Micah 3:12
New International Version
Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.

New Living Translation
Because of you, Mount Zion will be plowed like an open field; Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins! A thicket will grow on the heights where the Temple now stands.

English Standard Version
Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge.

King James Bible
Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

New King James Version
Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, And the mountain of the temple Like the bare hills of the forest.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore on account of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, And the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest.

NASB 1995
Therefore, on account of you Zion will be plowed as a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, And the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest.

NASB 1977
Therefore, on account of you, Zion will be plowed as a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, And the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, on account of you Zion will be plowed as a field; Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, And the mountain of the house of God will become high places of a forest.

Amplified Bible
Therefore, on account of you Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, And the mountain of the house [of the LORD] shall become like a densely wooded hill.

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become ruins, and the temple’s mountain will be a high thicket.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become ruins, and the hill of the temple mount will be a thicket.

American Standard Version
Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

Contemporary English Version
And so, because of you, Jerusalem will be plowed under and left in ruins. Thorns will cover the mountain where the temple now stands.

English Revised Version
Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a pile of rubble, and the temple mountain will become a worship site covered with trees.

Good News Translation
And so, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a pile of ruins, and the Temple hill will become a forest.

International Standard Version
"Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed up like a field, and Jerusalem will become heaps of rubble, and the Temple Mount like a forest high place."

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge.

NET Bible
Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed up like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, and the Temple Mount will become a hill overgrown with brush!

New Heart English Bible
Therefore Zion for your sake will be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem will become heaps of rubble, and the mountain of the temple like the high places of a forest.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

World English Bible
Therefore Zion for your sake will be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem will become heaps of rubble, and the mountain of the temple like the high places of a forest.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Therefore, for your sake, Zion is plowed a field, and Jerusalem is heaps, "" And the mountain of the house [is] for high places of a forest!

Young's Literal Translation
Therefore, for your sake, Zion is ploughed a field, and Jerusalem is heaps, And the mount of the house is for high places of a forest!

Smith's Literal Translation
For this, on account of you Zion shall be ploughed a field, and Jerusalem shall be ruins, and the mountain of the house for the heights of the forest.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore, because of you, Sion shall be ploughed as a field, and Jerusalem shall be as a heap of stones, and the mountain of the temple as the high places of the forests.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For this reason, because of you, Zion will be plowed under like a field, and Jerusalem will become like a pile of stones, and the mountain of the temple like the high places of the forests.

New American Bible
Therefore, because of you, Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem reduced to rubble, And the mount of the temple to a forest ridge.

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore, because of you, Zion shall be ploughed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become desolate, and the mountain of the house like a forest.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Therefore, because of you, Oh Zion, the country shall be led away, and Jerusalem will be desolate, and the Mountain of The House will be the place of a forest
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, And Jerusalem shall become heaps, And the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Therefore on your account Sion shall be ploughed as a field, and Jerusalem shall be as a storehouse of fruits, and the mountain of the house as a grove of the forest.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Rulers and Prophets Condemned
11Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.” 12Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge.

Cross References
Jeremiah 26:18
“Micah the Moreshite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and told all the people of Judah that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge.’

Isaiah 32:13-14
and for the land of my people, overgrown with thorns and briers—even for every house of merriment in this city of revelry. / For the palace will be forsaken, the busy city abandoned. The hill and the watchtower will become caves forever—the delight of wild donkeys and a pasture for flocks—

Lamentations 5:18
because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, patrolled by foxes.

Zephaniah 3:6-7
“I have cut off the nations; their corner towers are destroyed. I have made their streets deserted with no one to pass through. Their cities are laid waste, with no man, no inhabitant. / I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me and accept correction.’ Then her dwelling place would not be cut off despite all for which I punished her. But they rose early to corrupt all their deeds.

2 Kings 25:9-10
He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building. / And the whole army of the Chaldeans under the captain of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 2:17
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned down. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.”

Jeremiah 9:11
“And I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble, a haunt for jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.”

Jeremiah 7:14
therefore what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears My Name, the house in which you trust, the place that I gave to you and your fathers.

Isaiah 64:10-11
Your holy cities have become a wilderness. Zion has become a wasteland and Jerusalem a desolation. / Our holy and beautiful temple, where our fathers praised You, has been burned with fire, and all that was dear to us lies in ruins.

Matthew 23:37-38
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! / Look, your house is left to you desolate.

Luke 19:41-44
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it / and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. / For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. ...

Matthew 24:1-2
As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, His disciples came up to Him to point out its buildings. / “Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Mark 13:1-2
As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the magnificent stones and buildings!” / “Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Luke 21:5-6
As some of the disciples were remarking how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and consecrated gifts, Jesus said, / “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Acts 6:14
For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

Zion.

Micah 1:6
Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof.

Psalm 79:1
A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

Psalm 107:34
A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

the mountain.

Micah 4:1,2
But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it…

Isaiah 2:2,3
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it…

Jump to Previous
Account Broken Field Forest Heap Heaps Height High Hill House Jerusalem Mass Mound Mount Mountain Overgrown Places Ploughed Plowed Reason Rubble Ruins Sake Temple Walls Wooded Woods Zion
Jump to Next
Account Broken Field Forest Heap Heaps Height High Hill House Jerusalem Mass Mound Mount Mountain Overgrown Places Ploughed Plowed Reason Rubble Ruins Sake Temple Walls Wooded Woods Zion
Micah 3
1. The cruelty of the princes.
5. The falsehood of the prophets.
8. The false security of them both.














Therefore, because of you
The word "Therefore" indicates a conclusion drawn from previous statements, specifically the corruption and injustice of the leaders and prophets in Israel. The phrase "because of you" directly addresses these leaders, emphasizing personal responsibility. In Hebrew, the word "you" is plural, implicating the collective leadership. This highlights the biblical principle that leaders bear significant responsibility for the spiritual and moral state of their people.

