The Meaning of Micah 7:9 Explained

Micah 7:9

KJV: I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.

YLT: The indignation of Jehovah I do bear, For I have sinned against Him, Till that He doth plead my cause, And hath executed my judgment, He doth bring me forth to the light, I look on His righteousness.

Darby: I will bear the indignation of Jehovah for I have sinned against him until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light; I shall behold his righteousness.

ASV: I will bear the indignation of Jehovah, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I will bear  the indignation  of the LORD,  because I have sinned  against him, until he plead  my cause,  and execute  judgment  for me: he will bring me forth  to the light,  [and] I shall behold  his righteousness. 

What does Micah 7:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Micah identified with his people by confessing his guilt (cf. Daniel 9:5; Daniel 9:8; Daniel 9:11; Daniel 9:15). Though he had not personally committed the sins that he criticized his fellow Israelites of practicing, as a part of His nation he was with them in their guilt. He would have to bear the consequences of divine discipline as they did. Nevertheless the divine advocate, whom we have seen indicting the Israelites in this book, would come to the prophet"s defense. Micah would not suffer the same amount of punishment as the guilty in the nation. He would eventually come out of his dark circumstances into the light of God"s presence, and he would behold God"s righteousness. That Isaiah , he would see God demonstrate his justice and faithfulness to His promises. God will vindicate the faithful.

Context Summary

Micah 7:1-20 - God's Compassion For An Erring People
Things had come to an awful pass in the favored city. Oppression, bribery, and bloodshed, were everywhere in the ascendant. Men wrought evil with both hands. Husbands could not trust their wives. At such a time there is no refuge for God's children save in God, Micah 7:7-13.
When we have learned our lesson we find God appearing for our help. He brings forth to the light and vindicates us. Then those that hated us, and suggested that He had forsaken, will be compelled to admit that He has completely vindicated us from their reproach. Be of good cheer, believer; wait for God. He will bring out thy righteousness as the light and thy judgment as the noonday, Micah 7:10-12.
Next, the prophet pleads with Israel's Shepherd to repeat the marvels of the Exodus. He knows that God will not only pardon iniquities but subdue them, trampling them beneath His feet. This anticipates the Ascension, Ephesians 1:20-23. When a stone sinks into ocean depths, it cannot be recovered; and when sin is forgiven God never recalls it either here or hereafter. [source]

Chapter Summary: Micah 7

1  The church, complaining of her small number,
3  and the general corruption,
5  puts her confidence not in man, but in God
8  She triumphs over her enemies
14  She prays to God
15  God comforts her by promises of confusion to her enemies;
18  and by his mercies

What do the individual words in Micah 7:9 mean?

The indignation of Yahweh I will bear because I have sinned against Him until that He pleads my case and executes justice for me He will bring me forth to the light I will see His righteousness
זַ֤עַף יְהוָה֙ אֶשָּׂ֔א כִּ֥י חָטָ֖אתִי ל֑וֹ עַד֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרִ֤יב רִיבִי֙ וְעָשָׂ֣ה מִשְׁפָּטִ֔י יוֹצִיאֵ֣נִי לָא֔וֹר אֶרְאֶ֖ה בְּצִדְקָתֽוֹ

זַ֤עַף  The  indignation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: זַעַף  
Sense: rage, raging, storming, indignation.
יְהוָה֙  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶשָּׂ֔א  I  will  bear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
כִּ֥י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
חָטָ֖אתִי  I  have  sinned 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
ל֑וֹ  against  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
עַד֩  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
אֲשֶׁ֨ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יָרִ֤יב  He  pleads 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רִיב  
Sense: to strive, contend.
רִיבִי֙  my  case 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: רִיב 
Sense: strife, controversy, dispute.
וְעָשָׂ֣ה  and  executes 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
מִשְׁפָּטִ֔י  justice  for  me 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
יוֹצִיאֵ֣נִי  He  will  bring  me  forth 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
לָא֔וֹר  to  the  light 
Parse: Preposition, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: אֹור  
Sense: light.
אֶרְאֶ֖ה  I  will  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
בְּצִדְקָתֽוֹ  His  righteousness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: צְדָקָה  
Sense: justice, righteousness.