MIC 2:7 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 2:6–11

In 2:1–2, Micah spoke about wicked people. In 2:3–5, the LORD spoke to those wicked people. Here in 2:6–11, Micah (and the LORD) continued to speak to those wicked people.

TN and most English versions begin a new paragraph at 2:6. A few versions put a section heading before 2:6. For example:

False Prophets (NIV)

Micah Is Asked Not to Prophesy (NCV)

True and False Prophets (NLT)

You can put a section heading here if you wish. But TN will use one section heading for all of 2:1–11.

2:7

In verse 2:7, there are four questions. The TN recommendation regarding the speaker and his audience are in parentheses following the quoted question in each verse part.

^7aShould it be said, O house of Jacob, (Micah speaks to the people of Israel who were opposed to his message)

^7b“Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient? (start of the quoted words of the people identified in 7a)

^7cAre these the things He does?” (end of the quoted words in 7b–c)

^7dDo not My words bring good to him who walks uprightly? (start of the LORD’s words spoken through his prophet Micah to the same people who were opposed to his message)

2:7a

Should it be said, O house of Jacob,

“Descendants of Jacob! Do you^(plur) say things like this:
“You people who are descended from Jacob! Why do you say things like this:
“People of Israel! You should not say things like this:

Should it be said, O house of Jacob: There is a textual issue here regarding the way the Hebrew verb phrase “it be said” is spelled:

The Masoretic Text (MT) has the original spelling. This results in a question. For example:
Is it being said, O house of Jacob: (NASB) (BSB, CEV, GW, KJV, NAB, NASB, NET, NIV, NLT, NRSV, REB)
Some scholars think that the original Hebrew verb phrase was a question with a different meaning. For example:
Do you think the people of Israel are under a curse? (GNT) (NJB, NJPS, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions and commentaries.The proposed spelling change is from heʾamur “is it said?” to heʾarur “is it cursed?” This spelling is not found in any Hebrew manuscripts, nor is there any evidence for it in the LXX or other ancient versions.

This is a rhetorical question. It expects the answer “No.” When Micah asked, “Should this be said…,” his meaning was “You should not say this.” Here are some ways to translate this rhetorical question:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
Should the descendants of Jacob be asked: (GW)
People of Israel, why do you say things like this?
As a statement. For example:
O family of Israel, you should not say things like this.

Translate this rhetorical question in a natural way in your language.

O house of Jacob: In this phrase, the word house means “nation” or “people.” It refers to the nation of Israel, not to a literal house.In Genesis 32:28 God gave Jacob the name Israel. Because of this, phrases like “house of Israel” and “house of Jacob,” or “children of Israel” and “children of Jacob,” have the same meaning in many verses. Here are some other ways to translate it:

descendants of Jacob (GW)

people of Israel (GNT)

2:7b–c

“Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient? Are these the things He does?”: There are two main ways to interpret these two sentences:

These sentences are a quote. Micah continued to quote the people he quoted in 2:6a.
^7aShould it be said, O house of Jacob: ^7b“Is the Spirit of the Lord angry? ^7cDoes he do such things?” (NIV) (BSB, NIV, GNT, NJB, NASB, REB, NET, NJPS)
These sentences are Micah’s words. Micah spoke to the people he quoted in 2:6a.
^7aShould the descendants of Jacob be asked: ^7bHas the Spirit of the Lord become impatient with you? ^7cHas he done these things? (GW) (GW, KJV, NCV, NLT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions.

2:7b

“Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient?

‘Has Yahweh become impatient?
‘Yahweh has not become impatient with us^(incl), has he?
‘Surely Yahweh will never become angry with us!

Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient?: Micah had told the people that the LORD would punish them. But some people thought that the LORD would never become impatient with them. So they responded with this question. In Hebrew, it is literally “Has the LORD’s spirit become short?” There are two ways to interpret this question:

The word “spirit” refers to the LORD’s inner feelings. In other words, it refers to the LORD himself. For example:
Is the Lord’s patience truly at an end? (REB)
Has the Lord lost his patience? (GNT) (ESV, NAB, NJB, NJPS, KJV, NCV, NET, NIV11, NLT96, NRSV, REB, GNT)
The word “spirit” refers to “the LORD’s Spirit.” Some versions spell the word “spirit” with a capital letter. This usually refers to the Holy Spirit. For example:
Is the Spirit of the Lord impatient? (NASB)
Is the Spirit of the Lord angry? (NIV) (BSB, GW, NASB, NIV, NLT, RSV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions and all commentaries.A few commentaries quote a version that uses “Spirit of the LORD” with a capital “S,” but none define this phrase as referring to the Holy Spirit.

This is a rhetorical question. It expects the answer “No.”Two versions (NCV and NLT) have a different interpretation. They understand that the rhetorical question means that the LORD will not be patient. TN has not treated this as a separate interpretation issue. Here are some ways to translate this rhetorical question:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
Has Yahweh grown short-tempered? (NJB)
The LORD is not impatient, is he?
As a statement. For example:
Certainly the LORD has not become impatient.

