Micah 3:5 This is what the LORD says: "As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:

◄ Micah 3:5 ►

New International Version
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead my people astray, they proclaim ‘peace’ if they have something to eat, but prepare to wage war against anyone who refuses to feed them.

New Living Translation
This is what the LORD says: “You false prophets are leading my people astray! You promise peace for those who give you food, but you declare war on those who refuse to feed you.

English Standard Version
Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths.

Berean Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:

King James Bible
Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.

New King James Version
Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets Who make my people stray; Who chant “Peace” While they chew with their teeth, But who prepare war against him Who puts nothing into their mouths:

New American Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray: When they have something to bite with their teeth, They cry out, “Peace!” But against him who puts nothing in their mouths They declare holy war.

NASB 1995
Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; When they have something to bite with their teeth, They cry, “Peace,” But against him who puts nothing in their mouths They declare holy war.

NASB 1977
Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets Who lead my people astray; When they have something to bite with their teeth, They cry, “Peace,” But against him who puts nothing in their mouths, They declare holy war.

Legacy Standard Bible
Thus says Yahweh concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; When they have something to bite with their teeth, They call out, “Peace,” But against him who puts nothing in their mouths, They set themselves apart for war.

Amplified Bible
Thus says the LORD concerning the [false] prophets who lead my people astray; When they have something good to bite with their teeth, They call out, “Peace,” But against the one who gives them nothing to eat, They declare a holy war.

Christian Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who proclaim peace when they have food to sink their teeth into but declare war against the one who puts nothing in their mouths.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who proclaim peace when they have food to sink their teeth into but declare war against the one who puts nothing in their mouths.

American Standard Version
Thus saith Jehovah concerning the prophets that make my people to err; that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and whoso putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him:

Contemporary English Version
You lying prophets promise security for anyone who gives you food, but disaster for anyone who refuses to feed you. Here is what the LORD says to you prophets:

English Revised Version
Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people to err; that bite with their teeth and cry, Peace; and whoso putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This is what the LORD says about the prophets who mislead my people: When they have something to eat, they say, "All is well!" But they declare a holy war against those who don't feed them.

Good News Translation
My people are deceived by prophets who promise peace to those who pay them, but threaten war for those who don't. To these prophets the LORD says,

International Standard Version
"This is what the LORD says about the prophets who are causing my people to go astray, who are calling out 'Peace' when they're being fed, but who declare war against those who won't feed them:

Majority Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: ?As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:

NET Bible
This is what the LORD says: "The prophets who mislead my people are as good as dead. If someone gives them enough to eat, they offer an oracle of peace. But if someone does not give them food, they are ready to declare war on him.

New Heart English Bible
Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; for those who feed their teeth, they proclaim, "Peace." and whoever doesn't provide for their mouths, they prepare war against him:

Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him:

World English Bible
Yahweh says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray—for those who feed their teeth, they proclaim, “Peace!” and whoever doesn’t provide for their mouths, they prepare war against him:

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Thus said YHWH concerning the prophets "" Who are causing My people to err, "" Who are biting with their teeth, "" And have cried “Peace,” "" And he who does not give to their mouth, "" They have sanctified against him war:

Young's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah concerning the prophets Who are causing My people to err, Who are biting with their teeth, And have cried 'Peace,' And he who doth not give unto their mouth, They have sanctified against him war.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah for the prophets causing my people to wander, and biting with their teeth, and they called, Peace; and who will not give upon their mouth and they consecrated war against him:

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err: that bite with their teeth, and preach peace: and if a man give not something into their mouth, they prepare war against him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Thus says the Lord about the prophets who seduce my people: They bite with their teeth and preach peace, and if anyone does not give something to their mouth, they sanctify a battle against him.

New American Bible
Thus says the LORD regarding the prophets: O you who lead my people astray, When your teeth have something to bite you announce peace, But proclaim war against the one who fails to put something in your mouth.

New Revised Standard Version
Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat, but declare war against those who put nothing into their mouths.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who bite with their teeth and preach peace; and when one puts not bread into their mouths, they preach war against him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Thus says LORD JEHOVAH about the Prophets who seduce my people, who bite with their teeth and are preaching peace, and whoever does not put food into their mouths, they proclaim war against him

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people to err; That cry: 'Peace', when their teeth have any thing to bite; And whoso putteth not into their mouths, They even prepare war against him:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that lead my people astray, that bit with their teeth, and proclaim peace to them; and when nothing was put into their mouth, they raised up war against them:

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Rulers and Prophets Condemned
…4Then they will cry out to the LORD, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them because of the evil they have done. 5This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths: 6Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Jeremiah 23:16
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

Ezekiel 13:10
Because they have led My people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built,

Isaiah 56:10-11
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber. / Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:

Jeremiah 14:14
“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.

Ezekiel 22:28
Her prophets whitewash these deeds by false visions and lying divinations, saying, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says,’ when the LORD has not spoken.

Isaiah 9:15-16
The head is the elder and honorable man, and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies. / For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.

Jeremiah 6:14
They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all.

Ezekiel 13:6-7
They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. / Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?

Zechariah 11:17
Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May a sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered and his right eye utterly blinded!”

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

2 Peter 2:1
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Matthew 24:11
and many false prophets will arise and deceive many.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. / So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Acts 20:29-30
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. / Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.

Treasury of Scripture

Thus said the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that puts not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.

concerning.

Micah 3:11
The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.

Isaiah 9:15,16
The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail…

Jeremiah 14:14,15
Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart…

that bite.

