MIC 4:13 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:9–13: The people of Jerusalem will suffer exile in Babylon, but in the future the LORD will deliver them from their enemies

In this section, the LORD spoke about the future. He said that he would punish his people. He would cause their enemies to take them as captives to Babylon. But the LORD also promised that in the future he would regather his people. He would make them a strong nation, and he would rule over them.Scholars analyze the structure of 4:9–5:15 in different ways. The Notes will list only a few of the analyses here; some of them have only minor variations. A&F (page 394) posit five sections, each beginning with ʿaṯṯâ “now” (4:9–10a, 10b, 11–13, 14; 5:1–3) [5:4–5, 6, 7–9, 10–15]. In this analysis, 4:11–13 forms the center unit, with two units on either side. WBC (vol. 32, pages 11–12) has 4:9–10,11–13; 5:1–4, 5–6, 7–9, 10–15. NICOT (page 257), NAC (page 42) and Waltke 2007 (page viii) have 4:9–10, 11–13; 5:1–6, 7–9, 10–15. TOTC (page 150) and Waltke 1993 (page 598) has 4:9–13; 5:1–6, 7–9, 10–15.

In this section, as in the previous section, Micah quoted the words of the LORD and also sometimes referred to the LORD in the third person.

The Notes have divided this section into two paragraphs. If a separate paragraph heading will be helpful for your readers, here are some possible headings for each paragraph.

^9–10Why the Israelites Must Go to Babylon (NCV)

^9–10Current suffering and captivity, but future rescue

^11–13Her Enemies to Be Crushed on the Threshing-Floor (NJB)

^11–13Jerusalem will completely destroy its enemies

Paragraph 4:11–13

In this paragraph, Micah told the people of Jerusalem that people of many nations had gathered together to attack Jerusalem. But actually, the LORD had a different plan. He had gathered those nations together to punish those nations. He would make his people strong so they could defeat their enemies.

In 4:11–12, Micah used a Hebrew verb tense that usually refers to events that have already happened or that are now happening.The verbs that are in perfect tense in 4:11–12 are: “have assembled” (11a), “saying” (11b), “know” (12a), “understand” (12a), and “has gathered” (12b).

Throughout this paragraph (4:11–13), Micah wrote as if many nations had already assembled to attack Jerusalem. But the time period to which he referred has similar uncertainties to 4:9b–c. See the notes on those verse parts. The recommendation here is the same: translate in a way that allows either a present time or a future time to be understood.

4:13

In TN and most versions, 4:11–13 is one paragraph. Some versions make 4:13 a separate paragraph.The following English translations begin a new paragraph at 4:13: NCV, NIV, NLT96, RSV, and GNT. The NIV also divides 4:13 into two paragraphs. You may do whatever fits the paragraph structure of your language.

4:13a

Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion,

“People of Jerusalem! Go^(plur) attack your enemies! Attack them severely like people thresh wheat!
Yahweh says: “O people of Jerusalem! Go ahead! Attack and destroy your enemies!

Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion: Micah here quoted the words of the LORD. The LORD’s command to the Daughter of Zion has two actions: Rise and thresh. In the Old Testament, the word Rise is often used in commands that summon people to fight their enemies. After the people rise, they are to thresh. Here are some other ways to translate this command:

Get up and thresh (GW)

Start your threshing (NJB)

thresh: For the meaning of thresh and for translation advice, see the notes on 4:12c. In this verse, thresh is a metaphor that compares the action of attacking an enemy to threshing grain.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

Keep the metaphor. For example:
Rise and thresh (NIV)
Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
Rise up and thresh like a cow threshing grain.
Get up and crush your enemy as a cow threshes grain.
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
go and punish your enemies! (GNT)
Smash them to pieces (CEV)

4:13b–c

(combined/reordered)

You will be able to do this, for I will make you^(plur) strong. You will be as strong as a bull with horns made of iron and hoofs made of bronze.

In these lines, the LORD used two metaphors to assure the people of Zion that he will give them the strength they need to destroy their enemies.KD (pages 319–321) and NICOT (pages 334–338).

Notice the parallel lines that are similar in meaning:

^13bfor I will give you horns of iron

^13cand hooves of bronze

In Hebrew, there is an ellipsis (deliberate omission) of the words “I will give” in the second line. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words. For example:

^13cand I will give you hooves of bronze

I will give you horns of iron and hooves of bronze: These metaphors compare the people of Jerusalem to a very strong ox or bull.

Here are some other ways to translate these metaphors:

Keep the metaphors. For example:
I will give you horns of iron; I will give you hoofs of bronze (NIV)
Change the metaphors to similes. For example:
I shall make your horn like iron, I shall make your hooves like bronze. (NJB)
Change the metaphors to similes and make some aspects of the meaning explicit. For example:
I will make you as strong as a bull with iron horns and bronze hoofs. (GNT)
I will make you strong as if you had horns of iron and hoofs of bronze. (NCV)
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
I will make you strong so that your enemies will be unable to defend themselves against you.

iron…bronze: Iron and bronze were the strongest metals available in the time of the Old Testament prophets.UBS (pages 202–203). In these metaphors, they symbolize great strength as well as hardness.Waltke 2007 (page 255–256).

