MIC 2:3 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–11: The LORD will punish those who oppress poor people

This section is divided into two parts: 2:1–5 and 2:6–11.

In verses 1–5, the LORD accused people in Israel of doing evil: they were dishonestly taking property away from other people. He said that he would punish them.
In verses 6–11, Micah said that people had rebuked him for prophesying these things. And the LORD again said that he would punish the people of Israel.

If you use section headings in your translation, here are some options:

Use one heading for all of 2:1–11, using the above wording. Here are some other section headings for 2:1–11:
Land Robbers Will Lose their Land (NET)
Punishment for Those Who Abuse Their Power (CEV)
Israel’s Sins Are Condemned (GW)
Use one heading for 2:1–5 and another heading for 2:6–11. For example:
^1–5Judgment against Wealthy Oppressors
^6–11True and False Prophets (NLT)
^1–5The Evil Plans of People
^6–11Micah Is Asked Not to Prophesy (NCV)
Use one heading for all of chapter 2 (2:1–13). For example:
The Fate of Those Who Oppress the Poor (GNT)
Woe to Oppressors (NASB)

TN will use one heading for 2:1–11 and another heading for 2:12–13. Use a heading or headings that will be appropriate and acceptable for your language situation.

Paragraph 2:1–5

In this paragraph, Micah is the speaker in verses 1–2. He spoke about evil people who oppressed poor people. The LORD is the speaker in verses 3–5. He spoke to those evil people. He said that he would punish them.

2:3

In 2:1–2, Micah spoke about evil people. In 2:3–5, following Micah’s introductory phrase in 2:3a, the LORD spoke to these evil people. The BSB and some other versions begin a new paragraph here at 2:3. The Notes will follow versions that have one paragraph for 2:1–5. You may do whatever best fits the paragraph structure of your language.

2:3a

Therefore this is what the LORD says:

And so, this is what Yahweh says:
Therefore, because those people are so wicked, Yahweh speaks these words to them:

Therefore this is what the LORD says: The word Therefore connects the reason (2:1–2) with the result (2:3–4). The LORD said these words to the people because they oppressed others. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Therefore these are the words of the Lord: (REB)

So Yahweh says this: (NJB)

That is why the Lord says: (NCV)

2:3b

“I am planning against this nation a disaster

“Listen, I have decided to bring a disaster on your^(plur) nation.
“I am indeed planning to punish your wicked nation.

This verse part begins with a Hebrew word that the BSB translated as “behold” in 1:3a. See the notes there. Its purpose is to get the people’s attention, or to emphasize the need to pay close attention to what the LORD says. Here are some other ways to translate this word here:

lo (NRSV)

Look (NET)

In some languages, it may be more natural to translate this word with an expression that means “Listen!” or “Indeed.”

Many English versions leave this word untranslated. If you leave it implied in your translation, be sure that the importance of the LORD’s words is clearly emphasized in some other way.

I am planning: The BSB translates this verb using present tense. The LORD was already planning what he would do. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

I am devising (NRSV)

against this nation a disaster: In Hebrew, the word nation is more literally “clan” or “extended kinship group.” Here it has the broader meaning “people” or nation.TWOT (#2442b). There are two ways to interpret the phrase this nation in this context:

It refers to the evil people that Micah talked about in 2:1–2. For example:
“Look, I am planning trouble against such people” (NCV) (CEV, NCV, NJB, NLT, GNT)The NJB has “this breed.” The Notes have listed it with interpretation (1), because “this breed” is a critical and scornful phrase. Such a phrase is appropriate for an evil nation.
It refers to the nation of Israel, that is, to all of the Jewish people. For example:
“Look, I am devising disaster for this nation!” (NET) (BSB, NAB, NET, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions and commentaries.Commentaries that support interpretation (1) include UBS, ABC, JFB, CBC, and WBC. Commentaries that support interpretation (2) include EBC and TOTC. Waltke 2007 has apparently contradictory comments. On page 97, he says: “In biblical theology the whole “family,” bound together by blood and history, suffers for the sins of individuals within it, especially its leaders.” But on page 98, he says: “his oracle of doom was addressed directly to the venal land barons, whose identity will be unmasked in the next oracle.” Although the versions listed under (1) do not explicitly use the word “evil,” it is strongly implied by the entire context, preceding (2:1–2) as well as following (2:6–11), that the nation as a whole was evil. In addition, the versions listed under (2) do not explicitly mention the wickedness of the nation, but that wickedness is implied by the entire context.

