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Selected Verse: Micah 1:8 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Mic 1:8	Strong Concordance	Therefore I will wail [05594] and howl [03213], I will go [03212] stripped [07758] [07758] and naked [06174]: I will make [06213] a wailing [04553] like the dragons [08577], and mourning [060] as the owls [01323] [03284].
	King James	Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Therefore I will wail--The prophet first shows how the coming judgment affects himself, in order that he might affect the minds of his countrymen similarly. stripped--that is, of shoes, or sandals, as the Septuagint translates. Otherwise "naked" would be a tautology. naked--"Naked" means divested of the upper garment (Isa 20:2). "Naked and barefoot," the sign of mourning (Sa2 15:30). The prophet's upper garment was usually rough and coarse-haired (Kg2 1:8; Zac 13:4). like the dragons--so JEROME. Rather, "the wild dogs," jackals or wolves, which wail like an infant when in distress or alone [MAURER]. (See on Job 30:29). owls--rather, "ostriches," which give a shrill and long-drawn, sigh-like cry, especially at night.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Therefore I will wail--The prophet first shows how the coming judgment affects himself, in order that he might affect the minds of his countrymen similarly.

stripped--that is, of shoes, or sandals, as the Septuagint translates. Otherwise "naked" would be a tautology.

naked--"Naked" means divested of the upper garment (Isa 20:2). "Naked and barefoot," the sign of mourning (Sa2 15:30). The prophet's upper garment was usually rough and coarse-haired (Kg2 1:8; Zac 13:4).

like the dragons--so JEROME. Rather, "the wild dogs," jackals or wolves, which wail like an infant when in distress or alone [MAURER]. (See on Job 30:29).

owls--rather, "ostriches," which give a shrill and long-drawn, sigh-like cry, especially at night.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Therefore I will - Therefore I would Wail - (properly, beat, that is, on the breast). And howl - "Let me alone," he would say, "that I may vent my sorrow in all ways of expressing sorrow, beating on the breast and wailing, using all acts and sounds of grief." It is as we would say, "Let me mourn on," a mourning inexhaustible, because the woe too and the cause of grief was unceasing. The prophet becomes in words, probably in acts too, an image of his people, doing as they should do hereafter. He mourns, because and as they would have to mourn, bearing chastisement, bereft of all outward comeliness, an example also of repentance, since what he did were the chief outward tokens of mourning. I will (would) go stripped - despoiled . And naked - He explains the acts, that they represented no mere voluntary mourning. Not only would he, representing them, go bared of all garments of beauty, as we say "half-naked" but despoiled also, the proper term of those plundered and stripped by an enemy. He speaks of his doing, what we know that Isaiah did, by God's command, representing in act what his people should thereafter do. : "Wouldest thou that I should weep, thou must thyself grieve the first." Micah doubtless went about, not speaking only of grief, but grieving, in the habit of one mourning and bereft of all. He prolongs in these words the voice of wailing, choosing unaccustomed forms of words, to carry on the sound of grief. I will make a wailing like the dragons - (jackals). And mourning as the owls - (ostriches). The cry of both, as heard at night, is very piteous. Both are doleful creatures, dwelling in desert and lonely places. "The jackals make a lamentable howling noise, so that travelers unacquainted with them would think that a company of people, women or children, were howling, one to another." "Its howl," says an Arabic natural historian , "is like the crying of an infant." "We heard them," says another , "through the night, wandering around the villages, with a continual, prolonged, mournful cry." The ostrich, forsaking its young Job 39:16, is an image of bereavement. Jerome: "As the ostrich forgets her eggs and leaves them as though they were not her's, to be trampled by the feet of wild beasts, so too shall I go childless, spoiled and naked." Its screech is spoken of by travelers as "fearful, aftrighting." : "During the lonesome part of the night they often make a doleful and piteous noise. I have often heard them groan, as if they were in the greatest agonies." Dionysius: "I will grieve from the heart over those who perish, mourning for the hardness of the ungodly, as the Apostle had Rom 9:1 great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart for his brethren, the impenitent and unbelieving Jews. Again he saith, "who is weak and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?" Co2 11:29. For by how much the soul is nobler than the body, and by how much eternal damnation is heavier than any temporal punishment, so much more vehemently should we grieve and weep for the peril and perpetual damnation of souls, than for bodily sickness or any temporal evil."

