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Meaning and etymology of the name Micah




Micah Micah, Mica Mica


The name Mica(h) is the accepted abbreviated form of the name Michaiah (like what Rick is to Richard). The different spellings (either with the heh or with the aleph) argues the weakness or softness of both letters, especially when they are used for the notation of a vowel. In that case these letters become almost freely interchangeable without substantially altering the name (like our John, Jon, Joan, Jean, Jan, Janna, Jane).

However, the Hebrew language is far too majestic and potent to allow any kind of change without a very good reason or some extra magic. Even though both names derive of Michaiah, meaning Who Is Like YHWH, there is additional meaning to the abbreviation, which turns the name into a little poem.

The Mica's (Mica) mentioned in the Bible are Mephiboseth's young son (2 Samuel 9:12), the Mica who is among the signers of Ezra's covenant (Nehemiah 10:11), who may or may not be the same Mica as the father of a certain overseer (Nehemiah 11:22).
The Micah's (Micah) that are mentioned are a descendant of Asaph (1 Chronicles 9:15), a descendant of Kohath (1 Chronicles 23:20), the father of one of king Josiah's adjutants who is also known as Michaiah (2 Chronicles 34:20 & 2 Kings 22:12) and lastly the prophet who wrote the book of Micah.

The name Mica(h) consists of two parts. The first bit is mi (mi), the common inquisitive particle that seeks after identity: who?
Then, for Mica, the second part is ka, which doesn't exists in the Bible, but which can be easily constructed from the verb kaa (ka'a), be disheartened or frightened. Which makes the name Micah like a rhetorical response to the name Michaiah: Who Is Like YHWH? (and as a show of trust in Him:) Who Is Afraid?

For Micah the second part of the name is koh, which is equal to the word koh (koh), the demonstrative adverb of manner, place or time: thus, here, making Micah to mean Who's There? But, more attractively, koh may also be seen as to come from kaha (kaha), be dim, faint, weak. That way the name Micah is like Mica, and asks Who's A Whimp?

For a meaning of the name Micha(h), NOBS Study Bible Name List reads Who Is Like Yahweh? Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads a rather enigmatic Who Is Like Unto The Lord?






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