Micah 2:11
If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

Isaiah 56:9-12
All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest…

Ezekiel 13:18,19
And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you? …

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Micah 3

1. The cruelty of the princes.
5. The falsehood of the prophets.
8. The false security of them both.

Berean Study Bible

This is what the LORD says
This phrase introduces a divine oracle, emphasizing that the message is not from the prophet Micah himself but from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "YHWH," the sacred tetragrammaton, which signifies God's eternal and self-existent nature. This introduction underscores the authority and seriousness of the message that follows, reminding the audience that it is God who speaks through His prophet.

As for the prophets
The term "prophets" refers to those who were supposed to be God's messengers, conveying His words to the people. In the historical context of Micah, prophets held a significant role in guiding the spiritual and moral direction of the nation. However, Micah is addressing those who have strayed from their divine calling, highlighting a corruption that had infiltrated the prophetic office.

who lead my people astray
The Hebrew root for "lead astray" is "תָּעָה" (ta'ah), which means to wander or err. This phrase indicates a deliberate deviation from the truth, where the prophets are not just mistaken but are actively misleading the people. This is a grave accusation, as it implies a betrayal of trust and a distortion of God's message, leading the people away from the covenantal path.

they proclaim 'peace'
The word "peace" here is "שָׁלוֹם" (shalom), a term that encompasses not just the absence of conflict but a state of completeness, welfare, and harmony. The false prophets are offering a deceptive message of security and well-being, which is not aligned with the reality of the people's spiritual and moral state. This false assurance is dangerous as it lulls the people into complacency.

when they have food to sink their teeth into
This vivid imagery suggests that the false prophets are motivated by personal gain. The phrase implies that their messages are influenced by their material circumstances; when they are well-fed and comfortable, they speak of peace. This reflects a corruption where prophetic messages are contingent upon personal benefit rather than divine truth.

but declare war against him
The contrast here is stark. The same prophets who speak of peace when it benefits them are quick to "declare war" when their needs are not met. This phrase indicates hostility and aggression, revealing the prophets' true nature as self-serving and manipulative. It underscores the inconsistency and unreliability of their messages.

who puts nothing in their mouths
This phrase highlights the transactional nature of the false prophets' ministry. Their messages are contingent upon receiving something in return, whether it be food, money, or other forms of compensation. This is a direct violation of the prophetic calling, which is to speak God's truth regardless of personal gain or loss.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) That bite with their teeth.--The concluding statement that the false prophets declare war against those who do not put into their mouth indicates the meaning of the former expression, namely, "they say peace to those who feed and bribe them." The Hebrew word, nashak, which is rendered "bite," is strictly applied to serpents, to "an adder in the path," and is therefore especially appropriate to the false and lying nature of the prophets.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 5-8. ? § 2. Sins of the false prophets who led the people astray. Verse 5. - Concerning the prophets (Micah 2:11). These are the lying prophets of whom Jeremiah complains (Lamentations 2:14). That bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace. Very many commentators take the phrase, "bite with the teeth," to mean "eat," so that the clause signifies that the prophets when bribed with food predict peace and happiness to people. The antithesis of the following clause seems to require this explanation, which is further supported by the Chaldee. But it is quite unprecedented to find the word translated "bite" (nashakh) in the sense of "eat," or as it is taken here, "to have something to eat;" wherever it occurs it means "to bite like a serpent," to wound (see Genesis 49:17; Numbers 21:8, 9; Amos 5:19; Amos 9:3). The parallelism of the succeeding member does not compel us to put a forced interpretation upon the word. These venal seers do vital harm, inflict gravest injury, when they proclaim peace where there is no peace; by such false comfort they are really infusing poison and death. He that putteth not into their mouths. If any one does not bribe them, and so stop their evil mouths. They even prepare war against him. The Hebrew expression is, "they consecrate" or "sanctify war." There may be allusion to the religious rites accompanying a declaration of war (Jeremiah 6:4; Joel 3:9); but Micah seems to mean that, if the customary bribes are withheld, these prophets announce war and calamity as inevitable; they proclaim them in God's name, as speaking with his sanction and under his Inspiration (comp. Jeremiah 23:16, etc.; Ezekiel 13:19; see note on Zephaniah 1:7).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

This is what
כֹּ֚ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

says:
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“As for
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the prophets
הַנְּבִיאִ֖ים (han·nə·ḇî·’îm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5030: A spokesman, speaker, prophet

who lead My people
עַמִּ֑י (‘am·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

astray,
הַמַּתְעִ֣ים (ham·maṯ·‘îm)
Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 8582: To vacillate, reel, stray

who proclaim
וְקָרְא֣וּ (wə·qā·rə·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

peace
שָׁל֔וֹם (šā·lō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace

while they chew
הַנֹּשְׁכִ֤ים (han·nō·šə·ḵîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5391: To strike with a, sting, to oppress with usury

with their teeth,
בְּשִׁנֵּיהֶם֙ (bə·šin·nê·hem)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8127: A tooth, ivory, a cliff

but declare
וְקִדְּשׁ֥וּ (wə·qid·də·šū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated

war
מִלְחָמָֽה׃ (mil·ḥā·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

against one
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

who puts
יִתֵּ֣ן (yit·tên)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

nothing
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

in
עָלָ֖יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

their mouths:
פִּיהֶ֔ם (pî·hem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

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OT Prophets: Micah 3:5 Thus says Yahweh concerning the prophets who (Mc Mic. Mi)