MIC 4:1 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:1–8: The LORD will rule the world as King from Jerusalem and cause all nations to be at peace

In the last verse of chapter 3, Micah described the destruction that would happen to the temple and to all of Jerusalem. But here in 4:1–8, he described the future importance of the city and the many good things that will result when the LORD rules as King over all the nations from that city.

The Notes have divided this section into two paragraphs (4:1–5 and 4:6–8) with one section heading. Here are some other examples of section headings:

The Lord’s Future Reign (NLT)

The future reign of Yahweh in Zion (NJB)

The Lord Will Teach the Nations (GW)

Some versions use two section headings, one for 4:1–5 and another for 4:6ff. For example:

^1–5Peace and Security through Obedience

^6ffRestoration Promised after Exile (NRSV)

^1–5The Lord’s Universal Reign of Peace

^6ffIsrael Will Return from Exile (GNT)

^1–5Better Days Ahead for Jerusalem

^6ffRestoration Will Follow Crisis (NET)

You may use one or more section headings in your language.

Some versions, including the GNT and NRSV, make verse 5 a separate paragraph. Some versions, including the NRSV and NJB, make verse 8 a separate paragraph. Divide the paragraphs in a natural way in your language.

Paragraph 4:1–5

Here is a summary of Micah’s predictions in this paragraph:

(4:1a–c) The temple hill will become higher than other mountains and hills.
(4:1d–2) Many people will go there to learn about God.
(4:3–4) God will rule the world from Jerusalem. He will cause all nations to be at peace with one another.
(4:5) Even though the people of other nations follow their own gods, the people of Israel will follow the LORD forever.

The first three verses in this paragraph are very similar to Isaiah 2:2–4. If you have already translated Isaiah, you will want to translate these verses in a similar way.

4:1a

In the last days

¶ In the future,
¶ This is what will happen at a later time:

In the last days: This phrase means “in the future.”The phrase “latter days” is a phrase that Old Testament prophets used when they predicted what would happen in the future. For example, Genesis 49:1; Numbers 24:14; Deuteronomy 4:30; Daniel 10:14; Hosea 3:5. It does not necessarily refer to the time near the “end of the world.” Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

In days to come (NRSV)

In the future (NET)

4:1b–c

These two lines are parallel. Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^1bthe mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains;

^1cit will be raised above the hills,

These verse parts do not refer to separate things that the LORD will do. In some languages, it may be better to combine these two verse parts. For example:

The LORD will raise up the mountain where his temple is so that it becomes higher than all the other hills and mountains. (4:1b–c)

4:1b

the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains;

the mountain that is the location of Yahweh’s house will become the highest mountain.
The mountain on which the temple of Yahweh stands will become higher than all the other mountains.

the mountain of the house of the LORD: This refers to the hill in Jerusalem on which the temple was located. Verse 3:12c refers to the same place.

will be established as the chief of the mountains: Most English versions translate the verb will be established in one of two ways.

Some versions translate it as “will be” or “will become.”
…the mountain where the Temple stands will be the highest one of all. (GNT)
…the mountain on which the Lord’s Temple stands will become the most important of all mountains. (NCV) (GNT NJB, CEV, NCV, NLT, NET)
Some versions translate it with a passive verb: “shall/will be established.”
…the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established higher than all other mountains. (REB) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, REB)

You can follow either option in your translation. The first option is probably simpler.

With the second option, the implied agent is the LORD. It is he who will establish the temple mountain as the highest mountain. You can make the agent explicit if it is necessary in your language. For example:

In the future, the LORD will cause the mountain where his temple is located to become the highest mountain.

4:1c

it will be raised above the hills,

It will become higher than other hills.
He/Yahweh will raise it up so it becomes taller than all the other mountains and hills.

it will be raised above the hills: As with the parallel line 4:1b, English versions translate the verb will be raised above in one of two ways. You may follow either option. If you chose the simpler option in 4:1b, it will probably be better to choose the same option here. Use an intransitive verb such as “rise.” For example:

rise higher than the hills (NJB)

towering above other hills (REB)

It will rise up until it is taller than all the other hills.