Zion will be plowed like a field
"Zion" refers to the hill of Jerusalem, the city of David, and by extension, the entire city itself. The imagery of being "plowed like a field" suggests total destruction and desolation. In ancient times, plowing a city was a symbolic act of utter ruin, indicating that it would be reduced to a state of wilderness, ready for new growth but devoid of its former glory. This prophecy underscores the severity of divine judgment due to persistent sin.

Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble
"Jerusalem," the holy city, represents the heart of Jewish worship and identity. The phrase "heap of rubble" conveys complete devastation. Archaeological evidence from various periods of Jerusalem's history shows layers of destruction, affirming the historical reality of such prophecies. This serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments.

and the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets
The "temple hill" refers to Mount Moriah, where Solomon's Temple stood. The imagery of it becoming "a mound overgrown with thickets" paints a picture of neglect and abandonment. In the Hebrew context, thickets symbolize chaos and disorder, a stark contrast to the order and sanctity of the temple. This prophecy foreshadows the eventual destruction of the temple, a pivotal event in Jewish history, and serves as a call to repentance and return to God.

(12) Therefore shall Zion . . .--Micah declared this sentence of Divine judgment with an intrepidity that was long remembered by the Jews. More than a century later the elders of the land, speaking in justification of the course taken by Jeremiah, used as a precedent the example of Micah. They spake to all the assembly of the people, saying, "Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah, king of Judah, saying, 'Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.' Did Hezekiah, king of Judah, and all Judah put him at all to death? Did he not fear the Lord, and besought the Lord, and the Lord repented Him of the evil which He had pronounced against them?" (Jeremiah 26:17-19).

Shall become heaps.--So also, in after-days, the doom of Jerusalem was pronounced by our Lord: "The days will come when there shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down."

Verse 12. - This is the prophecy quoted by the elders to King Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 26:17, etc.). It may have been delivered before Hezekiah's time originally, and repeated in his reign, when it was productive of a reformation. The denunciation is a mourn-fill contrast to the announcement in Micah 2:12; but it was never completely fulfilled, being, like all such judgments, conditioned by circumstances. Therefore... for your sake. For the crimes of rulers, priests, and prophets. Shall Zion... be ploughed as a field. Three localities are specified which destruction shall overtake Zion, Jerusalem, and the temple. Zion means that part of the city where stood the royal palace. The prophecy relates primarily to the destruction of the city by the Chaldeans, when, as Jeremiah testifies (Lamentations 5:18), Zion was desolate and foxes walked upon it. The expression in the text may be hyperbolical, but we know that the ploughing up of the foundations of captured cities is often alluded to. Thus Horace, 'Carm.,' 1:16, 20 -

"... imprimeretque muris
Hostile aratrum exercitus insolens."
(Comp. 'Propert.,' 3:7, 41; and for the whole passage, Isaiah 32:13, 14.) "The general surface of Mount Zion descends steeply eastwards into the Tyropoeon and Kidron, and southwards into the Valley of Hinnom. The whole of the hill here is under cultivation, and presents a most literal fulfilment of Micah's prophecy" (Thomson, 'The Land and the Book,' p. 540). "From the spot on which I stood," says Dr. Porter, "I saw the plough at work in the little fields that now cover the site of Zion" ('Illustrations of Bible Prophecy,' p. 17). Jerusalem shall become heaps. The city proper shall become heaps of ruins (Jeremiah 9:11; Nehemiah 2:17; Nehemiah 4:2) Septuagint, ὡς ὀπωροφυλάκιον ἔσται, "as a storehouse for fruits," as in Psalm 78. (79) 1. The mountain of the house. The mountain on which the temple was built, Mount Moriah, and therefore the temple itself, no longer mentioned as the Lord's dwelling place. As the high places of the forest; or, as wooded heights, returning, as it were, to the wild condition in which it lay when Abraham offered his sacrifice thereon. In the time of the Maccabees, after its profanation by the heathen, the account speaks of shrubs growing in the courts as in a forest or in one of the mountains (1 Macc. 4:38). Such was to be the fate of the temple in which they put their trust and made their boast.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Therefore,
לָכֵן֙ (lā·ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

because of you,
בִּגְלַלְכֶ֔ם (biḡ·lal·ḵem)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1558: A circumstance, on account of

Zion
צִיּ֖וֹן (ṣî·yō·wn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6726: Zion -- a mountain in Jerusalem, also a name for Jerusalem

will be plowed
תֵֽחָרֵ֑שׁ (ṯê·ḥā·rêš)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2790: To cut in, engrave, plow, devise

like a field,
שָׂדֶ֣ה (śā·ḏeh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

Jerusalem
וִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (wî·rū·šā·lim)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

will become
תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה (tih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a heap of rubble,
עִיִּ֣ין (‘î·yîn)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5856: A ruin, heap of ruins

and the temple
הַבַּ֖יִת (hab·ba·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

mount
וְהַ֥ר (wə·har)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

a wooded
יָֽעַר׃ (yā·‘ar)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3293: A copse of bushes, a forest, honey in the comb

ridge.
לְבָמ֥וֹת (lə·ḇā·mō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1116: An elevation


Links
Micah 3:12 NIV
Micah 3:12 NLT
Micah 3:12 ESV
Micah 3:12 NASB
Micah 3:12 KJV

Micah 3:12 BibleApps.com
Micah 3:12 Biblia Paralela
Micah 3:12 Chinese Bible
Micah 3:12 French Bible
Micah 3:12 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Micah 3:12 Therefore Zion for your sake will be (Mc Mic. Mi)
Micah 3:11
Top of Page
Top of Page