New International Version The mountains melt beneath him and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. New Living Translation The mountains melt beneath his feet and flow into the valleys like wax in a fire, like water pouring down a hill. English Standard Version And the mountains will melt under him, and the valleys will split open, like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place. Berean Standard Bible The mountains will melt beneath Him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. Berean Literal Bible And the mountains will melt under Him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax before the face of the fire, like waters poured down on a slope. King James Bible And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place. New King James Version The mountains will melt under Him, And the valleys will split Like wax before the fire, Like waters poured down a steep place. New American Standard Bible The mountains will melt under Him And the valleys will be split, Like wax before the fire, Like water poured down a steep place. NASB 1995 The mountains will melt under Him And the valleys will be split, Like wax before the fire, Like water poured down a steep place. NASB 1977 The mountains will melt under Him, And the valleys will be split, Like wax before the fire, Like water poured down a steep place. Legacy Standard Bible The mountains will melt under Him, And the valleys will be split, Like wax before the fire, Like water poured down a steep place. Amplified Bible The mountains shall melt under Him And the valleys shall be split Like wax before the fire, Like waters poured down a steep place. Berean Annotated Bible The mountains will melt beneath Him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. Christian Standard Bible The mountains will melt beneath him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax near a fire, like water cascading down a mountainside. Holman Christian Standard Bible The mountains will melt beneath Him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax near a fire, like water cascading down a mountainside. American Standard Version And the mountains shall be melted under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, as waters that are poured down a steep place. Contemporary English Version Mountains will melt beneath his feet like wax beside a fire. Valleys will vanish like water rushing down a ravine. English Revised Version And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, as waters that are poured down a steep place. GOD'S WORD® Translation Mountains will melt under him like wax near a fire. Valleys will split apart like water pouring down a steep hill. Good News Translation Then the mountains will melt under him like wax in a fire; they will pour down into the valleys like water pouring down a hill. International Standard Version The mountains will melt under him and the valleys will split apart, like wax in the presence of fire and like water gushing down a steep incline. NET Bible The mountains will disintegrate beneath him, and the valleys will be split in two. The mountains will melt like wax in a fire, the rocks will slide down like water cascading down a steep slope. New Heart English Bible The mountains melt under him, and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like waters that are poured down a steep place. Webster's Bible Translation And the mountains shall be melted under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe mountains will melt beneath Him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. World English Bible The mountains melt under him, and the valleys split apart like wax before the fire, like waters that are poured down a steep place. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThe mountains have been melted under Him, "" And the valleys split themselves, "" As wax from the presence of fire, "" As waters cast down by a slope. Berean Literal Bible And the mountains will melt under Him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax before the face of the fire, like waters poured down on a slope. Young's Literal Translation Melted have been the mountains under Him, And the valleys do rend themselves, As wax from the presence of fire, As waters cast down by a slope. Smith's Literal Translation And the mountains melted under him, and the valleys shall be cleft as wax from the face of the fire, as waters cast down in a descent. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the mountains shall be melted under him: and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as waters that run down a steep place. Catholic Public Domain Version And the mountains will be consumed under him, and the valleys will be torn apart, like wax before the face of fire, and like waters that rush swiftly downward. New American Bible The mountains melt under him and the valleys split open, Like wax before the fire, like water poured down a slope. New Revised Standard Version Then the mountains will melt under him and the valleys will burst open, like wax near the fire, like waters poured down a steep place. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the mountains shall melt under him, and the valleys shall be rent asunder like wax before the fire, and like waters that run down a steep place. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the mountains shall melt under him and the depths shall gush out like wax from before the fire and like waters that run down a descent OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the mountains shall be molten under Him, And the valleys shall be cleft, As wax before the fire, As waters that are poured down a steep place. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the mountains shall be shaken under him, and the valleys shall melt like wax before the fire, and as water rushing down a declivity. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Judgment Against Israel…3For behold, the LORD comes forth from His dwelling place; He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. 4The mountains will melt beneath Him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. 5All this is for the transgression of Jacob and the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem?… Cross References The mountains will melt beneath Him, Psalm 97:5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. Nahum 1:5 The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers. Habakkuk 3:6 He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains crumbled; the perpetual hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting. and the valleys will split apart, 2 Samuel 22:16 The channels of the sea appeared, and the foundations of the world were exposed at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils. Psalm 18:15 The channels of the sea appeared, and the foundations of the world were exposed, at Your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. Zechariah 14:4 On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half the mountain moving to the north and half to the south. like wax before the fire, Psalm 68:2 As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God. Isaiah 64:2 as fire kindles the brushwood and causes the water to boil, to make Your name known to Your enemies, so that the nations will tremble at Your presence! Deuteronomy 32:22 For a fire has been kindled by My anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol; it consumes the earth and its produce, and scorches the foundations of the mountains. like water rushing down a slope. Psalm 42:7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me. Psalm 124:4-5 then the floods would have engulfed us, then the torrent would have overwhelmed us, / then the raging waters would have swept us away. Isaiah 8:7-8 the Lord will surely bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates—the king of Assyria and all his pomp. It will overflow its channels and overrun its banks. / It will pour into Judah, swirling and sweeping over it, reaching up to the neck; its spreading streams will cover your entire land, O Immanuel! Isaiah 64:1-3 If only You would rend the heavens and come down, so that mountains would quake at Your presence, / as fire kindles the brushwood and causes the water to boil, to make Your name known to Your enemies, so that the nations will tremble at Your presence! / When You did awesome works that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains trembled at Your presence. Judges 5:4-5 O LORD, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the land of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured out rain, and the clouds poured down water. / The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel. Amos 9:5 The Lord GOD of Hosts, He who touches the earth and it melts, and all its dwellers mourn—all the land rises like the Nile, then sinks like the river of Egypt— Isaiah 13:13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place at the wrath of the LORD of Hosts on the day of His burning anger. Treasury of Scripture And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place. the mountains. Judges 5:4 LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. Psalm 97:5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. Isaiah 64:1-3 Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, … the valleys. Zechariah 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. as wax. Psalm 68:2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. a steep place. Jump to Previous Apart Beneath Broken Cleft Deep Fire Flowing Melt Melted Molten Mountains Open Poured Presence Rend Rushing Slope Split Steep Themselves Turned Valleys Water Waters WaxJump to Next Apart Beneath Broken Cleft Deep Fire Flowing Melt Melted Molten Mountains Open Poured Presence Rend Rushing Slope Split Steep Themselves Turned Valleys Water Waters WaxMicah 1 1. The time when Micah prophesied.2. He shows the wrath of God against Jacob for idolatry. 10. He exhorts to mourning. The mountains will melt beneath Him, God’s appearing in judgment shakes even the most enduring parts of creation. Mountains, which seem immovable to men, cannot stand before the Lord who made them. Psa 97:5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD,… and the valleys will split apart, Every part of the land, from its heights to its low places, is subject to God’s judgment. Micah presents His coming as a real and overwhelming intervention against the sin of Samaria and Jerusalem. 2Sa 22:16 The channels of the sea appeared, and the foundations… like wax before the fire, The resistance of nations and rulers will dissolve before God’s holiness and power. What appears strong in human eyes is powerless when He acts. Psa 68:2 As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out;… like water rushing down a slope. His judgment moves with force and certainty, sweeping away all that opposes His rule. Psa 42:7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls;… Persons / Places / Events 1. MicahA prophet from Moresheth, who prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. His messages were directed towards both Israel and Judah, warning them of impending judgment due to their sins. 2. Mountains and Valleys Symbolic representations of the natural world and the stability of creation. In this context, they illustrate the overwhelming power and presence of God as He comes in judgment. 