Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Micah 5:14 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 14. 14And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse removes Asherah poles and, in the received text, destroys cities.
Read It With
- Micah 5:10-15
Read Micah 5:14 with 5:10-15. This verse removes Asherah poles and, in the received text, destroys cities. The complete unit establishes this movement: Before vengeance reaches disobedient nations, the LORD removes Israel's own military infrastructure, fortified self-reliance, divination, and handmade worship, placing purification before any outward judgment.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The sequence blocks a triumphalist reading of remnant power: Israel's own instruments and idols face removal before the nations are addressed. Within that movement, this verse removes Asherah poles and, in the received text, destroys cities.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“groves”
In plain language: Asherah poles or cultic wooden objects
removes Asherah poles and, in the received text, destroys cities. KJV 'groves' names cultic objects rather than ordinary trees, and the final noun is textually debated.
Why it matters: The wording identifies this verse's distinct contribution to the complete unit.
How certain? strongWhat Remains True
KJV 'groves' names cultic objects rather than ordinary trees, and the final noun is textually debated.
How It Can Shape Life
- Explain the ancient object and uncertainty instead of stigmatizing nature or women.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Micah 5:10-15 — The LORD Removes Military and Cultic RelianceSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: Micah 5:10-15, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗hebrew text and morphology
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible: Micah
Open Scriptures
Open Scriptures, release 2.2
Supports: Masoretic Hebrew wording, morphology, clause relationships, wordplays, names, and the base text behind translation discussion.
Exact location: Open Scriptures MorphHB v.2.2, commit 6a5db284c715c18b239422e57bb89684e6a19f00, wlc/Mic.xml, 5:10-15
Open source ↗translation and translator notes
NET Bible: Micah with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2006
Supports: Verse-level translation, syntax, textual, literary, historical, and uncertainty notes.
Exact location: NET Bible Micah PDF, printed pp. 1748, translation and notes on 5:10-15
Open source ↗