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Micah 5:8
And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

Psalm 126:2
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

Isaiah 26:11
LORD,when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see:but they shall see, and be ashamed fortheir envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.

lay.

Job 21:5
Mark me, and be astonished, and layyour hand uponyour mouth.

Job 29:9,10
The princes refrained talking, and laidtheir hand on their mouth…

Job 40:4
Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

Deprived of all their might
This phrase suggests a stripping away of the power and influence that these nations once held. Historically, this can be seen in the downfall of empires that opposed Israel, such as Assyria and Babylon. Theologically, it reflects the biblical principle that human strength is nothing compared to divine power, as seen inPsalm 33:16-17, where it is stated that a king is not saved by his great army. This also foreshadows the ultimate defeat of all earthly powers at the return of Christ, as described inRevelation 19:11-21.

They will put their hands over their mouths
This gesture is one of astonishment and silence, often associated with awe or fear. In the cultural context of the ancient Near East, covering one's mouth was a sign of submission or acknowledgment of a higher authority.Job 40:4-5 illustrates this when Job, confronted by God's majesty, places his hand over his mouth in humility. This act signifies the nations' recognition of God's authority and their inability to respond or challenge His actions.

And their ears will become deaf
The deafness of the nations symbolizes their inability to comprehend or respond to God's judgment. This can be seen as a form of divine retribution, where those who refused to listen to God's word are now unable to hear.Isaiah 6:9-10 speaks of a similar judgment, where the people's hearts are hardened, and their ears are made dull. This deafness also highlights the futility of relying on human wisdom and understanding in the face of divine revelation, as emphasized in1 Corinthians 1:19-20, where God makes the wisdom of the world foolish.

“ Nations will see …”

• God’s restoration of His people will be so public that every surrounding power notices (Isaiah 52:10;Zechariah 8:23).

• The verse looks ahead to the day when the Lord Himself intervenes for Israel, unveiling His glory before a watching world (Psalm 98:2–3).

• This “seeing” is not casual; it is an undeniable recognition that the God of Scripture is actively moving in history (Ezekiel 36:23).

“… and be ashamed …”

• Shame overtakes the nations because their idols and strategies are exposed as empty (Isaiah 45:16–17).

• Earlier in the chapter, Micah anticipated this outcome for those who mocked Zion (Micah 7:10).

• The feeling is the same as inPsalm 6:10, where enemies are “suddenly put to shame.”

Key thought: The very people who once shamed God’s people will feel that same disgrace when truth is revealed (Isaiah 41:11).

“… deprived of all their might .”

• Every military alliance, economic leverage, and political influence evaporates when the Lord judges (Psalm 46:9;Zephaniah 3:6).

• Like Pharaoh’s army drowned in the sea (Exodus 14:27–28), worldly power collapses before divine power.

• This strips away boasting and leaves only dependence on God (Psalm 33:16–17).

Takeaway: Human strength, no matter how impressive, cannot stand when God decides to act (Isaiah 14:27).

“ They will put their hands over their mouths …”

• A universal gesture of shock and self-silencing—seen inJob 40:4 (“I put my hand over my mouth”).

• The silence fulfillsRomans 3:19, “so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.”

• By covering their mouths, they admit they have no defense, no rebuttal, and no excuse (Psalm 107:42).

Insight: The Lord’s actions will speak so loudly that the nations can only stand mute.

“… and their ears will become deaf.”

• The nations are stunned into a kind of sensory shutdown; the roar of God’s judgment drowns out every other sound (Habakkuk 3:16).

• Similar language appears inIsaiah 6:9–10, describing hearts that refuse to heed God until judgment forces acknowledgment.

• Deafness here underscores utter helplessness—unable to hear commands, gather intelligence, or rally response (Amos 8:11–12).

Result: In the presence of divine intervention, ordinary faculties fail; people are left in awe and fear (Isaiah 2:10).

Micah 7:16 reveals a sweeping reversal: the same nations that once opposed God’s people will witness the Lord’s saving power, feel crushing shame, lose every ounce of strength, and be left speechless and senseless. The verse assures believers that God will publicly vindicate His name and His people, proving that human power cannot rival His sovereign might.