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The judgment will not stop at Samaria, however, but spread over Judah. The prophet depicts this by saying that he will go about mourning as a prisoner, to set forth the misery that will come upon Judah (Mic 1:8, Mic 1:9); and then, to confirm this, he announces to a series of cities the fate awaiting them, or rather awaiting the kingdom, by a continued play upon words founded upon their names (Mic 1:10-15); and finally he summons Zion to deep mourning (Mic 1:16). Mic 1:8. "Therefore will I lament and howl, I will go spoiled and naked: I will keep lamentation like the jackals, and mourning like the ostriches. Mic 1:9. For her stripes are malignant; for it comes to Judah, reaches to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem." על־זאת points back to what precedes, and is then explained in Mic 1:9. The prophet will lament over the destruction of Samaria, because the judgment which has befallen this city will come upon Judah also. Micah does not speak in his own name here as a patriot (Hitzig), but in the name of his nation, with which he identifies himself as being a member thereof. This is indisputably evident from the expression אילכה שׁילל וערום, which describes the costume of a prisoner, not that of a mourner. The form אילכה with י appears to have been simply suggested by אילילה. שׁילל is formed like הידד in Isa 16:9-10, and other similar words (see Olshausen, Gramm. p. 342). The Masoretes have substituted שׁלל, after Job 12:17, but without the slightest reason. It does not mean "barefooted," ἀνυπόδετος (lxx), for which there was already יחף in the language (Sa2 15:30; Isa 20:2-3; Jer 2:25), but plundered, spoiled. ערום, naked, i.e., without upper garment (see my comm. on Sa1 19:24), not merely vestitu solido et decente privatus. Mourners do indeed go barefooted (yâchēph, see Sa2 15:30), and in deep mourning in a hairy garment (saq, Sa2 3:31; Gen 37:34, etc.), but not plundered and naked. The assertion, however, that a man was called ̀ârōm when he had put on a mourning garment (saq, sackcloth) in the place of his upper garment, derives no support from Isa 20:2, but rather a refutation. For there the prophet does not go about ‛ârōm veyâchēph, i.e., in the dress of a prisoner, to symbolize the captivity of Egypt, till after he has loosened the hairy garment (saq) from his loins, i.e., taken it off. And here also the plundering of the prophet and his walking naked are to be understood in the same way. Micah's intention is not only to exhibit publicly his mourning fore the approaching calamity of Judah, but also to set forth in a symbolical form the fate that awaits the Judaeans. And he can only do this by including himself in the nation, and exhibiting the fate of the nation in his own person. Wailing like jackals and ostriches is a loud, strong, mournful cry, those animals being distinguished by a mournful wail; see the comm. on Job 30:29, which passage may possibly have floated before the prophet's mind. Thus shall Judah wail, because the stroke which falls upon Samaria is a malignant, i.e., incurable (the suffix attached to מכּותיה refers to Shōmerōn, Samaria, in Mic 1:6 and Mic 1:7. For the singular of the predicate before a subject in the plural, see Ewald, 295, a, and 317, a). It reaches to Judah, yea, to Jerusalem. Jerusalem, as the capital, is called the "gate of my people," because in it par excellence the people went out and in. That עד is not exclusive here, but inclusive, embracing the terminus ad quem, is evident from the parallel "even to Judah;" for if it only reached to the border of Judah, it would not have been able to come to Jerusalem; and still more clearly so from the description in Mic 1:10. The fact that Jerusalem is not mentioned till after Judah is to be interpreted rhetorically, and not geographically. Even the capital, where the temple of Jehovah stood, would not be spared.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The judgment will not stop at Samaria, however, but spread over Judah. The prophet depicts this by saying that he will go about mourning as a prisoner, to set forth the misery that will come upon Judah (Mic 1:8, Mic 1:9); and then, to confirm this, he announces to a series of cities the fate awaiting them, or rather awaiting the kingdom, by a continued play upon words founded upon their names (Mic 1:10-15); and finally he summons Zion to deep mourning (Mic 1:16). Mic 1:8. "Therefore will I lament and howl, I will go spoiled and naked: I will keep lamentation like the jackals, and mourning like the ostriches. Mic 1:9. For her stripes are malignant; for it comes to Judah, reaches to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem." על־זאת points back to what precedes, and is then explained in Mic 1:9. The prophet will lament over the destruction of Samaria, because the judgment which has befallen this city will come upon Judah also. Micah does not speak in his own name here as a patriot (Hitzig), but in the name of his nation, with which he identifies himself as being a member thereof. This is indisputably evident from the expression אילכה שׁילל וערום, which describes the costume of a prisoner, not that of a mourner. The form אילכה with י appears to have been simply suggested by אילילה. שׁילל is formed like הידד in Isa 16:9-10, and other similar words (see Olshausen, Gramm. p. 342). The Masoretes have substituted שׁלל, after Job 12:17, but without the slightest reason. It does not mean "barefooted," ἀνυπόδετος (lxx), for which there was already יחף in the language (Sa2 15:30; Isa 20:2-3; Jer 2:25), but plundered, spoiled. ערום, naked, i.e., without upper garment (see my comm. on Sa1 19:24), not merely vestitu solido et decente privatus. Mourners do indeed go barefooted (yâchēph, see Sa2 15:30), and in deep mourning in a hairy garment (saq, Sa2 3:31; Gen 37:34, etc.), but not plundered and naked. The assertion, however, that a man was called ̀ârōm when he had put on a mourning garment (saq, sackcloth) in the place of his upper garment, derives no support from Isa 20:2, but rather a refutation. For there the prophet does not go about ‛ârōm veyâchēph, i.e., in the dress of a prisoner, to symbolize the captivity of Egypt, till after he has loosened the hairy garment (saq) from his loins, i.e., taken it off. And here also the plundering of the prophet and his walking naked are to be understood in the same way. Micah's intention is not only to exhibit publicly his mourning fore the approaching calamity of Judah, but also to set forth in a symbolical form the fate that awaits the Judaeans. And he can only do this by including himself in the nation, and exhibiting the fate of the nation in his own person. Wailing like jackals and ostriches is a loud, strong, mournful cry, those animals being distinguished by a mournful wail; see the comm. on Job 30:29, which passage may possibly have floated before the prophet's mind. Thus shall Judah wail, because the stroke which falls upon Samaria is a malignant, i.e., incurable (the suffix attached to מכּותיה refers to Shōmerōn, Samaria, in Mic 1:6 and Mic 1:7. For the singular of the predicate before a subject in the plural, see Ewald, 295, a, and 317, a). It reaches to Judah, yea, to Jerusalem. Jerusalem, as the capital, is called the "gate of my people," because in it par excellence the people went out and in. That עד is not exclusive here, but inclusive, embracing the terminus ad quem, is evident from the parallel "even to Judah;" for if it only reached to the border of Judah, it would not have been able to come to Jerusalem; and still more clearly so from the description in Mic 1:10. The fact that Jerusalem is not mentioned till after Judah is to be interpreted rhetorically, and not geographically. Even the capital, where the temple of Jehovah stood, would not be spared.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Therefore - Because of those dreadful slaughters in Israel and Samaria. And naked - As one that in bitterness of passion hath cast off his upper garment. Dragons - Or rather, Jackals, which haunt desolate places, and make a great and hideous noise by night.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
I will make a wailing like the dragons - Newcome translates: - I will make a wailing like the foxes, (or jackals), And mourning like the daughters of the ostrich. This beast, the jackal or shiagal, we have often met with in the prophets. Travellers inform us that its howlings by night are most lamentable; and as to the ostrich, it is remarkable for its fearful shrieking and agonizing groanings after night. Dr. Shaw says he has often heard them groan as if they were in the greatest agonies.

