מוֹרַשְׁתִּי (mo.rash.ti)
mo.rash.ti
Moreshethite
N:N--LGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--LG
Word Overview
The word moreshethi identifies a person as a native of Moresheth, a town in the lowlands of Judah. It functions as a gentilic adjective, meaning it describes someone’s geographic origin rather than offering a moral or theological judgment. In the biblical text, this label appears only twice, serving to ground the speakers in a specific place.
Both instances link the term to Micah and Jeremiah. In Micah 1:1, the prophet is introduced as "Micah of Moresheth," establishing his local identity before he delivers his message of judgment against Samaria and Jerusalem. Later, in Jeremiah 26:18, a quote from Micah is cited to support King Hezekiah’s decision not to execute the prophet, using the title to authenticate the source of the prophecy.
The name Moresheth itself means "possession" or "inheritance," likely referring to land held by Gath or belonging to Judah. By calling Micah a moreshethi, the text highlights that his authority came not from Jerusalem’s elite circles, but from a provincial town. This detail underscores a recurring biblical theme: God often speaks through individuals outside the central religious power structures.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The title 'Moreshethite' identifies Micah as a man from a small town in the lowlands of Judah, far from the political and religious center of Jerusalem. This simple label reminds us that God’s messengers often come from ordinary places, not just the halls of power. His authority did not depend on his social status or location, but on the truth of the message he carried.
When we read Micah 1:1, we see this provincial background established right at the start. It shows that God chooses people from all walks of life to speak His word. This can be a comfort, knowing that our own local context and daily life are not barriers to hearing or sharing divine truth.
Later, in Jeremiah 26:18, this same title helps validate Micah’s prophecy during a time of national crisis. The recognition of his origin underscores that God’s voice is not confined to elite circles. It invites us to listen closely to the word of God, wherever it may come from, trusting in its power to guide and correct us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Morasthite2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/מֹּ֣רַשְׁתִּ֔י1×
- הַ/מּ֣וֹרַשְׁתִּ֔י1×
Key Verses
-
Micah 1:1
Yahweh’s word that came to Micah of Morasheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
This verse introduces Micah with his geographic title first, grounding his prophetic authority in his local identity before addressing the major cities of Samaria and Jerusalem.
-
Jeremiah 26:18
“Micah the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies says: “‘Zion will be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem will become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.’
Here the title authenticates the source of a past prophecy that was used to argue against executing Micah, showing how his origin lent credibility to his message during Hezekiah’s reign.