Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.

MICAH 6:15KJV
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Micah 6:15 (KJV)

What does Micah 6:15 mean?

Micah 6:15 describes a situation where people will work hard—planting crops, pressing olives, and making wine—but will not enjoy the results of their labor. The verse warns that despite their efforts, they will not benefit from what they produce, as a consequence of their actions.

In this verse, the prophet Micah is speaking God’s message to the people of Israel, who have turned away from God’s ways. The verse uses familiar activities—sowing, treading olives, and making wine—to show how their disobedience will lead to frustration and loss. The warning is part of a larger passage where God calls the people to account for their injustice and unfaithfulness.

The Hebrew behind Micah 6:15

  • "Sow" (זָרַע, zara‘, H2232) and "reap" (קָצַר, qatsar, H7114): These words highlight the basic cycle of farming—planting and harvesting. The verse breaks this expected cycle, showing that effort will not lead to reward.
  • "Tread" (דָּרַךְ, darakh, H1869) and "olives" (זַיִת, zayit, H2132): Treading olives was the way to get oil, a valuable resource. Here, the action is done, but the usual benefit (oil for anointing) is withheld.
  • "Anoint" (מָשַׁח, mashach, H5480) and "oil" (שֶׁמֶן, shemen, H8081): Anointing with oil was part of daily life and celebration. The verse stresses that even after making the oil, people will not use it for themselves.
  • "Wine" (תִּירוֹשׁ, tirosh, H8492 and יַיִן, yayin, H3196) and "drink" (שָׁתָה, shatah, H8354): Two different Hebrew words for wine appear, one for the sweet, fresh wine (tirosh) and one for regular wine (yayin), emphasizing that all types of enjoyment from the vineyard will be lost.

Why Micah 6:15 matters

  • Micah 6:15 clears up the idea that hard work always leads to reward; in this context, it shows that injustice and unfaithfulness can break that link.
  • The verse emphasizes the seriousness of turning away from God’s ways, using everyday examples that would have hit home for the original audience.
  • This warning connects to the broader message in Micah 6, where God calls the people to act justly and walk humbly, showing that their actions have real consequences.

Where else these words appear

“anoint” Hebrew H5480 · used in 8 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:40 Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.
  • 2 Samuel 12:20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
  • 2 Chronicles 28:15 And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.

“olives” Hebrew H2132 · used in 36 verses

  • Genesis 8:11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
  • Judges 9:9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
  • Psalms 128:3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

“wine” Hebrew H8492 · used in 38 verses

  • Genesis 27:28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
  • 2 Chronicles 31:5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
  • Isaiah 65:8 Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

“reap” Hebrew H7114 · used in 46 verses

  • Leviticus 19:9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.
  • Ruth 2:9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
  • Ecclesiastes 11:4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.