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²⁹ I am a brother [0251] to dragons [08577], and a companion [07453] to owls [01323] [03284].

⁴ And it shall come to pass in that day [03117], that the prophets [05030] shall be ashamed [0954] every one [0376] of his vision [02384], when he hath prophesied [05012]; neither shall they wear [03847] a rough [08181] garment [0155] to deceive [03584]:

⁸ And they answered [0559] him, He was an hairy [08181] man [01167] [0376], and girt [0247] with a girdle [0232] of leather [05785] about his loins [04975]. And he said [0559], It is Elijah [0452] the Tishbite [08664].

³⁰ And David [01732] went up [05927] by the ascent [04608] of mount Olivet [02132], and wept [01058] as he went up [05927], and had his head [07218] covered [02645], and he went [01980] barefoot [03182]: and all the people [05971] that was with him covered [02645] every man [0376] his head [07218], and they went up [05927], weeping [01058] as they went up [05927].

²⁹ Who [5101] is weak [770], and [2532] I am [770] not [3756] weak [770]? who [5101] is offended [4624], and [2532] I [1473] burn [4448] not [3756]?

¹ I say [3004] the truth [225] in [1722] Christ [5547], I lie [5574] not [3756], my [3450] conscience [4893] also bearing [4828] me [3427] witness [4828] in [1722] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151],

¹⁶ She is hardened [07188] against her young ones [01121], as though they were not [03808] hers: her labour [03018] is in vain [07385] without fear [06343];

¹⁰ Declare [05046] ye it not at Gath [01661], weep [01058] ye not at all [01058]: in the house of Aphrah [01036] roll [06428] [06428] thyself in the dust [06083].

⁷ And all the graven images [06456] thereof shall be beaten to pieces [03807], and all the hires [0868] thereof shall be burned [08313] with the fire [0784], and all the idols [06091] thereof will I lay [07760] desolate [08077]: for she gathered [06908] it of the hire [0868] of an harlot [02181], and they shall return [07725] to the hire [0868] of an harlot [02181].

⁶ Therefore I will make [07760] Samaria [08111] as an heap [05856] of the field [07704], and as plantings [04302] of a vineyard [03754]: and I will pour down [05064] the stones [068] thereof into the valley [01516], and I will discover [01540] the foundations [03247] thereof.

