“That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.”
My Notes
What Does Micah 7:3 Mean?
Micah describes a society so corrupt that evil is performed eagerly, with both hands. The prince asks for bribes. The judge judges for reward. The great man speaks his desire — and together they weave it together.
"Do evil with both hands earnestly" — the enthusiasm for corruption is the horrifying detail. Not reluctant evil. Earnest evil. Both hands engaged. Full effort applied to wrongdoing.
"The prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward" — the corruption runs from the top down. The political leader and the judicial leader both seek payment for their decisions. Justice is for sale.
"The great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up" — the wealthy simply state what they want, and the system delivers it. The prince, the judge, and the great man collaborate — wrapping the corruption together into a neat package.
The society Micah describes has institutionalized evil. It is not individual sin. It is systemic corruption — where every level of power cooperates in wickedness.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How does 'both hands earnestly' describe the enthusiasm with which evil is practiced?
- 2.What does systemic corruption — prince, judge, and great man collaborating — look like today?
- 3.How does the 'wrapping it up' image describe the packaging of institutional evil?
- 4.Where might you be complicit in systems that serve the powerful at the expense of the vulnerable?
Devotional
They do evil with both hands earnestly. Both hands. Full engagement. The evil is not halfhearted or reluctant. It is earnest — performed with the same energy and dedication that good work should receive.
The prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward. The political leader and the judicial leader both have their hands out. Justice is for sale. The verdict goes to the highest bidder. The system that was designed to protect the vulnerable serves the powerful.
The great man uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up. The wealthy do not even need to bribe directly. They simply state what they want. And the prince and the judge wrap it up — package the corruption, deliver the desired outcome, service the powerful.
The wrapping is the collaboration. Evil is not just individual. It is systemic — a partnership between political power, judicial authority, and economic influence. Each player contributes their part. The corruption is a team sport.
Micah describes a society where the institutions designed to uphold justice have been captured by the very evil they were meant to prevent. The leaders who should protect the vulnerable exploit them instead.
Does this sound familiar? The pattern repeats in every era. The question is not whether systemic corruption exists. It is whether you are complicit in the wrapping.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
That they may do evil with both hands earnestly,.... Or "well" (t), strenuously, diligently, to the utmost of their…
That they may do evil with both hands earnestly - (Literally, upon evil both hands to do well,) that is, “both their…
That they may do evil with both hands - That is, earnestly, greedily, to the uttermost of their power. The Vulgate…
This is such a description of bad times as, some think, could scarcely agree to the times of Hezekiah, when this prophet…
That they may do evil This verse and the first half of the following verse are extremely obscure, and it is most…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture