OET interlinear MIC 4:2

4:2a

And many nations will come: This verse part means that people from many countries will come to Jerusalem. In some languages, it may be better to combine 4:1d and 4:2a. For example:

Day after day people from many countries will come there

and say: These words introduce Micah’s quote of what the people will say to each other. Here are some other ways to introduce this quote:

This is what they will say to each other:

They will speak to each other, saying:

4:2b–e

There are two interpretations about the verse parts in which Micah quoted the people:

1. Micah quoted the people in 4:2b–e. Notice the closed quotes after 2e. For example:

   ^2b “Come on! Let’s go up to the Lord’s mountain,

   ^2cto the temple of Jacob’s God,

   ^2dso he can teach us his commands

   ^2eand we can live by his laws.”

   ^2fFor Zion will be the source of instruction;

   ^2gthe Lord’s teachings will proceed from Jerusalem. (NET) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GW, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJPS, NLT, NRSV, REB)

2. Micah quoted the people in 4:2b–g. For example:

   ^2b “Let us go up the hill of the Lord,

   ^2cto the Temple of Israel’s God.

   ^2dHe will teach us what he wants us to do;

   ^2ewe will walk in the paths he has chosen.

   ^2fFor the Lord’s teaching comes from Jerusalem;

   ^2gfrom Zion he speaks to his people.” (GNT) (NJB, GNT)

According to interpretation (1), Micah does not quote the people in 4:2f–g. These two lines are his own explanation. According to interpretation (2), Micah quotes the people throughout 4:2b–g.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most English versions. There is almost no difference in meaning between these two interpretations.

4:2b–c

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

^2bCome, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

^2c to the house of the God of Jacob.

There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted phrase) in 4:2c. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing verb from 4:2b. For example:

^2c let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob.

In these two parallel lines (2b–c), the second line is more specific than the first. The people wanted to go “to the mountain of the LORD.” Specifically, they wanted to go “to the house” (temple) that was on that mountain.

4:2b

Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD: The people from other nations who will say these words urged or invited other people to go with them to Jerusalem.

The two verbs Come and let us go up refer to the same action. The first verb functions primarily to introduce the second verb and to add emphasis. It does not imply that the people should first come to a particular location and then set out on the journey to Jerusalem. Here are some other ways to translate these two verbs:

Let’s go to the mountain of the Lord (GW)

We^(excl) are going to the mountain where God’s house is. You^(plur) come with us^(excl)!

Hey! Let us^(incl) go…

go up to the mountain…: These people may have spoken about going up to Jerusalem because the main part of Jerusalem was on top of some hills, or perhaps they were intending to honor the city. If it is more natural in your language, you can translate this simply as “go,” as in the GW quoted above.

of the LORD: This phrase has the same meaning as it does in the phrase “the mountain of the house of the LORD” in 4:1b. Here are some other ways to translate it:

where the LORD lives

where the LORD’s temple is

4:2c

to the house of the God of Jacob: There are two main ways to translate the name God of Jacob:

• Use the name “Jacob.” For example:

  the God of Jacob (NIV)

  the God whom Jacob worshiped

• Use the name “Israel.” (Israel was another name for the man Jacob, and Jacob’s descendants were called the people of Israel or Israelites.) For example:

  the God of Israel (NLT96)

  Israel’s God (GNT)

  the God whom the Israelite people worship

If you follow the second option, you may want to give the more literal wording in a footnote. For example:

the God whom the Israelite people worship [footnote: literally, the God of Jacob].

4:2d–e

In both these parallel lines, the people told their purpose for going to Jerusalem:

^2dHe will teach us His ways,

^2eso that we may walk in His paths.”

Here are some ways to express this purpose:

• Introduce 4:2d and/or 4:2e with a linking word or phrase like “that” or “so that.” For example:

  ^2d that he may instruct us in his ways,

  ^2e that we may walk in his paths.” (NAB)

  ^2d so that he can teach us his ways,

  ^2e and we can obey his teachings.” (NCV)

• Begin a new sentence here at 4:2d. In some languages, it may be more natural to leave the purpose implied. For example:

  ^2dHe will teach us what he wants us to do;

  ^2ewe will walk in the paths he has chosen. (GNT)

4:2d

He will teach us His ways: The word ways is an idiom. The Hebrew word used here is often translated “road.” God’s ways means “the ways/manner God wants people to live.” For example:

so that he can teach us his commands (NET)

4:2e

so that we may walk in His paths: The phrase His paths is a synonym of the phrase “His ways.” The phrase walk in His paths is also an idiom. To walk in God’s paths means “to follow his commands” or “to live the way that God wants.” For example:

and we can live by his laws (NET)

4:2f–g

In these two parallel verse parts, Micah explained the reason people will to go to Jerusalem. Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. Notice also that the parallel parts occur in the form of a chiasm (opposite order) in the two lines:

^2fFor the law will go forth from Zion

^2gand the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted phrase) of the verb in 4:2g. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing verb from 4:2f. For example:

^2gand the word of the LORD shall go forth from Jerusalem.

For: This word introduces the reason that people will go to Jerusalem. In some languages, it may be more natural to leave the reason implied. For an example, see the NCV quoted below.

from Zion…from Jerusalem: Here are two ways to translate these parallel names:

• Translate the names separately. For example:

  ^2fFor Zion will be the source of instruction;

  ^2gthe Lord’s teachings will proceed from Jerusalem. (NET)

• Translate the names separately, but make it clear that both names refer to the same city. For example:

  ^2fFor the Lord will teach people from Zion.

  ^2g That is, he will utter his words from Jerusalem.

• Translate only one of the names to make it clear that Micah referred to one city, not two. For example:

  ^2fHis teachings will go out from Jerusalem,

  ^2gthe word of the Lord from that city. (NCV)

In Hebrew, these two phrases are emphatic. It will be “out of Zion/Jerusalem” that the LORD will instruct people and make known to them his word. Here are some ways to express this emphasis:

^2f Zion will be the place where the LORD teaches people his laws.

^2g It is from Jerusalem that the LORD will tell people his words.

4:2f

For the law will go forth from Zion: The verb will go forth means here that Zion will be the source of law or instruction. See the NET quoted above.

In Hebrew, the word that the BSB translates as law (torah) is usually translated as “law,”This Hebrew word (torah) is related to the Hebrew verb in 4:2d that the BSB translates “teach” (yarah). but can also be translated as “instruction.” Here are some other ways to translate this word:

teaching (GNT)

teachings (GW)

instruction (NJPS)

4:2g

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem: This line means almost the same thing as the parallel line 4:2f. For ways to translate it, see the examples that have already been given under 4:2f–g.