God’s Word Translation
Micah 7:18
18Who is a God like you? You forgive sin and overlook the rebellion of your faithful people. You will not be angry forever, because you would rather show mercy.
Micah 7:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
- New International Version (NIV)Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
Context of Micah 7:18
16Nations will see this and be ashamed in spite of all their strength. They will put their hands over their mouths. Their ears will become deaf. 17They will lick dust like snakes, like animals that crawl on the ground. They will come out of their hiding places trembling. They will turn away from your presence in fear, O Lord our God. They will be afraid of you. Who is a God like you? You forgive sin and overlook the rebellion of your faithful people. You will not be angry forever, because you would rather show mercy. 19You will again have compassion on us. You will overcome our wrongdoing. You will throw all our sins into the deep sea. 20You will be faithful to Jacob. You will have mercy on Abraham as you swore by an oath to our ancestors long ago.
Read all of Micah 7Micah 7:18 word by word
מִי־אֵ֣ל כָּמ֗וֹךָ נֹשֵׂ֤א עָוֹן֙ וְעֹבֵ֣ר עַל־פֶּ֔שַׁע לִשְׁאֵרִ֖ית נַחֲלָת֑וֹ לֹא־הֶחֱזִ֤יק לָעַד֙ אַפּ֔וֹ כִּֽי־חָפֵ֥ץ חֶ֖סֶד הֽוּא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- a Godאֵל'êl · GodH410
- like unto thee, that pardonethנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: forgiveH5375
- iniquityעָוֺן‛âvôn ‛âvôn · iniquity: crimeH5771
- and passeth byעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
- the transgressionפֶּ֫שַׁעpesha‛ · transgressionH6588
- of the remnantשְׁאֵרִיתshe'êrîyth · remnantH7611
- of his heritageנַחֲלָהnachălâh · inheritanceH5159
- he retainethחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388
- not his angerאַף'aph · face: angerH639
- for everעַד‛ad · perpetuityH5703
- because he delightethחָפֵץchâphêts · to delight inH2654
- mercyחֶ֫סֶדchêsêd · kindnessH2617
Cross-references for Micah 7:18
- Exodus 15:11“Who is like you among the gods, O Lord? Who is like you? You are glorious because of your holiness and awe-inspiring because of your splendor. You perform miracles.
- Deuteronomy 33:26“There’s no one like your God, Jeshurun! He rides through the heavens to help you. In majesty he rides through the clouds.
- 1 Kings 8:23and said, “Lord God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below. You keep your promise of mercy to your servants, who obey you wholeheartedly.
- Psalms 35:10All my bones will say, “O Lord, who can compare with you? You rescue the weak person from the one who is too strong for him and weak and needy people from the one who robs them.”
- Psalms 71:19Your righteousness reaches to the heavens, O God. You have done great things. O God, who is like you?
- Psalms 89:6Who in the skies can compare with the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord?
- Psalms 113:5Who is like the Lord our God? He is seated on his high throne.
- Isaiah 40:18To whom, then, can you compare God? To what statue can you compare him?
- Isaiah 46:8Remember this, and take courage. Recall your rebellious acts.
- Exodus 33:18Then Moses said, “Please let me see your glory.”
- Exodus 34:6Then he passed in front of Moses, calling out, “The Lord, the Lord, a compassionate and merciful God, patient, always faithful and ready to forgive.
- Numbers 14:18‘The Lord … patient, forever loving…. He forgives wrongdoing and disobedience…. He never lets the guilty go unpunished, punishing children … for their parents’ sins to the third and fourth generation….’
- Nehemiah 9:17They refused to listen. They forgot the miracles you performed for them. They became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to slavery ⌞in Egypt⌟. But you are a forgiving God, one who is compassionate, merciful, patient, and always ready to forgive. You never abandoned them,
- Psalms 65:3Various sins overwhelm me. You are the one who forgives our rebellious acts.
- Psalms 86:5You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, full of mercy toward everyone who calls out to you.
- Psalms 103:2Praise the Lord, my soul, and never forget all the good he has done:
Commentaries on Micah 7:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Who is a God like unto thee, etc - Here is a challenge to all idol worshippers, and to all those who take false views of the true God, to show his like. See his characters; they are immediately subjoined. He pardoneth iniquity. This is the prerogative of God alone; of that Being who alone has power to save or to destroy. He passeth by transgression. He can heal backsliding, and restore them that are fallen. He retaineth not his anger forever. Though…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Who is a God - (and, as the word means, A Mighty God,) like unto Thee? He saith not, “Who hast made heaven and earth, the sea and all that therein is” Exodus 20:11; nor, “Who telleth the number of the stars; and calleth them all by their names” Psalm 147:4; nor, “Who by His strength setteth fast the mountains and is girded about with power” Psalm 65:6; but who forgivest! For greater is the work of Redemption than the work of Creation. “That pardoneth”…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-20Verses 14-20 When God is about to deliver his people, he stirs up their friends to pray for them. Apply spiritually the prophet's prayer to Christ, to take care of his church, as the great Shepherd of the sheep, and to go before them, while they are here in this world as in a wood, in this world but not of it. God promises in answer to this prayer, he will do that for them which shall be repeating the miracles of former ages. As their sin brought them…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-20These verses summarize Old Testament theology well. God is unique. Nothing and no one compares to God. Because of God's unfailing love (Hebrew khesed), he does not destroy his people when he judges them. Instead, he restores them (see Exodus 36:6–7). His faithfulness means he can be trusted to do good, no matter the cost to himself (see Psalm 89:1–2). Who is a God like You: This question likely refers to Micah’s name, which means “Who is like the Lord?”…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Grateful at such unlooked-for grace being promised to Israel, Micah breaks forth into praises of Jehovah. passeth by the transgression--not conniving at it, but forgiving it; leaving it unpunished, as a traveller passes by what he chooses not to look into (Pr 19:11). Contrast Am 7:8, and "mark iniquities," Psa 130:3. the remnant--who shall be permitted to survive the previous judgment: the elect remnant of grace (Mi 4:7; 5:3, 7, 8). retaineth not…Read the comment
Topics related to Micah 7:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Micah 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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