“They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.”
My Notes
What Does Micah 7:17 Mean?
Micah envisions a day when the nations that opposed God's people are utterly humiliated: licking dust like a serpent, crawling from hiding like worms, terrified of the LORD. The serpent imagery connects directly to Genesis 3—the cursed serpent condemned to eat dust. The nations who acted as predators toward Israel will be reduced to the posture of the serpent in Eden: belly to the ground, eating dirt.
The progression from dust-licking to crawling from holes to fearing God traces the reversal of national pride. Nations that once stood tall against Israel—that threatened, invaded, and oppressed—will be reduced to the lowest possible physical posture. The great will become small. The mighty will become worms. The proud will eat dust.
The phrase "shall fear because of thee" directed at God's people represents the complete reversal of the power dynamic. The nations that once produced fear in Israel will now be afraid of Israel—not because Israel has become militarily powerful, but because the God behind Israel has revealed Himself as terrifyingly real.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What 'nation' or power in your life has been making you feel small? Can you picture the reversal Micah describes?
- 2.If God's presence is what produces the reversal—not your strength—how does that change how you handle intimidation?
- 3.The serpent imagery connects to Genesis. How does seeing your enemies' future posture as 'dust-eating' change your fear of them?
- 4.When the power dynamic finally reverses, will you be gracious or vengeful? What does this verse ask of you when your enemies are humbled?
Devotional
The nations will lick dust like serpents. They'll crawl from their holes like worms. They'll be afraid—of the LORD and of His people. The powers that once seemed invincible will be reduced to the posture of the cursed serpent: belly on the ground, face in the dirt.
The reversal is complete. The nations that made Israel tremble will tremble themselves. The empires that stood tall over God's people will grovel at their feet. Not because Israel became strong—because God showed up. The fear shifts from "we're afraid of them" to "they're afraid of us"—and the "us" isn't about human power. It's about the God standing behind the humans.
If you've been on the receiving end of intimidation—if someone or something has been standing over you, making you feel small, making you eat their dust—this verse promises a reversal so complete that the dynamics flip entirely. They'll eat the dust. They'll crawl. They'll be the ones afraid. Not because you became threatening—because God made Himself known on your behalf.
The serpent imagery circles all the way back to Genesis. The original curse on the serpent was dust-eating and belly-crawling. The nations that aligned themselves with the serpent's work—opposing God's people, threatening God's purposes—will share the serpent's posture. The curse of Eden reaches forward to every power that opposes God. Dust is all they'll eat.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
They shall lick the dust like a serpent,.... Whose food is the dust of the earth, according to the curse pronounced on…
They shall lick the dust like a (the) serpent - To lick the dust, by itself, pictures the extreme humility of persons…
Here is, I. The prophet's prayer to God to take care of his own people, and of their cause and interest, Mic 7:14. When…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture