2:6–7

In addition to interpretation differences that involve the wording of 2:6c, and textual issues in 2:7a and 2:7c, there are at least five differences of interpretation in the English versions that involve the quotation marks. TN will follow American usage (“…”) rather than British (‘…’) for all quotes. To minimize clutter and confusion, it will also use the BSB as the source line whenever possible, even when the quotations differ in their starting and ending points. Both the TN Notes and Display will follow the textual and interpretation recommendations in the use of quotation marks in quoted versions, regardless of the actual quotation marks found in those versions.

2:6

In 2:6, Micah quoted the words of people who did not like his message.

^6a“Do not preach,” they preach.

^6b“Do not preach these things;

^6cdisgrace will not overtake us.”

There are two main ways to interpret the identity of these people:

1. They were people who did not like the message of Micah or other true prophets. These were probably wicked people. For example:

   ^6aThe people preach at me and say, “Don’t preach at us. (GNT) (NLT, GNT)

2. They were prophets who did not like the message of Micah or other true prophets. They were probably false prophets. For example:

   ^6a“Do not prophesy,” their prophets say. (NIV) (GW, NCV, NIV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a minority of commentaries.Commentaries that support interpretation (1) include UBS, WBC, JFB, and Hillers. Commentaries that support interpretation (2) include KD, ABC, NICOT, EBC, A&F, NAC, TOTC and Waltke 2007. A reference to people in general would also include false prophets. Versions that are not listed under the above two interpretations use general words such as “you,” “one,” or “they.” In your translation, it is recommended that you use a general word like one of these. If that is not suitable for your language, then use a phrase such as “people” or “some people.”

2:6a

“Do not preach,” they preach: Micah here quoted words that were spoken by people who did not like his message. When these people said this, they themselves were preaching.In Hebrew, the command “Do not preach” is plural. When the people said this to Micah, they included other prophets and their disciples as well. For example, Isaiah and Hosea lived at the same time as Micah. They also said that God would punish the Jewish people (TOTC).

preach: In Hebrew, this word for preach occurs three times in this verse. It literally means “drip.” Here it means “to prophesy, preach, proclaim a message.”The NJB translates this command as “Do not drivel.” No other versions have similar renderings. A footnote in the NET says: Heb “‘Do not foam at the mouth,’…” The verb (nataf) means “to drip.” When used of speech it probably has the nuance “to drivel, to foam at the mouth” (HALOT 694). The sinful people tell the LORD’s prophets not to “foam at the mouth.” This “probably refers in a derogatory way to their impassioned style of delivery.” Waltke 2007 and Hillers both say that the word may have the connotation of contempt, but other commentaries disagree. According to EBC (page 512), the primary meaning of the verb is “to drip.” It is a “figure used for words issuing from the lips. It predominantly describes prophetic speech. A&F (pages 302–303) give the most complete defense of the often neutral and even positive connotation of words that “drip from the lips.” According to them, “the connotation in Micah is undetermined, and the nuance of ‘rant’ or ‘dribble’ in frenzy is not called for.”

There are at least two ways you can translate this command:

• Use a specific term in your language for “prophesy,” “preach,” or “proclaim a message.” For example:

  “Stop preaching!” they preach. “That’s no way to preach… (NJPS)

  “Don’t prophesy to us! Don’t prophesy about these things!… (NCV)

  “Do not proclaim/announce a message like that…

• Use a general term, such as “speak about.” For example:

  “Don’t say such things,” the people respond. “Don’t prophesy like that… (NLT)

  “Don’t talk about those things to us^(excl)…

Notice that the NLT uses a general term for the first command and a specific term for the second. If your language uses a phrase like “speak God’s words” or “proclaim God’s message” to translate “preach” or “prophesy,” consider using a different phrase here. Micah’s opponents did not believe that Micah’s message was truly from the LORD.

they preach: If it is more natural in your language, you may want to put this phrase first in the sentence. For example:

The people preach at me and say, “Don’t preach at us… (GNT)

2:6b

Do not preach these things: In Hebrew, this statement is third-person plural, “They…” It is probably a general statement, meaning “People should not preach about such things.” There are two ways you can translate this statement:

• Use a general statement. Here are some other examples:

  “people should not preach of such things…

  “it is not fitting to talk about these things…

• Use a command. For example:

  “Do not prophesy about these things… (NIV)

  Don’t preach about all that… (GNT)

Use what is natural in your language.

these things: This phrase refers to the things Micah had talked about since the beginning of the book. He had prophesied that the LORD would destroy the city of Samaria (1:6–7) and that an enemy army would attack cities in Judah and send many people into exile (1:10–16). He had rebuked the people for their wicked ways and prophesied that the LORD would punish them by taking away their land (2:1–5). But many people did not like to hear Micah speak about these things.

2:6c

disgrace will not overtake us: In Hebrew, the word disgrace is plural.The situation is actually more complicated. The NAB has “The shame will not withdraw.” Other versions, such as the NIV, NJB, and NRSV, also use a singular noun (“disgrace”), but have “…will not overtake us.” In Hebrew, the noun is feminine plural (“disgraces”). The NLT follows this approach with “Such disasters…” The NASB, KJV and REB follow other minor interpretations. To avoid unnecessary complexity, the Notes will not discuss them. It probably refers to the bad things that happen that cause people to feel shame. Here are some other ways to translate 2:6c:

Nothing to make us feel bad will happen!” (NCV)

Such disasters will never come our way!” (NLT)

God is not going to disgrace us.” (GNT)

us: The pronoun us probably refers to the people as a whole. Micah’s opponents believed that the LORD would never disgrace the Jewish people by punishing them. If your language distinguishes inclusive and exclusive pronouns, you should probably use inclusive forms here.