And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:

MICAH 5:12KJV
Know the Bible

Micah 5:12 (KJV)

What does Micah 5:12 mean?

Micah 5:12 describes God’s promise to remove all forms of witchcraft and fortune-telling from among the people, so that they will no longer rely on these practices. The verse emphasizes that such sources of guidance and power will be completely cut off and unavailable.

Micah is speaking God’s words to the people of Israel, warning them that God will act to purify their community from practices He considers unfaithful or idolatrous. In the context of Micah’s message, this is part of a larger promise of restoration and cleansing, where God will remove influences that lead the people away from trusting Him alone.

The Hebrew behind Micah 5:12

  • “Witchcrafts” (כְּשָׁפִים, keshafim) refers to magical practices or sorcery, often associated with attempts to manipulate events or gain secret knowledge apart from God. The word highlights the seriousness with which these practices were viewed in ancient Israel.
  • “Soothsayers” (מְעוֹנְנִים, me’onenim) points to those who claim to tell the future or reveal hidden things, often through omens or divination. This term shows that the verse is not just about magic but also about any attempt to seek guidance apart from God.
  • “Hand” (יָד, yad) is often a symbol for power or control. Saying witchcrafts will be cut off from the hand suggests that the people will no longer have access to, or control over, these forbidden practices.
  • “Cut off” (כָּרַת, karat) is a strong word meaning to completely remove or destroy. It stresses the totality of God’s action—these practices will not just be reduced, but entirely eliminated.

Why Micah 5:12 matters

  • Micah 5:12 clarifies that God’s restoration involves not just outward peace but also a deep spiritual cleansing, removing anything that competes with trust in Him.
  • The verse highlights how seriously the Bible treats practices like witchcraft and divination, showing they are incompatible with faithfulness to God.
  • This promise fits into Micah’s wider message of both judgment and hope: God will judge what is harmful among His people, but also promises a future where they are free from such influences.

Where else these words appear

“witchcrafts” Hebrew H3785 · used in 5 verses

  • 2 Kings 9:22 And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?
  • Isaiah 47:9 But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
  • Isaiah 47:12 Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

“soothsayers” Hebrew H6049 · used in 11 verses

  • Genesis 9:14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
  • Deuteronomy 18:14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
  • 2 Chronicles 33:6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.