they shall lick the dust like a serpent, like the crawling things of the earth; they shall come trembling out of their strongholds; they shall turn in dread to the LORD our God, and they shall be in fear of you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse vividly depicts the utter humiliation of the enemies of God's people, showing them "licking the dust like a serpent." This isn't just about being defeated; it's about a cursed, abject state, a stark reminder of the serpent's own downfall in Genesis. Their trembling emergence from hidden strongholds like mere "crawling things" underscores their complete loss of power and dignity before the LORD.
they shall lick the dust like a serpent, like the crawling things of the earth; they shall come trembling out of their strongholds; they shall turn in dread to the LORD our God, and they shall be in fear of you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Micah closes his prophecy with a vision of God's ultimate triumph over His enemies and the restoration of His people. Following a powerful prayer for deliverance and a declaration of God's steadfast love, the prophet foretells a future where those who opposed God and His people will be utterly humbled. This humbling is depicted not as repentance leading to reconciliation, but as a fearful submission to God's overwhelming power.
Imagine your worst enemy, utterly defeated, forced to grovel in the dirt. That's the picture Micah paints, but it's more profound than just a physical act.
The phrase 'lick the dust' is a powerful metaphor for total defeat and humiliation. It evokes the image of a serpent, cursed to crawl on its belly and consume dust (Genesis 3:14). This isn't just about being forced to the ground; it signifies a complete loss of status, power, and dignity.
This imagery speaks to several things:
Enemies often retreat to their strongest defenses, feeling safe. But what happens when even those places offer no escape?
Micah vividly portrays the enemies emerging 'trembling out of their strongholds.' This image is striking because:
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This highlights that true security is found not in earthly defenses, but in God.
Fear can make us run away from what we dread. But sometimes, that very fear drives us to face, and even turn towards, the source of our terror.
The verse culminates in the enemies 'turn in dread to the LORD our God, and they shall be in fear of you.' This is a crucial, complex point:
This shows that even a fearful, involuntary acknowledgment of God's power is part of His ultimate triumph. While not necessarily full conversion, it's a forced recognition of His sovereignty and power over all.
Micah's prophecy speaks to a future hope, painting a vivid picture of God's enemies utterly defeated and humbled before Him. This imagery strongly resonates with the experience of the Judean exiles returning from Babylon, witnessing the downfall of their oppressors and the restoration of God's favor.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The northern Kingdom of Israel, with its capital Samaria, falls to the Assyrian Empire. This event marked the end of the northern kingdom and a period of exile and displacement for many Israelites.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian king Sennacherib lays siege to Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah. While the city is not conquered, it suffers greatly, and many surrounding towns are destroyed.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar, conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and carry many of its inhabitants into exile. This event is a profound trauma for the Judean people.
539 BC— this verse
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia overthrows the Babylonian Empire. This victory ushers in a new era and leads to the decree allowing Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.
520 BC
Rebuilding of the Temple
Under the leadership of Zerubbabel and the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the Jewish exiles begin the arduous task of rebuilding the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
This passage describes God's curse on the serpent to 'crawl on your belly and you shall eat dust all the days of your life,' directly paralleling the imagery in Micah of enemies licking dust like a serpent.
Psalm 72:9This psalm foretells a future king whose enemies will 'bow down in the dust,' echoing Micah's imagery of abject submission and humiliation for those who oppose God's people.
Isaiah 45:1-3Isaiah prophesies Cyrus, whom God will empower to subdue nations and 'loosen the belts of kings,' showing a historical fulfillment of powerful enemies being stripped of their might and brought low, similar to the enemies described in Micah.
Isaiah 49:23This passage describes kings and queens serving and bowing down to God's people, 'licking the dust at your feet,' which reinforces the theme of previously powerful enemies becoming deeply humbled and submissive.
Luke 23:30In their utter terror, the people cry out to the mountains to 'fall on us and hide us,' reflecting the same profound dread and desire to vanish that the enemies in Micah express when facing God's judgment.
cambridgeMicah 7:17: "They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee."
17 . they shall move out of their holes ] Rather, ‘they shall come trembling out of their fastnesses’ (same word as in Psalm 18:46 , where A. V. ‘close places’). like worms ] Lit., ‘like creepers’ (or rather, trailers). The same term occurs in Deuteronomy 32:24 . they shall be afraid of ] Rather, ‘they shall…
barnesMicah 7:17: "They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee."
They shall lick the dust like a (the) serpent - To lick the dust, by itself, pictures the extreme humility of persons who east themselves down to the very earth (as in Psalm 72:9 ; Isaiah 49:23 ). To lick it "like the serpent" seems rather to represent the condition of those who share the serpent's doom Genes…
The verse vividly depicts the utter humiliation of the enemies of God's people, showing them "licking the dust like a serpent." This isn't just about being defeated; it's about a cursed, abject state, a stark reminder of the serpent's own downfall in Genesis. Their trembling emergence from hidden strongholds like mere "crawling things" underscores their complete loss of power and dignity before the LORD.
Micah closes his prophecy with a vision of God's ultimate triumph over His enemies and the restoration of His people. Following a powerful prayer for deliverance and a declaration of God's steadfast love, the prophet foretells a future where those who opposed God and His people will be utterly humbled. This humbling is depicted not as repentance leading to reconciliation, but as a fearful submission to God's overwhelming power.
Micah closes his prophecy with a vision of God's ultimate triumph over His enemies and the restoration of His people. Following a powerful prayer for deliverance and a declaration of God's steadfast love, the prophet foretells a future where those who opposed God and His people will be utterly humbled. This humbling is depicted not as repentance leading to reconciliation, but as a fearful submission to God's overwhelming power.
"they shall lick the dust like a serpent, like the crawling things of the earth; they shall come trembling out of their strongholds; they shall turn in dread to the LORD our God, and they shall be in fear of you." — The verse vividly depicts the utter humiliation of the enemies of God's people, showing them "licking the dust like a serpent." This isn't just about being defeated; it's about a cursed, abject state…
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Last reviewed October 2026