Micah 2:4

In that day shall one take vp a parable against you, and lament with a dolefull lamentation, and say, We be vtterly spoiled: hee hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he remoued it from me? turning away hee hath diuided our fields. Micah 2:4 (KJV)

Micah 2:4 belongs to the prophetic book of Micah, a collection of messages that God delivered primarily to the Southern Kingdom of Judah and also addressed the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The prophet warns of sin, injustice and the inevitable judgment that will come if the people do not repent and return to God. The verse opens with the phrase “In that day shall one take up a parable against you,” indicating a future time of divine reckoning. The word “parable” here functions as a symbolic lament or complaint that will be directed against the people because of their own actions.

The lament continues, “Lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled,” expressing deep sorrow and the recognition of total devastation. The following clause, “He hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me!” refers to the loss of the people’s inheritance. It conveys that God, responding to their rebellion, has altered their situation and taken away what was rightfully theirs, leaving them bewildered at the sudden removal of their portion.

“Turning away he hath divided our fields” further illustrates the consequences of divine judgment: the fields that once provided security and prosperity are now divided or taken away, symbolising the loss of communal stability. While the passage emphasizes the severe repercussions of collective sin, it also points to a hopeful element. The language of “the LORD’s portion” suggests that a faithful remnant will endure. The verse therefore underscores both the certainty of judgment and the resilience of God’s chosen people. Throughout Micah, this dual theme of warning and restoration is reinforced by promises of a future Messiah who will bring deliverance, justice and peace to the remnant, preserving their identity even among foreign nations.