Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.

MICAH 2:5KJV
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Micah 2:5 (KJV)

What does Micah 2:5 mean?

Micah 2:5 warns that those being addressed will lose their share among God’s people; no one will measure out land for them by lot in the assembly of the LORD. This means they will be excluded from the community’s inheritance and blessings.

Micah, speaking for God, addresses people in Judah who have acted unjustly. In ancient Israel, land was divided among families by casting lots, a process overseen by the community (the "congregation of the LORD"). This verse tells them that, because of their wrongdoing, they will have no part in this process and will be cut off from the people’s shared inheritance.

The Hebrew behind Micah 2:5

  • cast (שָׁלַךְ, shalak): This word means “to throw” or “to cast.” Here, it refers to the act of casting a measuring line or cord, a way of dividing land. The verse says no one will do this for the guilty parties, showing their exclusion.
  • cord (חֶבֶל, chevel): This word means “cord” or “measuring line.” In the context of dividing land, it represents the physical act of measuring out a portion for someone. Losing this means losing a place among God’s people.
  • lot (גּוֹרָל, goral): This word means “lot,” as in drawing lots to assign land. It was a fair way to distribute land among the tribes and families. Being denied a lot means being denied a rightful share.
  • congregation (קָהָל, qahal): This word means “assembly” or “gathering,” referring to the community of Israel gathered before God. Not being included in the congregation means being cut off from the community’s spiritual and social life.
  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible. The assembly is not just any group, but the people gathered before the LORD, making the exclusion even more serious.

Why Micah 2:5 matters

  • Micah 2:5 makes clear that the punishment is not just personal loss but exclusion from the community and its blessings, which would be deeply shameful and isolating in ancient Israel.
  • The verse highlights the seriousness of injustice and oppression, showing that those who harm others may lose their own place among God’s people.
  • This warning connects to the earlier verses in Micah 2, where the prophet condemns those who seize land and oppress others, making the consequence fit the crime: those who took land from others will themselves lose their inheritance.

Where else these words appear

“cord” Hebrew H2256 · used in 58 verses

  • Deuteronomy 3:4 And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
  • Job 18:10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.
  • Isaiah 33:23 Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.

“lot” Hebrew H1486 · used in 67 verses

  • Leviticus 16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
  • Joshua 19:24 And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
  • 1 Chronicles 26:13 And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.

“congregation” Hebrew H6951 · used in 116 verses

  • Genesis 28:3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
  • 1 Kings 8:22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
  • Nehemiah 5:13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

“cast” Hebrew H7993 · used in 121 verses

  • Genesis 21:15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
  • 2 Kings 2:16 And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.
  • Isaiah 14:19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.