MIC 3:10 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–12: Micah rebuked the leaders of Israel

In this section, Micah is the speaker. He spoke to the leaders of the Jews and to the prophets. He rebuked (scolded) them for their wicked deeds. He also told them that God would punish the nation because of them.

The Notes will divide this section into three paragraphs:

In 3:1–4, Micah rebuked the judicial leaders.
In 3:5–8, Micah rebuked the wicked prophets.
In 3:9–12, Micah rebuked all the leaders: judges, prophets, and priests.

In each paragraph, Micah used the word “justice” (3:1, 8, 9). In each paragraph, he first rebuked the leaders for their evil deeds. Then he described what would happen as a result of their wickedness. Some versions begin a new paragraph at verse 4 or verse 8. It is recommended that you follow the paragraphs used in the Notes.

Here are some other examples of section headings:

Micah Denounces Israel’s Leaders (GNT)

Leaders and Prophets Rebuked (NIV)

Israel’s Sinful Leaders—Rulers, Prophets, and Priests (GW)

Wicked Rulers and Prophets (NRSV)

Paragraph 3:9–12

This paragraph is similar to 3:1–4. Micah again spoke to the leaders of Israel. He specifically included the judicial leaders (verse 9a–b, 11a), priests (verse 11b), and prophets (verse 11c). He told them to listen (verse 9a). He then accused them of behaving wickedly and described the sins of each group (verses 9b–11). Finally, he told them that God would destroy Jerusalem, including the area where the temple was located (verse 12).

3:10a–b

who build Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem with iniquity.

You^(plur) build things in Zion by murdering/hurting people. You build things in Jerusalem by acting wickedly.
You build buildings and other things in Zion, whose name is also Jerusalem. But as you do it, you hurt people and do other wicked things.
You build things in Jerusalem, God’s city, but you treat people violently and wickedly in order to finish the work of building.
As you work to make new buildings in Jerusalem, you murder/oppress people and you commit other crimes.

This verse has two parallel lines:

^10awho build Zion with bloodshed

^10band Jerusalem with iniquity.

There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted word) in 3:10b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing verb from 3:10a. For example:

^10band build Jerusalem with iniquity.

build: The word build usually refers to making a house, a building, a wall, etc. Micah said that these leaders built “Zion” and “Jerusalem.” This probably means that they built new buildings or other structures in the city, or they improved old buildings.EBC (page 521) speak of the leaders “discharging their duties…with bloodshed and greed.” Other commentaries understand literal building. Almost all English versions translate the word build literally. One that does not is the CEV: “You make cruelty and murder a way of life in Jerusalem.” It does not mean that they built the entire city.

Zion…Jerusalem: In this verse, the names Zion and Jerusalem are parallel names that refer to the same city.The name Zion originally referred to one area of Jerusalem. There were one or more hills in that area. The temple was built in the area of Jerusalem called Zion. King David also built his palace in Zion. In the Old Testament, the name Zion is often used as a poetic name for Jerusalem (or God’s people). Here are some ways to translate these names:

Translate both names. For example:
who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with violent injustice (NASB)
Translate both names and supply a footnote that explains the meaning. For example.
You^(plur) build things in Zion by treating people violently. You build things in Jerusalem by acting wickedly. [footnote: Zion is another name for Jerusalem.]
Make it clear in your translation that Zion and Jerusalem are the same city. For example:
You build up the city of Zion, that is, Jerusalem. But you do it by hurting people and doing other wicked things.
Combine the names Zion and Jerusalem into one name. For example:
You are building God’s city, Jerusalem, on a foundation of murder and injustice. (GNT)
You build Jerusalem by murdering people; you build it with evil. (NCV)

with bloodshed…with iniquity: These two phrases describe the manner in which the leaders constructed buildings in the city. They built them by treating people violently and by treating people wickedly.

with bloodshed: Here the phrase with bloodshed is a figure of speech. It means “by treating people violently.” It refers to actions like oppressing, hurting, and murdering people.

iniquity: In Hebrew, this word means “injustice” or “wickedness.” Here are some other ways to translate it:

injustice (GNT)

violent deeds of injustice (NET)

wickedness (NIV)

cruelty (CEV)

General Comment on 3:10a–b

There are at least two ways to translate these parallel lines:

Translate each line separately. For example:
who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness (NIV)
You^(plur) treat people violently as you construct buildings in Zion. You do wicked deeds as you construct them in Jerusalem.
Combine the two lines. For example:
You build the city of Jerusalem by treating people violently and wickedly.
You are building Jerusalem on a foundation of murder and corruption. (NLT)

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 3:10

Hebrew word order

Section 3:1–12: Micah rebuked the leaders of Israel

Paragraph 3:9–12

3:10a–b

General Comment on 3:10a–b

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