He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
What does Micah 6:8 mean?
These verses seem to contain the substance of Balak's consultation with Balaam how to obtain the favour of Israel's God.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Micah 6:6-8 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Micah 6:8
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? He hath shewed thee - Micah does not tell them now, as for the first time; which would have excused them. He says, "He hath shewed thee;" He, about whose mind and will and pleasure they were pretending to enquire, the Lord their God. He had shewn it to them. The law was full of it.
Key words
- shewed
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He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? He hath shewed thee - Micah does not tell them now, as for the first time; which would have excused them.
Context in Micah 6
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Micah 6 belongs to the late movement of the book, especially the section often described as covenant lawsuit and concluding mercy. Micah joins social critique, Zion hope, and one of Scripture’s most memorable summaries of what the Lord requires. Read this chapter with the wider themes of justice, humility, and judgment in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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Who quoted Micah 6:8?
Find out who used Micah 6:8 in their speeches and writings. Which famous people quoted Micah 6:8?
Warren G. Harding used Micah 6:8 in Inaugural Address.
Franklin D. Roosevelt used Micah 6:8 in Letter Acknowledging the Award of the American Hebrew Medal.
American Presidency Project: FDR and the American Hebrew Medal »
Richard Nixon used Micah 6:8 in Thanksgiving Day, 1971.
American Presidency Project: Thanksgiving Day 1971 proclamation »
Jimmy Carter used Micah 6:8 in Inaugural Address.
American Presidency Project: Carter's 1977 inaugural address »
Bill Clinton used Micah 6:8 in Congressional Tribute Honoring Officer Jacob J. Chestnut and Detective John M. Gibson.
American Presidency Project: Clinton tribute to Chestnut and Gibson »
George W. Bush used Micah 6:8 in The President-Elect's News Conference Announcing the Nomination of Senator John Ashcroft as Attorney General.
Quotes found on Wikiquote (match for «do justly and love mercy»):