Can I forget any longer the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is accursed? Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet poses these as stinging questions, not for information, but to expose the audacity of still hoarding ill-gotten gains. What's easy to miss is that "scant measure" wasn't just a little less product; it was deliberately shrunken, symbolizing a life deliberately hollowed out from the fullness God intended, earning divine "wrath."
Can I forget any longer the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is accursed? Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights?
English Standard Version (ESV)
God, through the prophet Micah, is calling out the people of Israel for their persistent injustice and greed. Despite previous warnings and the threat of judgment, they continue to accumulate wealth through dishonest practices like using false weights and measures. This verse questions whether they will ever stop these wicked ways that are detestable to God and bring His wrath upon them.
What does it really mean to hoard 'treasures of wickedness'? Micah points to a deeper spiritual bankruptcy that goes beyond mere theft.
Micah 6:10 confronts the people with their ongoing sin, even after God's warnings. The phrase 'treasures of wickedness' isn't just about stolen money or goods. It refers to wealth accumulated through dishonest practices – like using false weights and measures – that fill the homes of the wicked.
The Whole House Corrupted
Commentaries highlight that the 'house of the wicked' becomes a 'treasure-house of wickedness.' It implies that the corruption isn't isolated but permeates the entire dwelling and lifestyle. This wealth, gained through injustice, doesn't bring true security but is a sign of a life steeped in sin.
A Fire Waiting to Consume
This ill-gotten wealth is depicted not as a blessing but as something that will ultimately be consumed, bringing ruin. It's like hoarding fuel for a fire that will inevitably engulf the house.
A 'scant measure' sounds like a small cheat, but God sees it as a profound offense that invites His fierce anger.
The 'scant measure' specifically refers to dishonest practices in trade, like using an 'ephah' (a dry measure) that is smaller than it should be. This was a common way for merchants to defraud customers, giving less of a product than they were paid for.
More Than Just a Bad Deal
Ask a follow-up
This wasn't just a minor inconvenience for buyers; it was 'abominable' – hateful and detestable to God. It represents a fundamental lack of integrity and justice. The measure is not only scant in quantity but 'of leanness,' implying it brings poverty and hardship to those on the receiving end.
A Measure of God's Wrath
Remarkably, the scant measure is also linked to God's wrath. The shortfall in the measure given to others is seen as an addition to the wrath God will bring upon the fraudulent seller. Their dishonesty fills up a measure of divine judgment against themselves.
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.
zakah · Hebrew Verb
To declare righteous or innocent; in a legal context, it signifies a formal pronouncement of not guilty or the release from a charge.
resha' · Hebrew Noun
Refers to moral perversion, injustice, or the active practice of evil that deviates from God’s standards; it often implies an active opposition to His holiness.
mirmah · Hebrew Noun
The practice of misrepresenting the truth; it is frequently associated with fraud, falsehood, and betrayal of trust, standing in direct opposition to God, who is Truth.
Micah's sharp questions echo the condemnations of earlier prophets like Amos, revealing a persistent pattern of greed and injustice. The 'treasures of wickedness' and 'scant measure' weren't just abstract sins but concrete examples of exploitation that God saw and judged, even leading to national calamities like the fall of Samaria.
Late 8th Century BC
Prophetic Ministry of Amos
Amos, a prophet from the southern Kingdom of Judah, prophesies against the northern Kingdom of Israel, denouncing their social injustice, idolatry, and economic exploitation. His message emphasizes God's judgment against these sins, particularly the dishonest business practices of the wealthy.
c. 740-701 BC— this verse
Micah's Prophecy
Micah, prophesying during a tumultuous period that included the Assyrian invasions and the fall of the northern kingdom, delivers his message of judgment and hope. He confronts Judah and Jerusalem with their sins, mirroring many of the same social and economic injustices condemned by Amos.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The capital of the northern Kingdom of Israel, Samaria, falls to the Assyrian Empire under Shalmaneser V and Sargon II. This devastating event serves as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of continued disobedience and injustice.
701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
Under King Sennacherib, the Assyrian army invades Judah and besieges Jerusalem. Though Jerusalem is miraculously spared, the surrounding cities are devastated, highlighting the vulnerability of Judah and the severity of God's judgment.
This passage directly instructs against using dishonest scales and measures, highlighting the long-standing prohibition against the very practices Micah condemns here.
Amos 8:5Amos, another prophet addressing similar issues, explicitly mentions the 'scant ephah' and the desire to return to trading, showing this was a pervasive problem in the Israelite economy.
Proverbs 11:1This verse warns that 'false scales are an abomination to the LORD,' directly echoing Micah's concern about dishonest dealings and God's displeasure with them.
James 5:1-3James directly confronts the wealthy who have 'heaped up treasure in the last days,' pointing to the coming judgment on ill-gotten gains, mirroring Micah's prophetic critique.
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).
The prophet poses these as stinging questions, not for information, but to expose the audacity of still hoarding ill-gotten gains. What's easy to miss is that "scant measure" wasn't just a little less product; it was deliberately shrunken, symbolizing a life deliberately hollowed out from the fullness God intended, earning divine "wrath."
God, through the prophet Micah, is calling out the people of Israel for their persistent injustice and greed. Despite previous warnings and the threat of judgment, they continue to accumulate wealth through dishonest practices like using false weights and measures. This verse questions whether they will ever stop these wicked ways that are detestable to God and bring His wrath upon them.
God, through the prophet Micah, is calling out the people of Israel for their persistent injustice and greed. Despite previous warnings and the threat of judgment, they continue to accumulate wealth through dishonest practices like using false weights and measures. This verse questions whether they will ever stop these wicked ways that are detestable to God and bring His wrath upon them.
"Can I forget any longer the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is accursed? Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights?" — The prophet poses these as stinging questions, not for information, but to expose the audacity of still hoarding ill-gotten gains. What's easy to miss is that "scant measure" wasn't just a little les…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026