Micah 7:18-19
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Micah marvels that God's greatness isn't just in His power to create, but in His willingness to forgive the "remnant" of His people. This isn't just about overlooking sins, but actively "passing over" transgression, demonstrating a deep delight in mercy that sets Him apart from any other god.
After proclaiming God's future restoration and blessing upon His people, Micah transitions to an ecstatic declaration of God’s character. This verse serves as a climactic expression of praise, focusing on God's unparalleled mercy and faithfulness toward His chosen people, especially the remnant who will survive His judgments.
Micah starts with a question that echoes throughout Scripture: 'Who is a God like you?' What makes the God of Israel so unique, especially when compared to the idols of the ancient world or even our modern distractions?
Micah doesn't ask who is like God in power, creation, or judgment. Instead, he marvels at God's willingness to forgive. The ancient Near East was filled with gods who demanded appeasement through rituals and sacrifices, often reflecting human anger and capriciousness. But the God of Israel is presented as fundamentally different.
A Divine Prerogative
This mercy is not a human capability. It's a divine attribute that sets the God of Israel apart, proving His true divinity. No idol could ever make such a claim or offer such profound relief.
Micah specifically mentions 'the remnant of his inheritance.' Who are they, and why is God's mercy particularly focused on them, even when the nation as a whole has strayed?
The concept of the 'remnant' is crucial in the Old Testament. It refers to a faithful few who remain loyal to God, often amidst widespread unfaithfulness. Even when judgment falls upon a sinful people, God providentially preserves a core group – His chosen inheritance – for His purposes.
Delighting in Steadfast Love
Understand the original words
avon · Hebrew Noun
The moral or spiritual perversion of a heart that has wandered from God's law, characterized by guilt and the need for divine forgiveness.
pesha · Hebrew Noun
A rebellion against divine authority or a breach of a covenant relationship, indicating a willful departure from God's revealed will.
she'erit · Hebrew Noun
The small portion of God's people who remain faithful or are preserved by His grace to fulfill His covenant promises.
chesed · Hebrew Noun
A term (Hebrew: chesed) denoting God's loyal, covenant-keeping love, mercy, and faithfulness that transcends mere duty or emotion.
Micah's powerful declaration of God's pardoning mercy, especially to the 'remnant,' arises from a context of severe national judgment and exile, highlighting God's enduring faithfulness even when His people face devastation.
c. 740 BC
Prophecies of Judgment and Exile
Micah prophesies during a time of political turmoil and foreign threats against both Israel and Judah, foretelling their eventual exile.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria to Assyria
The northern kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people. This event looms large as a warning for Judah.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, conquering many cities and besieging Jerusalem. The prophet Micah's message of judgment and a future remnant resonates during this crisis.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem to Babylon
The southern kingdom of Judah falls to the Neo-Babylonian Empire, its capital destroyed and many of its people exiled. This fulfills earlier prophecies of judgment.
This passage is a foundational self-disclosure of God's character to Moses, directly paralleling Micah's declaration of God's forgiving nature and His reluctance to stay angry, highlighting God's mercy as central to His identity.
Psalm 103:8-9This psalm echoes Micah's sentiment by praising God for His attributes of compassion and graciousness, emphasizing that He does not contend forever and will not always be angry, which reinforces the idea of God's enduring mercy.
Isaiah 43:25Here, God Himself declares His unique ability to blot out transgressions for His own sake, a powerful testament to the divine prerogative of forgiveness that Micah is marveling at, showing this is a core aspect of God's relationship with His people.
Romans 11:7Paul discusses the 'remnant' in Israel who have obtained righteousness, linking to Micah's mention of the 'remnant of his inheritance' and showing how God's forgiving grace is specifically directed towards a chosen, though often small, group within His people.
Jeremiah 3:12This prophecy directly echoes the idea of God not retaining His anger forever, promising to restore the backsliding people and stating, 'I will not look on you with anger, for I am merciful.' This demonstrates a consistent theme in the prophets about God's enduring, forgiving heart.
barnesMicah 7:18: "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy."
Who is a God - (and, as the word means, A Mighty God,) like unto Thee? He saith not, "Who hast made heaven and earth, the sea and all that therein is" Exodus 20:11 ; nor, "Who telleth the number of the stars; and calleth them all by their names" Psalm 147:4 ; nor, "Who by His strength setteth fas…
cambridgeMicah 7:18: "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy."
18–20 . A lyric passage, concluding the whole book. The prophet revels in the thought of the Divine goodness. Comp. Isaiah 12:1-6 , and still more Exodus 15:1-18 (especially Micah 7:11 ). The form of Micah 7:18 naturally reminds us of the name of Micah (‘Who is like Jehovah?’). The prophet does n…
Micah marvels that God's greatness isn't just in His power to create, but in His willingness to forgive the "remnant" of His people. This isn't just about overlooking sins, but actively "passing over" transgression, demonstrating a deep delight in mercy that sets Him apart from any other god.
After proclaiming God's future restoration and blessing upon His people, Micah transitions to an ecstatic declaration of God’s character. This verse serves as a climactic expression of praise, focusing on God's unparalleled mercy and faithfulness toward His chosen people, especially the remnant who will survive His judgments.
After proclaiming God's future restoration and blessing upon His people, Micah transitions to an ecstatic declaration of God’s character. This verse serves as a climactic expression of praise, focusing on God's unparalleled mercy and faithfulness toward His chosen people, especially the remnant who will survive His judgments.
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racham · Hebrew Verb
A deep, internal feeling of pity, sympathy, and mercy that moves God to act on behalf of His suffering people.
chatta'ah · Hebrew Noun
The intentional separation of a person from their guilt; it implies God putting sin away, covering it, or washing it clean so it no longer hinders fellowship with Him.
c. 538 BC
Return from Babylonian Exile
Cyrus the Great of Persia allows the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. This marks the beginning of the 'remnant' that Micah foresaw.
"Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compas…" — Micah marvels that God's greatness isn't just in His power to create, but in His willingness to forgive the "remnant" of His people. This isn't just about overlooking sins, but actively "passing over…
