Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, July 27th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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New Living Translation

Micah 1:12

The people of Maroth anxiously wait for relief, but only bitterness awaits them as the Lord 's judgment reaches even to the gates of Jerusalem.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Maroth;  

Dictionaries:

- Easton Bible Dictionary - Maroth;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Micah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Maarath;   Maroth;   Micah, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Maroth;   Micah;   Micah, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Paronomasia ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Maroth ;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ma'roth;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Carefully;   Jarmuth;   Maroth;   Names, Proper;   Shaphir;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Micah;   Micah, Book of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Though the residents of Marothanxiously wait for something good,disaster has come from the Lordto the gate of Jerusalem.
Hebrew Names Version
For the inhabitant of Marot waits anxiously for good, Because evil has come down from the LORD to the gate of Yerushalayim.
King James Version (1611)
For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good, but euill came downe from the Lord vnto the gate of Ierusalem.
King James Version
For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the Lord unto the gate of Jerusalem.
English Standard Version
For the inhabitants of Maroth wait anxiously for good, because disaster has come down from the Lord to the gate of Jerusalem.
New American Standard Bible
For the inhabitant of Maroth Waits for something good, Because a disaster has come down from the LORD To the gate of Jerusalem.
New Century Version
Those who live in Maroth will be anxious for good news to come, because trouble will come from the Lord , all the way to the gate of Jerusalem.
Amplified Bible
For the inhabitant of Maroth (Bitterness) Writhes in pain [at its losses] and waits anxiously for good, Because a catastrophe has come down from the LORD To the gate of Jerusalem.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For the inhabitant of Maroth wayted for good, but euill came from the Lorde vnto the gate of Ierusalem.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For the inhabitant of Maroth Becomes weak waiting for good, Because a calamity has come down from the LORD To the gate of Jerusalem.
Legacy Standard Bible
For the inhabitant of MarothWrithes in waiting for goodBecause a calamity has come down from YahwehTo the gate of Jerusalem.
Berean Standard Bible
For the residents of Maroth pined for good, but calamity came down from the LORD, even to the gate of Jerusalem.
Contemporary English Version
Everyone in Maroth hoped for the best, but the Lord sent disaster down on Jerusalem.
Complete Jewish Bible
The inhabitants of Marot have no hope of anything good; for Adonai has sent down disaster to the very gate of Yerushalayim.
Darby Translation
For the inhabitress of Maroth waited anxiously for good; but evil hath come down from Jehovah unto the gate of Jerusalem.
Easy-to-Read Version
The people living in Maroth wait for something good to happen, even though trouble has come down from the Lord and has reached the city gate of Jerusalem.
George Lamsa Translation
For the rebellious inhabitant is sick of waiting for good; for disaster is come down from the LORD to the gate of Jerusalem.
Good News Translation
The people of Maroth anxiously wait for relief, because the Lord has brought disaster close to Jerusalem.
Lexham English Bible
For the inhabitants of Maroth writhed for good, because disaster has come down from Yahweh to the gate of Jerusalem.
Literal Translation
For be grieved for good, the one living in Maroth, for evil came down from Jehovah to the gate of Jerusalem.
American Standard Version
For the inhabitant of Maroth waiteth anxiously for good, because evil is come down from Jehovah unto the gate of Jerusalem.
Bible in Basic English
For the one living in Maroth is waiting for good: for evil has come down from the Lord to the doorways of Jerusalem.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
For the inhabitant of Maroth waiteth anxiously for good; because evil is come down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For the inhabitautes of Maroth wayled for good, but the plague shall come from the Lorde, euen vnto the gates of Hierusalem.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Who has begun to act for good to her that dwells in sorrow? for calamities have come down from the Lord upon the gates of Jerusalem,
English Revised Version
For the inhabitant of Maroth waiteth anxiously for good: because evil is come down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.
World English Bible
For the inhabitant of Maroth waits anxiously for good, Because evil has come down from Yahweh to the gate of Jerusalem.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For it is maad sijk to good, which dwellith in bitternessis. For yuel cam doun fro the Lord in to the yate of Jerusalem, noise of foure horsid cart,
Update Bible Version
For the inhabitant of Maroth waits anxiously for good, because evil has come down from Yahweh to the gate of Jerusalem.
Webster's Bible Translation
For the inhabitant of Maroth waited anxiously for good: but evil came down from the LORD to the gate of Jerusalem.
New English Translation
Indeed, the residents of Maroth hope for something good to happen, though the Lord has sent disaster against the city of Jerusalem.
New King James Version
For the inhabitant of Maroth pined [fn] for good,But disaster came down from the LordTo the gate of Jerusalem.
New Life Bible
Those who live in Maroth become weak waiting for good, because trouble has come down from the Lord to the gate of Jerusalem.
New Revised Standard
For the inhabitants of Maroth wait anxiously for good, yet disaster has come down from the Lord to the gate of Jerusalem.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Though the inhabitress of Maroth waited for blessing, - yet there came down calamity from Yahweh, to the gate of Jerusalem.
Douay-Rheims Bible
For she is become weak unto good that dwelleth in bitterness: for evil is come down from the Lord into the gate of Jerusalem.
Revised Standard Version
For the inhabitants of Maroth wait anxiously for good, because evil has come down from the LORD to the gate of Jerusalem.
Young's Literal Translation
For stayed for good hath the inhabitant of Maroth, For evil hath come down from Jehovah to the gate of Jerusalem.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The rebellious cite hopeth, that it shal not be so euell: but for all that, the plage shal come from the LORDE, euen in to the porte of Ierusalem.

