What does prophesy ye not mean in this passage?

When the people say, “Prophesy ye not,” they are basically telling God’s true messengers to be quiet. They do not want to hear warnings about sin or coming judgment. They only want messages that make them feel safe and comfortable. God answers this by showing that their problem is not the prophets, but their own unwilling hearts. By trying to silence correction, they are shutting their ears to the only words that could have helped and healed them if they had walked uprightly.

What does is the Spirit of the Lord straitened mean here?

The question “Is the Spirit of the Lord straitened?” is God’s way of asking, “Do you really think you can limit or control what I say?” The people seemed to think they could decide what kind of messages God should give them, as if His Spirit must always speak smooth words. God reminds them that His words are always good for those who live uprightly. If His words sound harsh to them, it shows more about their sin than about His character.

Why does God say this is not your rest in this passage?

When God says, “Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest,” He is warning that the land they live in is now polluted by their sin. It used to be a place of promise and safety, but their greed and cruelty have defiled it. Because they oppress the poor and refuse to listen to His word, the same land they trusted in will not protect them. Instead of peace, it will bring destruction, and they will be forced to leave it in judgment.

How were the people oppressing others according to Micah?

God says His own people have risen up as an enemy against each other. Instead of protecting their neighbors, they strip the robe and garment from those who pass by peacefully, as if they were enemies in war. They drive women out of their pleasant houses and take away what God calls His glory from their children, likely their land and means of living. In short, the powerful are using their strength to rob and crush the weak, not to care for them.

Who is the man that prophesies of wine and strong drink?

The man who promises “wine and strong drink” is a picture of a false prophet who tells people exactly what they want to hear. He speaks of pleasure, ease, and comfort instead of calling them to repent of sin. God says that if someone comes with that kind of message, he will be welcomed as the prophet of this people. This shows the people would rather follow lies that feed their desires than listen to hard truths that could lead them back to God.

What does this passage teach about God’s character?

This passage shows that God’s Spirit is not weak or changeable, and His words are good for those who walk uprightly. He cares deeply about justice and how people treat the weak. He does not overlook the way the poor, women, and children are harmed. At the same time, He lets people taste the results of their choices: if they reject true prophets, He allows them to follow flattering voices. God is holy, fair, and faithful to what He has said.

Why does God let false prophets lead the people in this passage?

The passage shows that when people stubbornly reject God’s true word, He may stop sending them faithful messengers and let them have the kind of leaders they prefer. They say, “Prophesy ye not,” so God lets them follow a man who speaks lies about wine and strong drink. This is part of their judgment. Instead of being forced to listen to truth they hate, they are handed over to comforting lies, which only lead them deeper into sin and closer to destruction.

How can this passage about Micah apply to believers today?

This passage warns against wanting only soft, pleasant messages from God while ignoring anything that corrects us. It also shows how serious it is to use power to harm the weak. Today, believers can check their hearts: Do we resist parts of God’s word that confront our sin? Do we prefer teachers who never challenge us? Are we using what we have to help or to oppress? God’s words still do good to those who walk uprightly and listen with humble hearts.

Mic.2.6

Micah 2:6

KJV

Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.

Reproof of False Prophets

6 Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.

¶ O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the Spirit of the Lord straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?

Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war.

The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.

Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.

If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.