3. Judgment The event being described is the divine judgment of God upon the nations, particularly Israel and Judah, for their idolatry and injustice. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty and PowerThe imagery of mountains melting and valleys splitting highlights God's absolute power over creation. It serves as a reminder of His sovereignty and the futility of resisting His will. The Reality of Divine Judgment This passage underscores the certainty and seriousness of God's judgment. It calls believers to live in reverence and obedience, recognizing that God will hold all accountable. Repentance and Humility The vivid imagery should lead us to examine our own lives, repent of any sin, and approach God with humility, acknowledging His holiness and our need for His grace. Hope in God's Justice While the imagery is terrifying, it also assures us that God will ultimately bring justice. For those who trust in Him, this is a source of hope and comfort. Creation's Response to God The natural world responds to God's presence in dramatic ways, reminding us that all creation is under His command and will ultimately reflect His glory. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Micah 1:4?2. How does Micah 1:4 illustrate God's power over creation and judgment? 3. What does "mountains will melt" symbolize about God's presence in Micah 1:4? 4. How can Micah 1:4 deepen our understanding of God's holiness and justice? 5. Connect Micah 1:4 with other scriptures about God's sovereignty over nature. 6. How should Micah 1:4 influence our reverence and obedience to God today? 7. What does Micah 1:4 reveal about God's power over creation? 8. How does Micah 1:4 illustrate God's judgment? 9. What historical events might Micah 1:4 be referencing? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Micah 1? (4) The mountains shall be molten.--The manifestations of the presence of God are taken from the description of the giving of the Law, when "the hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth" (Psalm 97:5). Dean Stanley refers the imagery to the memorable earthquake mentioned in Amos 1:1 :--"Mountains and valleys are cleft asunder, and melt as in a furnace; the earth heaving like the rising waters of the Nile; the sea bursting over the land; the ground shaking and sliding as, with a succession of shocks, its solid framework reels to and fro like a drunkard" (Jewish Church, Lect. 37).Verse 4. - The description of God's advent to judgment is founded on the idea of a terrible storm and earthquake, perhaps accompanied with volcanic eruption, though evidence of such eruptions in the historical period is not forthcoming. The description recalls the awful revelation at Sinai (Exodus 19.). Shall be molten; either by the lightning or the showers of rain that descend from heaven. The mountains, the type of stability and strength, fall away at the presence of the Judge. Septuagint, σαλευθήσεται, "shall be shaken;" Vulgate, consumentur (Judges 5:4, 5; Psalm 18:7, etc.; Psalms 68:8; 97:4, 5; Amos 9:5). Be cleft; Septuagint, τακήσονται, "shall melt." The valleys shall be hollowed out into channels by the force of the water, which falls in torrents. As wax (Psalm 68:2; Psalm 97:5). This belongs to the first clause, "the mountains," etc. As waters. This belongs to the second clause. The cloven plains shall melt away as waters disappear down a precipice. The idea that underlies this description is that the inanimate creation shares in the effects of the judgment on man, and is used as an instrument in his punishment. Micah 1:4 paints a literal, coming moment when God Himself steps onto the stage. Mountains liquefy, valleys rupture, wax vanishes, and water cascades—all to show that no force stands against His holiness. The verse calls us to revere His might, rejoice in His protection, and repent of any stance that places us in the path of His unstoppable advance. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew The mountainsהֶֽהָרִים֙ (he·hā·rîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country will melt וְנָמַ֤סּוּ (wə·nā·mas·sū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 4549: To liquefy, to waste, to faint beneath Him, תַּחְתָּ֔יו (taḥ·tāw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of and the valleys וְהָעֲמָקִ֖ים (wə·hā·‘ă·mā·qîm) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 6010: A vale will split apart, יִתְבַּקָּ֑עוּ (yiṯ·baq·qā·‘ū) Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1234: To cleave, to rend, break, rip, open like wax כַּדּוֹנַג֙ (kad·dō·w·naḡ) Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1749: Wax (as melting) before מִפְּנֵ֣י (mip·pə·nê) Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct Strong's 6440: The face the fire, הָאֵ֔שׁ (hā·’êš) Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 784: A fire like water כְּמַ֖יִם (kə·ma·yim) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen cascading down מֻגָּרִ֥ים (mug·gā·rîm) Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 5064: To flow, to stretch out, to pour out, down, to deliver over a slope. בְּמוֹרָֽד׃ (bə·mō·w·rāḏ) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4174: A descent, an ornamental appendage, a festoon Additonal Resources Micah 1:4 Blue Letter BibleMicah 1:4 Bible Gateway Micah 1:4 Bible.com Micah 1:4 NIV |
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