Micah 7:2
The godly has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among mankind; they all lie in wait for blood, and each hunts the other with a net.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to read this verse as just a statement of widespread wickedness, but notice the specific word used for "good man" – it points to someone actively showing kindness and love to others. The prophet laments not just the absence of good people, but the utter scarcity of those who exercise compassionate love, making their disappearance a profound loss for society. This scarcity intensifies the horror of the next line: "they all lie in wait for blood, and each hunts the other with a net," highlighting how the vacuum left by goodness is filled with predatory deceit.
Micah begins by lamenting his society, feeling like he's searching for the last fruits of a harvest or gleanings after a vintage, only to find nothing. This leads him to declare that the truly godly and upright people have vanished from the land. Instead, everyone is now deceitful and violent, actively plotting to harm and destroy one another, even their own family.
Micah paints a grim picture: the godly are gone, and no upright people can be found. What does this vanishing act tell us about society and God's perspective?
The verse opens with a profound lament: 'The godly has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among mankind.' This isn't just a statement of fact; it's a cry of desperation.
What 'Godly' Means Here
The Hebrew word used here speaks of active kindness and mercy, not just passive belief. It describes someone who not only fears God but actively embodies His love towards others. Think of someone who lives out their faith with compassion and integrity.
The Isolation of the Few
Micah says 'the godly,' not 'the godly people.' This emphasizes the rarity and isolation of those who truly live by God's standards. In a society steeped in corruption, the few who remain upright stand out, and sadly, they are disappearing. This points to a deep spiritual and moral decay where integrity is not just uncommon, but seems to have vanished.
A Sign of Societal Collapse
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When the 'good' and 'upright' are gone, it signals a society in deep trouble. It's like a body losing its vital organs. The absence of righteous people means there are fewer voices of truth, fewer examples of God's love, and fewer prayers interceding for the land. It's a society that has lost its moral compass.
Micah doesn't stop at lamenting the absence of the good. He describes the actions of those who remain: they 'lie in wait for blood' and hunt each other 'with a net.' What does this chilling imagery reveal?
The second half of the verse plunges into the brutal reality of Micah's time.
A Society Thirsting for Blood
'They all lie in wait for blood' paints a picture of widespread violence and cruelty. It suggests a society where people are not just indifferent to suffering, but are actively predatory, desiring harm and bloodshed. This is a stark contrast to the 'godly' who are characterized by love and mercy.
The Deceitful Hunt
The phrase 'each hunts the other with a net' is particularly graphic. It alludes to a sneaky, treacherous method of capture. Unlike an open attack, a net is set in secret, designed to ensnare the unsuspecting. This speaks of deep deceit, betrayal, and cunning malice within relationships, even among those who should be brothers.
Brother Hunting Brother
The most heartbreaking aspect is that they hunt 'every man his brother.' This isn't just about enemies attacking each other; it's about internal destruction. Family, community, and fellow Israelites are turning on each other with calculated cruelty and treachery. It’s a society where the bonds of kinship and shared identity have been utterly broken by sin.
Understand the original words
ḥāsîḏ · Hebrew Adjective
Refers to those who are devout, pious, and loyal to God's covenant, manifesting steadfast love and moral integrity in their lives.
yāšār · Hebrew Adjective
Describes one who is straight, level, or morally honest in accordance with God's law; someone whose life aligns with the path of righteousness.
Micah's prophecy of the perishing of the godly and the pervasive deceit and violence reflects the extreme anxiety and moral decay present during the Assyrian invasions and the siege of Jerusalem.
c. 740-701 BC
Reign of Hezekiah in Judah
Micah prophesied during a tumultuous period, likely overlapping with the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This era saw increasing Assyrian imperial power and threats.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel, scattering its people and intensifying anxieties for the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This event would have deeply impacted Micah's audience.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
King Sennacherib of Assyria besieged Jerusalem. While Jerusalem miraculously survived, the surrounding towns were devastated, and the land experienced immense fear and disruption.
This passage shares the lament that the righteous and merciful are perishing, highlighting a widespread societal decay where no one considers the loss. It echoes Micah's sense of desolation due to the absence of uprightness.
Psalm 12:1This Psalm cries out about the scarcity of godly people, mirroring Micah's statement that the 'good man has perished from the earth,' and that there's a lack of faithfulness among mankind.
Jeremiah 9:4-5This passage reveals a similar societal rot where people deceive their neighbors and refuse to acknowledge God, leading to violence and treachery, much like the 'hunting with a net' described in Micah.
Psalm 140:1-5This Psalm details the wicked plotting and laying snares for the innocent, directly paralleling Micah's description of people lying in wait for blood and hunting their brothers with nets, showing a persistent theme of malicious intent.
cambridgeMicah 7:2: "The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net."
2 . The good man ] More fully rendered, ‘The pious man,’ he who makes love his rule of action—love to God and love to man. ‘The idea of khâsîdh is not passive [he who experiences grace or love], for God Himself is called khâsîdh , Psalm 145:17 , but he who exercises khesedh ( Proverbs 11:17 ), i.e. makes men, according to God’s…
clarkeMicah 7:2: "The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net."
The good man is perished out of the earth - A similar sentiment may be found, Psalm 12:1 ; Isaiah 57:1 . As the early fig of excellent flavor cannot be found in the advanced season of summer, or a choice cluster of grapes after vintage, so neither can the good and upright man be discovered by searching in Israel. This comparison…
It's easy to read this verse as just a statement of widespread wickedness, but notice the specific word used for "good man" – it points to someone actively showing kindness and love to others. The prophet laments not just the absence of good people, but the utter scarcity of those who exercise compassionate love, making their disappearance a profound loss for society. This scarcity intensifies the horror of the next line: "they all lie in wait for blood, and each hunts the other with a net," highlighting how the vacuum left by goodness is filled with predatory deceit.
Micah begins by lamenting his society, feeling like he's searching for the last fruits of a harvest or gleanings after a vintage, only to find nothing. This leads him to declare that the truly godly and upright people have vanished from the land. Instead, everyone is now deceitful and violent, actively plotting to harm and destroy one another, even their own family.
Micah begins by lamenting his society, feeling like he's searching for the last fruits of a harvest or gleanings after a vintage, only to find nothing. This leads him to declare that the truly godly and upright people have vanished from the land. Instead, everyone is now deceitful and violent, actively plotting to harm and destroy one another, even their own family.
"The godly has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among mankind; they all lie in wait for blood, and each hunts the other with a net." — It's easy to read this verse as just a statement of widespread wickedness, but notice the specific word used for "good man" – it points to someone actively showing kindness and love to others. The pr…
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