Contextual Overview

8 Therefore, I will mourn and lament. I will walk around barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl. 9 For my people's wound is too deep to heal. It has reached into Judah, even to the gates of Jerusalem. 10 Don't tell our enemies in Gath; don't weep at all. You people in Beth-leaphrah, roll in the dust to show your despair. 11 You people in Shaphir, go as captives into exile—naked and ashamed. The people of Zaanan dare not come outside their walls. The people of Beth-ezel mourn, for their house has no support. 12 The people of Maroth anxiously wait for relief, but only bitterness awaits them as the Lord 's judgment reaches even to the gates of Jerusalem. 13 Harness your chariot horses and flee, you people of Lachish. You were the first city in Judah to follow Israel in her rebellion, and you led Jerusalem into sin. 14 Send farewell gifts to Moresheth-gath; there is no hope of saving it. The town of Aczib has deceived the kings of Israel. 15 O people of Mareshah, I will bring a conqueror to capture your town. And the leaders of Israel will go to Adullam. 16 Oh, people of Judah, shave your heads in sorrow, for the children you love will be snatched away. Make yourselves as bald as a vulture, for your little ones will be exiled to distant lands.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Maroth: Ruth 1:20

waited carefully: or, was grieved, 1 Samuel 4:13, Job 30:26, Isaiah 59:9-11, Jeremiah 8:15, Jeremiah 14:19

but: Micah 1:9, Isaiah 45:7, Amos 3:6

Reciprocal: Isaiah 24:12 - General Jeremiah 5:27 - so are Ezekiel 7:25 - and they

Cross-References

Genesis 1:10
God called the dry ground "land" and the waters "seas." And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:11
Then God said, "Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came." And that is what happened.
Genesis 1:24
Then God said, "Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals." And that is what happened.
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground."
Isaiah 61:11
The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere.
Mark 4:28
The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.
Luke 6:44
A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.
2 Corinthians 9:10
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
Galatians 6:7
Don't be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good,.... Or, "though [they] waited for good" r; expected to have it, yet the reverse befell them: or "verily [they were] grieved for good" s; for the good things they had lost, or were likely to lose; and which they had no more hope of, when they saw Jerusalem in distress. Grotius thinks, by transposition of letters, Ramoth is intended by Maroth, or the many Ramahs which were in Judah and Benjamin; but Hillerus t is of opinion that Jarmuth is meant, a city of Judah, Joshua 15:35; the word Maroth signifies "bitterness"; see Ruth 1:20; and, according to others, "rough places"; and may design the inhabitants of such places that were in great bitterness and trouble because of the invasion of the enemy, who before that had promised themselves good things, and lived in the expectation of them:

but evil came down from the Lord unto the gate of Jerusalem; meaning the Assyrian army under Sennacherib, which came into the land of Judea by the order, direction, and providence of God, like an overflowing flood; which spread itself over the land, and reached to the very gates of Jerusalem, which was besieged by it, and threatened with destruction: or "because evil came down", c. that is, "because" of that, the inhabitants of Maroth grieved, or were in pain, as a woman in travail.

r כי "quamvis". s כי חלה לטוב "certe doluit propter bonum", Vatablus "siquidem doluit", Pagninus, Montanus; "quia doluit propter bonum", Burkius. t Onomast. p. 87, 951.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For the inhabitant of Maroth - (bitterness) waited carefully for good She waited carefully for the good which God gives, not for the Good which God is. She looked, longed for, good, as men do; but therewith her longing ended. She longed for it, amid her own evil, which brought God’s judgments upon her. Maroth is mentioned here only in Holy Scripture, and has not been identified. It too was probably selected for its meaning. The inhabitant of bitternesses, she, to whom bitternesses, or, it may be, rebellions, were as the home in which she dwelt, which ever encircled her, in which she reposed, wherein she spent her life, waited for good! Strange contradiction! yet a contradiction, which the whole un-Christian world is continually en acting; nay, from which Christians have often to be awakened, to look for good to themselves, nay, to pray for temporal good, while living in bitternesses, bitter ways, displeasing to God. The words are calculated to be a religious proverb. “Living in sin,” as we say, dwelling in bitternesses, she looked for good! Bitternesses! for it is Jeremiah 2:19 an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that My fear is not in thee.

But evil came down from the Lord unto the gate of Jerusalem - It came, like the sulphur and fire which God rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah, but as yet to the gate of Jerusalem, not upon itself. : “Evil came down upon them from the Lord, that is, I was grieved, I chastened, I brought the Assyrian upon them, and from My anger came this affliction upon them. But it was removed, My Hand prevailing and marvelously rescuing those who worshiped My Majesty. For the trouble shall come to the gate. But we know that Rabshakeh, with many horsemen, came to Jerusalem and all-but touched the gates. But he took it not. For in one night the Assyrian was consumed.” The two for’s are seemingly coordinate, and assign the reasons of the foreannounced evils, Micah 1:3-11 on man’s part and on God’s part. On man’s part, in that he looked for what could not so come, good: on God’s part, in that evil, which alone could be looked for, which, amid man’s evil, could alone be good for man, came from Him. Losing the true Good, man lost all other good, and dwelling in the bitterness of sin and provocation, he dwelt indeed in bitterness of trouble.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Micah 1:12. The inhabitant of Maroth — There was a city of a similar name in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:59.


 
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