Most English versions are ambiguous. They do not clearly follow either interpretation (1) or (2). For example:

this family (NASB)

this people (NIV)

this clan (NJPS)

It is recommended that you translate this phrase in a way that clearly indicates in the context that the people or nation as a whole are evil. For example:

“Listen, I have decided to bring a disaster on this wicked nation. And none of you will be able to avoid it.

“Indeed, I am planning to punish people like you. You will not be able to escape.

a disaster: The Hebrew word translated disaster here also appears in 2:1a. There, it refers to iniquity.” Here in 2:3b, it refers to a disaster that the LORD will cause to happen. Here are other ways to translate a disaster in 2:3b:

disaster (NIV)

trouble (NCV)

calamity (NASB)

2:3c

from which you cannot free your necks.

It will be like a yoke that is fastened to your^(plur) necks, and none of you wicked people will be able to remove it.
You will not be able to escape.

from which you cannot free your necks: This is a metaphor in which most of the body parts have been left implied. It compares the “disaster” that the nation of Israel will experience to a yoke that cannot be removed from the necks of cows or oxen. It means that they will not be able to escape or avoid the disaster.

When the Jews plowed their fields, they used cows or oxen to pull the plow. They fastened the yoke that was connected to the plow onto the necks of the cows. The cows were unable to get their necks out of the yokes. In the same way, these wicked people will not avoid the disaster that God will send.

Here are some ways to translate this metaphor:

Keep the metaphor. For example:
I am planning disaster for this nation, a yoke which you cannot remove from your necks (REB)
Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
“Look, I am devising disaster for this nation. It will be like a yoke from which you can’t free your neck. (NET)
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
“I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. (NIV)

Translate this metaphor in a clear and natural way in your language.

The metaphor means that the people will not be able avoid this disaster. You can also translate the metaphor using a positive expression. For example:

…you will certainly be included

…you will certainly suffer in this disaster

2:3d

Then you will not walk so proudly,

And then you^(plur) will no longer walk around proudly,
When it happens, you will no longer walk with your head held high,

Then you will not walk so proudly: To walk so proudly means “to walk around in a manner that shows that one is proud and arrogant.” In Jewish culture, people who were haughty walked with their necks stretched out and heads held up straight. (For example, see Isaiah 3:16.)

Think how arrogant people in your language group act as they walk around. Consider using an expression in your language that describes people who walk around looking proud.

not walk: Previously, these people walked around haughtily, but later, when God punishes them, they will no longer walk that way. Some versions make a phrase like this explicit. For example:

You will no longer walk proudly (NIV)

and then you will not walk so proudly any more (GNT)

2:3d–e

(combined/reordered)

Yes, I will cause a terrible disaster to happen to you, and as a result you will stop acting so proud.

2:3e

for it will be a time of calamity.

because the disaster I will send will be very bad.
because at that time you will suffer greatly.

for it will be a time of calamity: The word for introduces the reason why those people will no longer ”walk so proudly.” They will no longer be haughty, because the disaster that the LORD sends will be so terrible. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

because it will be a terrible time (NCV)

for it will be an evil time (NRSV)

it will be such a time of disaster (NJPS)

General Comment on 2:3d–e

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the two clauses in 2:3d–e. For example:

You are going to find yourselves in trouble, and then you will not walk so proudly any more. (GNT)

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear MIC 2:3

Hebrew word order