Micah מִיכָה
A man from Ephraim who set up idolatrous worship.
Who is Micah in the Bible?
Micah was a man from the hill country of Ephraim who set up idolatrous worship in his home, as recorded in Judges 17-18. After stealing silver from his mother and later returning it, she dedicated 200 pieces of silver to create carved and metal idols for him. Micah installed these idols in his house along with an ephod and household gods, eventually hiring a Levite priest to oversee his private religious practice (Judges 17:5-13). When the Danites passed through the region seeking land to settle, they sent spies who discovered Micah's shrine, and later a larger group of Danites returned to steal both the idols and the priest to establish their own idolatrous worship in the city of Laish (Judges 18). Micah's story illustrates the religious confusion and lack of centralized worship that characterized the period of the judges, demonstrating the spiritual decline of Israel during this era.
Biography
Micah is a man from the hill country of Ephraim who is featured in a narrative in the book of Judges (Jdg.17-18). He stole 1,100 pieces of silver from his mother but later returned them. His mother then dedicated 200 pieces of silver to the Lord for Micah to make a carved image and a metal idol (Jdg.17.1-4). Micah set up these idols in his house, along with an ephod and household gods, and installed one of his sons as his priest (Jdg.17.5). Later, a Levite from Bethlehem came to Micah's house, and Micah hired him to be his personal priest (Jdg.17.8-13). The Danites, who were seeking land to settle, sent spies who stayed at Micah's house. They later returned with 600 armed men, stole Micah's idols and his priest, and went on to conquer the city of Laish (Jdg.18.1-29). This narrative highlights the religious and moral decline in Israel during the time of the judges, when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Jdg.17.6; 21.25).
In Scripture
1 biblical bookJudges 5 verses
- Judges 17:5
"Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some household idols, and ordained one of his sons as his priest."
- Judges 17:8
"This man left the city of Bethlehem in Judah to settle where he could find a place. And as he traveled, he came to Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim."
- Judges 17:9
"“Where are you from?” Micah asked him. “I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah,” he replied, “and I am on my way to settle wherever I can find a place.”"
- Judges 17:10
"“Stay with me,” Micah said to him, “and be my father and priest, and I will give you ten shekels of silver per year, a suit of clothes, and your provisions.” So the Levite went in"
- Judges 17:12
"Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his house."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | מִיכָה |
| Spelled | Hebrew | מִיכָֽיְהוּ |