Your rich men are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights not just outright lies, but the habitual nature of deceit, even in simple speech. It suggests their tongues were so accustomed to falsehood that "deceit" was the default setting, lurking ready to emerge the moment they opened their mouths, making genuine truth nearly impossible.
Your rich men are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Micah is addressing the people of Israel, particularly the cities of Samaria and Jerusalem, responding to their question, "What injustice have we done?" He's laying out their deep corruption, starting with their wealthy elite who are amassing fortunes through violence and exploitation. This isn't just a few bad apples; the prophet declares that lying and deceit have become the norm for everyone living there, polluting every interaction.
It’s easy to point fingers at the poor and marginalized for societal ills. But what happens when those with the most resources become the biggest source of injustice?
Micah calls out the 'rich men' of Jerusalem for being 'full of violence.' This isn't just about a few bad apples; it suggests a deep-seated corruption within the wealthy class. They weren't merely tempted by greed; they were filled with it, their lives and actions consumed by acts of oppression and wrong. This highlights a stark reality: wealth and power, when unchecked by a moral compass, don't just enable sin, they can become its very expression.
The Empty Promise of Riches
This isn't about poverty causing sin, but about abundance fueling it. The rich had the luxury of choice, yet they chose violence. Their prosperity was built on the backs of others, a twisted reflection of God's design for resources to be used for good.
A Spiritual Sickness
Commentators note that this violence wasn't just physical but encompassed fraud and deceit in their dealings. Their wealth was not a blessing but a symptom of a deeper spiritual sickness, a disconnect from God's heart for justice and mercy.
Lies and deceit aren't just occasional slip-ups; they can become the very air a society breathes. What does it mean when dishonesty is the norm?
Micah doesn't stop with the rich; he broadens the accusation to 'the inhabitants thereof,' meaning all the people. Their sin is speaking lies, and their 'tongue is deceitful.' This paints a picture of a community where truthfulness has eroded, replaced by a culture of falsehood.
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Lies as a Way of Life
The phrase 'their tongue is deceitful' is powerful. It suggests that deceit isn't just what they say, but an inherent characteristic of their speech. It was ready, immediate, and habitual. Like a well-worn path, their tongues naturally turned to deception.
The Breakdown of Trust
When lying becomes the norm, the very fabric of community unravels. Trust, essential for any healthy society, is destroyed. Relationships fracture, business dealings become suspect, and communication itself becomes a minefield. This wasn't just about petty untruths; it was a systemic issue undermining their entire social structure.
Understand the original words
chamas · Hebrew Noun
A broad term for acts of physical force, oppression, or lawlessness; it describes a violation of the sanctity of human life and social order, especially against the vulnerable.
sheqer · Hebrew Noun
To intentionally utter falsehoods; it is a fundamental violation of God’s character and His command to bear true witness, often leading to social and spiritual ruin.
Micah's prophecy in this verse paints a grim picture of social injustice and corruption in Jerusalem and other Judean cities, especially among the wealthy elite. This rings especially true given the backdrop of Assyrian invasions, which would have amplified the suffering of the poor and tested the nation's faithfulness.
8th century BC
Prophetic Ministry of Micah
Micah, a prophet from the rural town of Moresheth, delivered messages of judgment and hope primarily to the southern kingdom of Judah, including its capital, Jerusalem. His ministry occurred during a tumultuous period marked by political instability and the looming threat of Assyrian power.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, Samaria, fell to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of the ten northern tribes. This event served as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of their sin.
Late 8th century BC— this verse
Assyrian Invasions of Judah
Under King Hezekiah, Judah faced invasions from the Assyrian Empire led by Sennacherib. Jerusalem was besieged, but miraculously spared, partly due to divine intervention and Hezekiah's reforms. This context highlights the imminent threat that made Micah's warnings about God's judgment particularly urgent.
This passage echoes Micah's accusation, lamenting that lies and deceit are so common among God's people that they have become their 'tongue,' making them speak falsehoods as a habit.
Amos 3:10Amos, like Micah, confronts the rich and powerful for their corrupt practices, showing that this was a recurring theme of prophetic denunciation against those who oppressed others and acted unjustly.
Luke 3:13-14When people asked John the Baptist how they should repent, his answers included specific instructions to tax collectors and soldiers to stop extorting money and acting violently, highlighting that these sins were pervasive and required tangible change.
Psalm 12:1-2This psalm expresses a similar despair over the prevalence of deceit and dishonesty, reflecting the prophet's concern that 'everyone utters malignant lies' and that flattering words hide a deceitful heart.
barnesMicah 6:12: "For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth."
For the rich men thereof - that is, "of the city, Micah 6:9 are full of violence." It bad been little, had thieves and robbers lived by violence, but now, (as Isaiah at the same time upbraids them,) "her princes were become companions of thieves" Isaiah 1:23 . Not the poor out of distress, but the rich, out of wantonness and exceeding covetousn…
clarkeMicah 6:12: "For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth."
For the rich men thereof are full of violence - This shows that they did not love mercy. The inhabitants thereof have spoken lies - This shows that they did not humble themselves to walk with God.
The verse highlights not just outright lies, but the habitual nature of deceit, even in simple speech. It suggests their tongues were so accustomed to falsehood that "deceit" was the default setting, lurking ready to emerge the moment they opened their mouths, making genuine truth nearly impossible.
Micah is addressing the people of Israel, particularly the cities of Samaria and Jerusalem, responding to their question, "What injustice have we done?" He's laying out their deep corruption, starting with their wealthy elite who are amassing fortunes through violence and exploitation. This isn't just a few bad apples; the prophet declares that lying and deceit have become the norm for everyone living there, polluting every interaction.
Micah is addressing the people of Israel, particularly the cities of Samaria and Jerusalem, responding to their question, "What injustice have we done?" He's laying out their deep corruption, starting with their wealthy elite who are amassing fortunes through violence and exploitation. This isn't just a few bad apples; the prophet declares that lying and deceit have become the norm for everyone living there, polluting every interaction.
"Your rich men are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth." — The verse highlights not just outright lies, but the habitual nature of deceit, even in simple speech. It suggests their tongues were so accustomed to falsehood that "deceit" was the default settin…
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Last reviewed October 2026