4:13b

for I will give you horns of iron

You will be able to do this, because I will make your^(plur) horns as strong and hard as iron,
I will make you as strong as a bull with iron horns

for: This word introduces the reason that the people of Israel can be confident.

horns: Here horns refers to the horn of an ox or bull. In the first metaphor, it symbolizes strength.EBC (page 528).

4:13c

and hooves of bronze

and I will make your^(plur) hoofs as hard as bronze.
and bronze hoofs.

hooves: Oxen or bulls threshed grain under their hooves. In the second metaphor, hooves symbolized the people’s ability to kick, maim, and crush their enemies.NICOT (pages 334–338).

4:13d

to break to pieces many peoples.

You^(plur) will crush/trample many nations,
You will utterly defeat the armies/soldiers of many countries,

to break to pieces many peoples: This line is probably a continuation of the metaphor of threshing. It compares the action of people killing the enemy soldiers to the action of oxen or bulls crushing and breaking stalks of grain into many pieces.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

Keep the metaphor. For example:
so you can trample many nations to pieces (NLT)
Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
You will crush many nations like a bull that crushes stalks of grain into many pieces.
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
You will completely destroy the enemy armies that surround you.

There are two main ways to understand the relationship of this line to the preceding lines. Either way is acceptable.

This action is part of the command of the LORD to the people to arise and thresh. Here he tells them how and who to thresh. For example:
You will beat many nations into small pieces (NCV)
This action is the reason why the LORD will make their horns like iron and their hoofs like bronze. He will do this so that they can defeat their enemies. For example:
so that you can crush many peoples (NJB)

break to pieces: In Hebrew, this is a verb that means “crush,” “grind,” “break in pieces.”TWOT (#448). Here it implies crushing the grain into powder.Waltke 2007 (page 256) uses the phrases “totally pulverizing the grain into powder and nothingness” and “grinding them as fine as dust.” If you translate this line as part of the threshing metaphor, use a word that fits the action of threshing.See UBS (pages 202–203). HALOT (electronic edition, page 230) lists Micah 4:13 as metaphorical. For example:

crush (NJB)

pulverize (NASB)

break to pieces (NIV)

trample (NLT)

many peoples: Here this phrase refers specifically to the soldiers/armies of other countries that are gathered together to fight against the people of Jerusalem.

4:13e–f

(combined/reordered)

and you will offer/dedicate the wealth that they unjustly gained to me, Yahweh, the lord/ruler of all the nations on earth.

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^13eThen you will devote their gain to the LORD,

^13f their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.

In Hebrew, there is an ellipsis (deliberate omission) of the words “and will devote” in the second line. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words. For example:

^13f and will devote their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.

In these lines, the LORD told the people of Zion what to do with the plunder that they will collect from the armies of the nations that they destroy.

Then you will devote: There is a textual issue here:

The LXX (Septuagint) has “and you will dedicate to the LORD.” For example:
You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the Lord (NIV) (CEV, ESV, GW, NAB, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT, NRSV, REB, BSB, GNT)
The Masoretic Text has “and I will totally destroy for Yahweh.” For example:
and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord (KJV) (KJV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions and commentaries.A footnote in NICOT (pages 334–338) says that wǝhaḥaramti is an archaic form of the second feminine singular. It cites in support the LXX, the Peshitta, the Vulgate, the Targum and Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar. An NJPS footnote also concurs with this analysis of the word form.

devote their gain…their wealth to the Lord: The phrases their gain and their wealth refer to the possessions of the enemy. The phrase their gain refers specifically to items that they had taken from people unjustly and through violence.Derivative under BDB (#1214). The phrase their wealth is a more general term for possessions of value.BDB (#2428).

The LORD told the people of Jerusalem not to keep for themselves the items that they capture from their enemies. They were told to devote their gain/wealth to the LORD. Here are some other ways to translate the first phrase:

You will present their stolen riches to the Lord (NLT)

You will claim their loot for the Lord (GW)

the wealth they got by violence you will present to me… (GNT)

This phrase probably means that they were to transfer valuable metal objects to the sanctuary and destroy everything else by burning it in honor of the LORD.See NICOT (pages 334–338), UBS (pages 202–203), KD (pages 319–321), and NAC (pages 93–94). Waltke 2007 (pages 256–257) focuses on the meaning of destruction: “Israel gave the ḥerem over to I AM by totally destroying it (Isa 43:28). By consecrating it to unholiness and destruction, not taking anything of the booty for themselves, Israel bore testimony that the spoils belong to I AM and rid the earth of their illicit gain.” It is suggested that you supply this information in a footnote rather than in your translation itself.

the LORD…the Lord of all the earth: In Hebrew, the word for Lord is literally “Yahweh.” The word for Lord is literally “lord” (Hebrew ʾadon).

The phrase Lord of all the earth indicates that Yahweh is the ruler over all nations, whether or not they recognize him as their ruler.UBS (pages 202–204).

4:13e

Then you will devote their gain to the LORD,

and you will present/offer the riches they stole from others to me, Yahweh.

4:13f

their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

You will offer their wealth to me, the master/lord of the whole earth.

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 4:13

Hebrew word order