OET interlinear MIC 2:13

2:13

In verses 12 and 13, the meaning is the same whether the LORD or Micah is the speaker. But in some languages, it may be necessary to make clear who the speaker is. The LORD was clearly the speaker in verse 12. There are three ways to interpret the identity of the speaker here in verse 13:

1. Micah is the speaker. The GNT has a closing quotation mark (”) at the end of 2:12 to show that the LORD stopped speaking there. (GNT)

2. The LORD is still the speaker in 2:13. The CEV indicates this by using the pronoun “I.” For example:

   I will break down the gate and lead them out—then I will be their king. (CEV) The NIV and some other versions have an open quotation mark (“) at the beginning of verse 12 and a closing quotation mark (”) at the end of verse 13 to show that the LORD is the speaker in both verses. (CEV, NASB, NCV, NIV, NLT)Although the CEV does not use quotation marks, v.13 is clearly a continuation of v.12 which identifies “I the Lord” as the speaker.

3. The speaker is not identified. No quotation marks are used in 2:12–13 to help the reader know who the speaker is. (BSB, GW, KJV, NAB, NET, NJB, NJPS, NRSV, REB)

The Notes will follow interpretation (1) along with most of the commentaries that discuss the issue.Most commentaries do not comment on who the speaker is in v.13. Commentaries that support interpretation (1) include UBS, NAC, Waltke 2007, and probably A&F. No commentaries used in the Notes clearly supported interpretation (2). In verse 13, the name “the LORD” appears. Also, the phrases “the one who breaks out” and “their king” probably refer to the LORD. Because of this, it is simplest to understand verse 13 as the words of Micah speaking about the LORD. You may follow any of the three interpretations in your translation.

2:13a

One who breaks open the way will go up before them: This phrase refers to the leader of the people. He will make a gap in the wall around the city where his people have been in captivity or exile and will lead them as they escape. There are two main ways to identify this leader:

1. Leave the identity of the leader unspecified in 2:13a, though his actions are specified. For example:

   Someone will open the way and lead the people out. (NCV)

   Their leader breaks out before them (REB) (BSB, KJV, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT, NRSV, REB)

2. Specify that the leader is the LORD (God). For example:

   God will open the way for them and lead them out of exile. (GNT)

   The Lord will open the way and lead them. (GW) (CEV, GW, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow choice (1). Do not specify the identity of the leader in 2:13a. Wait until 2:13c before you further identify this leader. The one who breaks open is someone who will lead the Jewish people back home. It could refer to their king, or to the Messiah,No version specifies that the “one who breaks out” is “the Messiah,” but Pusey, NAC, KD, EBC, ABC, and CBC all mention the role of the Messiah in various ways. EBC (page 517) understand the “breaker” to be Israel’s King, but they also say: “The remnant will receive its final glory and vindication only through the Messiah. He will arise from his people and lead them into the security of God’s kingdom.” CBC (page 315) makes a connection between the “breaker” and Yahweh, but he comments: “Kaiser (1992:45) understands ‘the Breaker’ as a title for God and sees the role of ‘Breaker’ fulfilled ultimately in the ministry of Jesus the Messiah.” Pusey (page 37) quotes Isaiah 42:6–7 and comments: “From this passage, the ‘breaker-through’ was one of the titles of the Christ, known to the Jews…” KD (page 304) says: “the breaker through, who goes before them, is not Jehovah, but…in the highest sense Christ, who opens the prison-doors, and redeems the captives of Zion (vid., Isa. 42:7).” or to the LORD himself.

breaks open the way: It is implied that the people are inside a walled city. Their leader will lead the people out of the city. The city was a figure of speech for captivity or exile. Some English versions make this explicit. For example:

Someone will open the way and lead the people out. The people will break through the gate and leave the city where they were held captive. (2:13a–b, NCV)

Your leader will break out and lead you out of exile, out through the gates of the enemy cities, back to your own land. (2:13a–b, NLT)

will go up before them: These words mean that the leader will walk in front of the people to lead them out of the city. It does not mean that they will go uphill. See the NCV and NLT (quoted above).

2:13b

they will break through the gate, and go out by it: The pronoun they refers to the people and their leader. They will leave the city through the broken gate or doorway in the wall around the city. Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

They will break out, go through the gate, and leave. (GW)

they will break through the gate and go out (NIV)

They will break out of the city gates and go free. (GNT)

2:13c

Their King will pass through before them, the LORD as their leader: In 2:13a, the leader of the people is identified as the “one who breaks out.” The two phrases of 2:13c identify the one who leads the whole group as Their King and the LORD. As was mentioned in the note on 2:13a, the “one who breaks out” could be their king, the Messiah, or the LORD. Here in 2:13c, versions translate the two phrases in two ways:

1. In some versions, each phrase is a separate function or name/title. For example:

   So their king goes on before them, and the Lord at their head. (NASB)

   with their king leading the way and with Yahweh at their head (NJB) (BSB, GW, KJV, NABRE, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT, NRSV, REB)

2. In some versions, the phrase Their King refers to the LORD.

   Their king, the Lord himself, will lead them out. (GNT) (CEV, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow choice (1). This choice allows your readers to interpret the specific relationships or roles of the leader(s) mentioned in 2:13a and 2:13c according to their own understanding of Scripture as a whole.

will pass through before them…as their leader: These two phrases, as well as the phrase “will go up before them” in 2:13a, all refer to someone who precedes others. In 2:13a–b, the phrases clearly refer to going outside the city through the broken wall and gate. The two phrases in 2:13c may refer to leading the people as they continue on their journey home.According to NAC (pages 70–71), “The ultimate, complete fulfillment of vv. 12–13 extends to the future coming of the Messiah and even to his second advent and millennial reign for the final stage in the progressive fulfillment of the whole.” Waltke 2007 (page 136) says: “Whether or not this is a salvation oracle, the accidental perfective vividly and dramatically represents the future as a single independent situation.”

See Overall structure of the book in the Introduction for more details about the three divisions.