General Comment on 4:1b–c

The hill where the temple was located was not a very high hill. There were other hills and mountains near Jerusalem that were higher. But in these two verse parts, Micah said that in the future the temple mountain will become higher than other mountains and hills.

So some versions and commentaries understand the words “higher/highest” to mean “higher/highest in importance, not in altitude.”NAC (pages 83–84) thinks that “Mount Zion and its temple will be elevated probably both physically and in prominence.” Waltke 2007 also acknowledges both aspects. But EBC (page 524) says: “Its greatness has nothing to do with its present physical features (it is, after all, a relatively small mountain), but rather with God’s choice of it as his place of earthly dwelling.” UBS (page 186) says that the statement in v.1 “undoubtedly has a spiritual significance.” JFB (page 691) says that “its elevation is to be not that of situation, but of moral dignity, as the seat of God’s universal empire.” ABC (page 1079) uses similar wording. KD (pages 309–310) says: “This exaltation is of course not a physical one…but a spiritual (ethical) elevation above all the mountains. This is obvious from v. 2, according to which Zion will tower above all the mountains, because the law of the Lord issues from it.” The NCV (quoted above) is one example. Here are some other examples:

…the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem will become the most important place on earth. (NLT96)

it will be more prominent than other hills (NET)

…the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains (NIV)

Versions and commentaries are divided as to whether the height of the mountain refers to physical altitude or importance as the center of the Lord’s rule. You may translate either way. If your readers understand your translation to refer to physical/literal altitude, it is suggested that you supply a footnote that gives the other meaning. For example:

In the future, the mountain of the LORD’s house will become higher than all other mountains and hills. [footnote: This may mean that the temple in Jerusalem will become the most important place on earth.]

If your translation clearly refers to importance, it is suggested that you supply a footnote that gives the other possible meaning. For example:

In the future, the mountain where the LORD’s temple is located will be more important than any other place on earth. [footnote: In Hebrew, this literally says: “…will be higher than all other mountains and hills.”]

4:1d–2a

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^1dand the peoples will stream to it.

^2aAnd many nations will come and say:

The terms “peoples” and “many nations” refer to the same people. The verbs “will stream” and “will come” refer to the same action.

4:1d

and the peoples will stream to it.

Groups of people will continually come/go there.
People from many nations will come daily to it just like the water in a river keeps flowing continually.
People from everywhere in the world will make pilgrimages to that place.

peoples: The plural form here refers to people from many places. Some versions, as the NET, use the singular form “people.” Here are some other ways to express the meaning:

people from other nations (NCV)

people from all over the world (NLT96)

will stream to it: This is a metaphor. It compares people to water that streams or flows continuously in a river. It means that many people will keep coming to Jerusalem day after day.

In English, this is a common figure of speech, so many versions translate it literally. For example:

…peoples shall flow to it (ESV)

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

Change it to a simile. For example:
People from many nations will keep coming to Jerusalem just like the water in a river keeps flowing continually.
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
People from other countries will continually come/go to visit Jerusalem.If your language has a special term for people making a pilgrimage, you may want to use that here.

it: This refers to “the mountain of the LORD’s house” in verse 1a. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

there

to that mountain

to Jerusalem

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

(Occurrence 0) the mountain … other mountains

(Some words not found in UHB: and=it_was in=end/latter the=days will_belong mountain_of house_of YHWH established (in)_the,chief_of of,the_mountains and,[will_be]_lifted_up he/it more,than_[the]_hills and,they_will_stream on/upon/above=him/it peoples )

Yahweh making the temple mount higher than all other mountains and hills is a metaphor for making his temple the most important place on earth.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

(Occurrence 0) the mountain of Yahweh’s house will be established

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “Yahweh will establish the mountain on which his temple is built”

(Occurrence 0) over the other mountains

Mount Zion will be the most important of all the mountains. It might also mean that this mountain will become the highest in the world, and not only in the region where it is located.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

(Occurrence 0) It will be exalted above the hills

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “Yahweh will exalt it above the hills” or “Yahweh will make it higher than the hills”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

(Occurrence 0) peoples will stream to it

A stream flows continually to one place from many directions. Many people come to the temple mount from different directions. Alternate translation: “the people of the nations will flow like a stream to it” or “the people of the nations will go to it”

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 4:1

Hebrew word order