2:7c

Are these the things He does?”

He would never do such things, would he?’”
Surely he will not cause those terrible things you^(sing) speak of to happen to us^(incl).’”

Are these the things He does?: This is the second question that the people asked in response to Micah’s prophecy that the LORD would punish them. It is also a rhetorical question that expects the answer “No.” Like the previous rhetorical question, you should translate it in a natural way.

You can translate it as a rhetorical question. For example:
Are these his deeds? (REB)
Would he really do such things? (GNT)
You can translate it as a statement. For example:
He would never do such things!

2:7d

Do not My words bring good to him who walks uprightly?

“The words that I speak bless/prosper the people who behave in a way that is upright.
But Yahweh says, “My words cause good things to happen to those people whose actions are upright.
To those people Yahweh says, “Indeed, I promise to prosper those who do what is right.

The Notes will first discuss the rhetorical question in the entire verse part. They will then discuss the textual issue in the phrase “My words.”

Do not My words bring good to him who walks uprightly?: This is a rhetorical question. It expects the answer “Yes.” Here are some ways to translate this rhetorical question:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
Do not my words do good to him whose ways are upright? (NIV)
My words do good to people who live righteously, don’t they?
As a statement. For example:
My words are welcome to the person who does what is right. (NCV)
My commands bring a reward for those who obey them (NET)

My words: There is a textual issue here:

The Masoretic Text uses the Hebrew pronoun “my” in the phrase “my words.” For example:
Do not My words do good to the one walking uprightly? (NASB) (BSB, ESV, KJV, NAB, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJPS, NLT, NRSV)
The LXX (Septuagint) uses the Greek pronoun “his” in the phrase “his words.” For example:
Doesn’t he speak kindly to those who do right?” (GNT) (CEV, GW, NJB, REB, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions and commentaries. With either option, the phrase refers to the words of the LORD that were prophesied through his prophet Micah. And with either option, the rhetorical question in 2:7d expects the answer “yes.”

The phrase My words refers to the words of the LORD spoken through his prophet Micah. The LORD is the speaker starting in 2:7d and continuing until the end of chapter 2.

bring good: The LORD said that his words bring good. This means that when the LORD speaks, his words will prosper or bless those people. Here are some other ways to translate “Do not my words do good…”:

Does good not come of his words? (REB)

To be sure, my commands bring a reward… (NET)

Doesn’t he always bless… (CEV)

to him who walks uprightly: This phrase is an idiom that means “to behave or conduct oneself in a way that is upright and obeys the LORD’s commands.” Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

those who do right (CEV)

to the person who does what is right (NCV)

to people whose behavior is upright

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

הֶ⁠אָמ֣וּר בֵּֽית יַעֲקֹ֗ב

[is,it]_said? house_of Yaakob

Micah is using the question form to rebuke the people for the complacent things they say. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: [It should not be said, house of Jacob]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

הֶ⁠אָמ֣וּר

[is,it]_said?

The expression Should it be said is a passive verbal form. If it would be unnatural to use that form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [Should anyone say]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בֵּֽית יַעֲקֹ֗ב

house_of Yaakob

Here, house means all the people descended from a particular person. It envisions them as if they were one household living together. So the house of Jacob figuratively means all the people descended from the patriarch Jacob, who was also known as Israel. Alternate translation: [you Israelites]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

הֲ⁠קָצַר֙ ר֣וּחַ יְהוָ֔ה

is,it_short? spirit_of YHWH

Here Micah is speaking of Yahweh being impatient as if his Spirit could be short. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Is Yahweh impatient]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

הֲ⁠קָצַר֙ ר֣וּחַ יְהוָ֔ה

is,it_short? spirit_of YHWH

Micah is using the question form to affirm that the Spirit of Yahweh is not impatient. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: [The Spirit of Yahweh is not impatient!]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

אֵ֖לֶּה מַעֲלָלָ֑י⁠ו

these deeds_of,his

Micah is using the question form to affirm that such calamities are not the kind of thing Yahweh normally does. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: [These are not his deeds!]

Note 7 topic: writing-pronouns

אֵ֖לֶּה מַעֲלָלָ֑י⁠ו

these deeds_of,his

The pronoun his refers to Yahweh. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [Are these Yahweh’s deeds]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

הֲ⁠ל֤וֹא דְבָרַ֨⁠י יֵיטִ֔יבוּ עִ֖ם הַ⁠יָּשָׁ֥ר הוֹלֵֽךְ

am=not words_of,my do_good with the_upright,[person] walks

Micah is using the question form to affirm that his words which are reflecting Yahweh’s words do good to those who live uprightly. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: [Surely my words do good with the one walking uprightly.]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

הַ⁠יָּשָׁ֥ר הוֹלֵֽךְ

the_upright,[person] walks

Micah is speaking of living or conducting one’s life as if it were walking. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the one who lives righteously]

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 2:7

Hebrew word order