 My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.”
6 With what shall I come before the LORDand bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
9 Listen! The LORD is calling to the city— and to fear your name is wisdom— “Heed the rod and the One who appointed it.

Cross References 4

  • 1. S Isaiah 1:11; S Isaiah 40:16
  • 2. Psalms 50:8-10
  • 3. S Leviticus 18:21; S 2 Kings 3:27
  • 4. Hosea 5:6; S Amos 5:22; 2 Kings 16:3
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