Micah the Prophet | |
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![]() Russian Orthodox icon of the Prophet Micah, 18th-century (Iconostasis of Transfiguration Church, Kizhi Monastery, Karelia, Russia). | |
Prophet | |
Born | Moresheth |
Venerated in | Judaism, Christianity, (Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church) |
Feast | August 14 (Eastern Orthodox) July 31 (Roman Catholic) |
According to the Hebrew Bible, Micah (Hebrew: מִיכָה הַמֹּרַשְׁתִּי Mīḵā hamMōraštī "Micah the Morashtite"), also known as Micheas,[1] was a prophet in Judaism and is the author of the Book of Micah. He is considered one of the Twelve Minor Prophets of the Hebrew Bible and was a contemporary of the prophets Isaiah, Amos and Hosea. Micah was from Moresheth-Gath, in southwest Judah. He prophesied during the reigns of kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah.
Micah's messages were directed chiefly toward Jerusalem. He prophesied the future destruction of Jerusalem and Samaria, the destruction and then future restoration of the Judean state, and he rebuked the people of Judah for dishonesty and idolatry.
Micah 5:2 is interpreted by Christians as a prophecy that Bethlehem, a small village just south of Jerusalem, would be the birthplace of the Messiah.