Can I forget any longer the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is accursed?
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about illegal scales; it highlights how accumulating wealth through any form of injustice ("treasures of wickedness") is not truly valuable but an "abomination" that draws God's wrath. The "scant measure" isn't just about shortchanging people in business, but a metaphor for how all their dishonest dealings leave them spiritually impoverished and under God's judgment.
Can I forget any longer the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is accursed?
English Standard Version (ESV)
God, through the prophet Micah, confronts the people of Israel who are still clinging to ill-gotten gains despite His warnings. The prophet poses sharp questions, highlighting their continued practice of dishonesty—hoarding wealth gained through wicked means and using fraudulent, "scant" measures in trade, which are detestable to God. This verse directly follows God's call for justice and mercy, emphasizing that their outward religious acts mean nothing if they persist in these corrupt practices that exploit others.
Imagine finding ill-gotten gains hidden away, not just money, but a whole lifestyle built on deceit. Micah calls these 'treasures of wickedness.' What does that really mean?
Micah isn't just talking about a thief's stash. "Treasures of wickedness" refers to wealth accumulated through unjust practices – like cheating in business or exploiting others. It’s wealth that has a stain on it, built by ignoring God's commands to be fair and honest.
We often think of God's judgment as grand events. But Micah points to something small, something everyday, as deeply offensive to God: a 'scant measure.'
The 'scant measure' was a specific way people cheated others in trade, using a smaller measure than required when selling goods. This deceit was not a minor infraction; it was "abominable" – provoking God's wrath.
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Understand the original words
otserot resha' · Hebrew Noun phrase
Wealth, resources, or lifestyle gained through unjust, exploitative, or dishonest means, which stand under God's judgment.
Micah's sharp question about 'treasures of wickedness' and 'scant measure' hits home in an era where unjust economic practices and the looming threat of Assyrian conquest were deeply intertwined. The prophet reminds his audience that God sees the ill-gotten gains and the fraudulent dealings, even as empires rise and fall.
c. 760-710 BC— this verse
Micah's Prophetic Ministry
Micah, a prophet from the Judean town of Moresheth, delivers his prophecies during a period of significant social injustice and political turmoil in both Israel and Judah. His ministry often occurs during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah, and Pekah and Hoshea in the northern kingdom of Israel.
c. 8th century BC
Assyrian Imperial Expansion
The Neo-Assyrian Empire, under powerful kings like Tiglath-Pileser III and Sargon II, expands its influence and military might across the Near East. This imperial pressure creates instability and forces vassal states like Israel and Judah into difficult political and economic situations.
c. 734-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War
The kingdoms of Syria (Aram) and Israel (Samaria) attempt to force Judah into an anti-Assyrian alliance, laying siege to Jerusalem. King Ahaz of Judah, instead of trusting God, appeals to Assyria for help, marking a significant shift towards Assyrian dominance.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Samaria, falls to the Assyrian army under Sargon II. This event leads to the exile of many Israelites and serves as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience and its precarious political position.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Campaign in Judah
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, conquering many fortified cities and besieging Jerusalem. While Jerusalem is miraculously spared (as described in 2 Kings 19), the event causes significant upheaval and fear.
This passage directly mirrors Micah's accusation, describing merchants who long for the Sabbath to end so they can cheat people by using a small 'ephah' measure, highlighting the widespread sin of dishonest trade.
Proverbs 11:1This verse states that dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, reinforcing the spiritual gravity of the 'scant measure' that Micah condemns and showing it's a consistent theme throughout wisdom literature.
Luke 16:10-11Jesus uses the analogy of dishonest wealth to teach that if we can't be trusted with earthly riches gained unjustly, we won't be trusted with true spiritual blessings, connecting ill-gotten gains to a lack of faithfulness before God.
James 5:1-3James issues a stern warning to the rich who have hoarded wealth through injustice, echoing Micah's condemnation of 'treasures of wickedness' and prophesying that this wealth will ultimately testify against them and consume them.
clarkeMicah 6:10: "Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?"
Are there yet the treasures of wickedness - Such as false balances and deceitful weights. See on Hosea 12:7 (note). This shows that they were not Doing Justly. They did not give to each his due.
jfbMicah 6:10: "Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?"
- Are there yet—notwithstanding all My warnings. Is there to be no end of acquiring treasures by wickedness? Jehovah is speaking (Mic 6:9).scant measure … abominable—(Pr 11:1; Am 8:5).
This verse isn't just about illegal scales; it highlights how accumulating wealth through any form of injustice ("treasures of wickedness") is not truly valuable but an "abomination" that draws God's wrath. The "scant measure" isn't just about shortchanging people in business, but a metaphor for how all their dishonest dealings leave them spiritually impoverished and under God's judgment.
God, through the prophet Micah, confronts the people of Israel who are still clinging to ill-gotten gains despite His warnings. The prophet poses sharp questions, highlighting their continued practice of dishonesty—hoarding wealth gained through wicked means and using fraudulent, "scant" measures in trade, which are detestable to God. This verse directly follows God's call for justice and mercy, emphasizing that their outward religious acts mean nothing if they persist in these corrupt practices that exploit others.
God, through the prophet Micah, confronts the people of Israel who are still clinging to ill-gotten gains despite His warnings. The prophet poses sharp questions, highlighting their continued practice of dishonesty—hoarding wealth gained through wicked means and using fraudulent, "scant" measures in trade, which are detestable to God. This verse directly follows God's call for justice and mercy, emphasizing that their outward religious acts mean nothing if they persist in these corrupt practices that exploit others.
"Can I forget any longer the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is accursed?" — This verse isn't just about illegal scales; it highlights how accumulating wealth through any form of injustice ("treasures of wickedness") is not truly valuable but an "abomination" that draws God's…
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Last reviewed October 2026