²⁹ I am a brother [0251] to dragons [08577], and a companion [07453] to owls [01323] [03284].

³⁴ And Jacob [03290] rent [07167] his clothes [08071], and put [07760] sackcloth [08242] upon his loins [04975], and mourned [056] for his son [01121] many [07227] days [03117].

³¹ And David [01732] said [0559] to Joab [03097], and to all the people [05971] that were with him, Rend [07167] your clothes [0899], and gird [02296] you with sackcloth [08242], and mourn [05594] before [06440] Abner [074]. And king [04428] David [01732] himself followed [01980] [0310] the bier [04296].

²⁴ And he stripped off [06584] his clothes [0899] also [01571], and prophesied [05012] before [06440] Samuel [08050] in like manner, and lay down [05307] naked [06174] all that day [03117] and all that night [03915]. Wherefore they say [0559], Is Saul [07586] also among the prophets [05030]?

²⁵ Withhold [04513] thy foot [07272] from being unshod [03182], and thy throat [01627] from thirst [06773]: but thou saidst [0559], There is no hope [02976]: no; for I have loved [0157] strangers [02114], and after [0310] them will I go [03212].

² At the same time [06256] spake [01696] the LORD [03068] by [03027] Isaiah [03470] the son [01121] of Amoz [0531], saying [0559], Go [03212] and loose [06605] the sackcloth [08242] from off thy loins [04975], and put off [02502] thy shoe [05275] from thy foot [07272]. And he did so [06213], walking [01980] naked [06174] and barefoot [03182].
³ And the LORD [03068] said [0559], Like as my servant [05650] Isaiah [03470] hath walked [01980] naked [06174] and barefoot [03182] three [07969] years [08141] for a sign [0226] and wonder [04159] upon Egypt [04714] and upon Ethiopia [03568];

¹⁷ He leadeth [03212] counsellors [03289] away spoiled [07758], and maketh the judges [08199] fools [01984].

⁹ Therefore I will bewail [01058] with the weeping [01065] of Jazer [03270] the vine [01612] of Sibmah [07643]: I will water [07301] thee with my tears [01832], O Heshbon [02809], and Elealeh [0500]: for the shouting [01959] for thy summer fruits [07019] and for thy harvest [07105] is fallen [05307].
¹⁰ And gladness [08057] is taken away [0622], and joy [01524] out of the plentiful field [03759]; and in the vineyards [03754] there shall be no singing [07442], neither shall there be shouting [07321]: the treaders [01869] shall tread out [01869] no wine [03196] in their presses [03342]; I have made their vintage shouting [01959] to cease [07673].

⁹ For her wound [04347] is incurable [0605]; for it is come [0935] unto Judah [03063]; he is come [05060] unto the gate [08179] of my people [05971], even to Jerusalem [03389].

⁸ Therefore I will wail [05594] and howl [03213], I will go [03212] stripped [07758] [07758] and naked [06174]: I will make [06213] a wailing [04553] like the dragons [08577], and mourning [060] as the owls [01323] [03284].

¹⁶ Make thee bald [07139], and poll [01494] thee for thy delicate [08588] children [01121]; enlarge [07337] thy baldness [07144] as the eagle [05404]; for they are gone into captivity [01540] from thee.

¹⁰ Declare [05046] ye it not at Gath [01661], weep [01058] ye not at all [01058]: in the house of Aphrah [01036] roll [06428] [06428] thyself in the dust [06083].
¹¹ Pass ye away [05674], thou inhabitant [03427] of Saphir [08208], having thy shame [01322] naked [06181]: the inhabitant [03427] of Zaanan [06630] came not forth [03318] in the mourning [04553] of Bethezel [01018]; he shall receive [03947] of you his standing [05979].
¹² For the inhabitant [03427] of Maroth [04796] waited carefully [02342] for good [02896]: but evil [07451] came down [03381] from the LORD [03068] unto the gate [08179] of Jerusalem [03389].
¹³ O thou inhabitant [03427] of Lachish [03923], bind [07573] the chariot [04818] to the swift beast [07409]: she is the beginning [07225] of the sin [02403] to the daughter [01323] of Zion [06726]: for the transgressions [06588] of Israel [03478] were found [04672] in thee.
¹⁴ Therefore shalt thou give [05414] presents [07964] to Moreshethgath [04182]: the houses [01004] of Achzib [0392] shall be a lie [0391] to the kings [04428] of Israel [03478].
¹⁵ Yet will I bring [0935] an heir [03423] unto thee, O inhabitant [03427] of Mareshah [04762]: he shall come [0935] unto Adullam [05725] the glory [03519] of Israel [03478].

⁹ For her wound [04347] is incurable [0605]; for it is come [0935] unto Judah [03063]; he is come [05060] unto the gate [08179] of my people [05971], even to Jerusalem [03389].