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 / parallelism

יִ֠הְיֶה הַ֣ר בֵּית־יְהוָ֤ה נָכוֹן֙ בְּ⁠רֹ֣אשׁ הֶ⁠הָרִ֔ים וְ⁠נִשָּׂ֥א ה֖וּא מִ⁠גְּבָע֑וֹת

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

These two clauses mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine them and express the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [Yahweh will make the mountain where his temple stands become more important than all the other hills and mountains]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

יִ֠הְיֶה הַ֣ר בֵּית יְהוָ֤ה נָכוֹן֙

will_belong mountain_of (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 )

The expression will be established 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. If you need to say who does the action, the context indicates that it is Yahweh. Alternate translation: [Yahweh will establish the mountain of his house]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

הַ֣ר בֵּית־יְהוָ֤ה

mountain_of house_of YHWH

Here Micah is speaking of the temple as if it were a house, since it was the place where Yahweh was present among his people. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation:[the mountain on which the temple of Yahweh stands]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בְּ⁠רֹ֣אשׁ הֶ⁠הָרִ֔ים

(in)_the,chief_of of,the_mountains

Micah is speaking of the mountain where his temple stands as if it were the head of the mountains. He means that Yahweh will exalt it above all the others so that it becomes the most important one. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [as the most prominent and important of the mountains]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

וְ⁠נִשָּׂ֥א ה֖וּא

and,[will_be]_lifted_up he/it

The expression will be lifted 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. If you need to say who does the action, the context indicates that it is Yahweh. Alternate translation: [And Yahweh will lift it]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠נָהֲר֥וּ עָלָ֖י⁠ו עַמִּֽים

and,they_will_stream on/upon/above=him/it peoples

Micah is speaking of the peoples as if they were water that could stream to the mountain. He means that they will come to it together in great numbers, like a river flowing. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and peoples will come to it together in great numbers]

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