OET interlinear MIC 5:2

5:2

In this verse, the phrase “for Me” in 2c refers to the LORD, so the LORD is probably the speaker.

5:2a

But you: This phrase introduces a strong contrast between the helpless ruler of Israel in 5:1c and the strong ruler that 5:2c–e describes.See NAC (page 96), TOTC (pages 198–199), and Pusey (page 67). In Hebrew, the placement of this phrase first in the clause also gives it emphasis. Introduce this contrast and emphasis in a natural way in your language.

Bethlehem Ephrathah: This refers to the birthplace of King David mentioned in Ruth 4:11 and 1 Sam. 17:12. Here it is used as a term of address (vocative) in which the LORD speaks to the town of Bethlehem in Judah. Some versions have added the word “O” to indicate this.

In some languages, it may be more natural to use indirect speech here. For an example, see the third meaning line for 5:2a in the Display.

The word Ephrathah may refer to the region where Bethlehem is located (NRSV “of Ephrathah” and REB “in Ephrathah”). The word may also refer to a clan/family name rather than a region (NJPS “Bethlehem of Ephrath” has a footnote: “The clan to which the Bethlehemites belonged”).

TN will follow most versions, which translate the name of the town as Bethlehem Ephrathah. Here are some other ways to translate 5:2a:

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah (ESV)

But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah (NASB)

The Lord says, “Bethlehem Ephrathah (GNT)

5:2b–c

Verse 5:2c describes the unexpected result of 5:2b. People did not expect that a ruler over the nation of Israel would come from a small and insignificant town such as Bethlehem Ephrathah. Here are some ways to indicate the relationship between the true statement that Bethlehem was small and the unexpected result:

• Begin 5:2b with a conjunction such as “though.” For example:

  though you are small… (NIV)

• Begin 5:2c with a conjunction such as “yet” or “but.” For example:

  Yet, from you Israel’s future ruler will come for me. (GW)

  But the Lord will choose one of your people to rule the nation (CEV)

• Leave the relationship implied. For example:

  who are one of the little…, from you shall come forth for me… (NRSV)

Express this relationship in a clear and natural way in your language.

5:2b

The GNT has been used as the source line for 5:2b, because it follows the two recommended interpretations.

(GNT) you are one of the smallest towns in Judah: In Hebrew, this verse part is more literally “insignificant to be among the thousands of Judah.” There are at least two interpretation issues. The Notes will first consider the issue of the size or significance of Bethlehem Ephrathah:

1. Bethlehem Ephrathah is small. It is unimportant compared to other cities/towns or clans. For example:

   Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in the nation of Judah. (CEV)

   As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah (NET) (CEV, KJV, NABRE, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT, NRSV, REB, BSB, GNT)

2. Bethlehem Ephrathah is too small/insignificant to be a city/clan. For example:

   You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, are too small to be included among Judah’s cities. (GW)

   But you. O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah (ESV) (ESV, GW, NAB, NASB, NCV, RSV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions.According to Waltke 2007 (page 268), the meaning “too small” requires the Hebrew word to have a comparative min affix. That affix is not present here.

(GNT) towns: In Hebrew, this word is literally “thousands,” (as in the KJV). It often refers to large groups of people, such as groups of soldiers, clans or kinship/family groups.Mounce #548: 3 ʾelep “by extension from ‘thousand,’ this refers to any large unit or group: (family) clan, (military) unit.” Also, DCH (p 300): 13.0.2 “clan—…tribal unit smaller than tribe, sometimes loosely equivalent to family…or tribe.” See also NIDOTTE vol. 2 (page 419), which discusses more than one sense of ʾelep as well as ʾallup “chief” in relation to a hierarchy of categories from nation and tribe down to family. The NCV has “army groups from Judah.” Here, however, the word probably refers to non-military groups whose size would be appropriate for a small town or a clan or an extended group of relatives.ZIBBC (page 136) says that although the town and clan are not equivalent, one was often used as shorthand for the other.

The Notes will now consider the issue of whether Bethlehem Ephrathah is a town or a clan. Versions from either of the two interpretations above will be listed:

1. Bethlehem Ephrathah is the name of a town. For example:

   are only a small village among all the people of Judah (NLT) (CEV, GW,The GW has been listed here, because its rendering “too small…among Judah’s cities” clearly implies a comparable unit such as a town or village. NLT, GNT)

2. Bethlehem Ephrathah is the name of a clan. For example:

   small as you are among Judah’s clans (REB) (BSB, ESV, NABRE, NASB, NET, NIV, NJB, NRSV, REB)

You may follow either interpretation. TN will follow interpretation (1). Although more versions follow interpretation (2), there is significant commentary and lexicon support for (1).A&F (page 466) identifies this verse as the only one in which “the originally kin-oriented unit ʾelep” has been designated as a town. HALOT (electronic ed. page 60) identifies this verse as referring to a “settlement > region” in Judah. UBS (page 207) says that the word refers to a social unit (clan), but that this is a case of metonymy in which the clan represents “the town where the clan members lived.” It recommends the “plain meaning” of the GNT “one of the smallest towns in Judah,” and says that “smallest probably refers both to size and to importance.” Interpretation (1) is also much simpler and avoids the confusion over who belonged to a clan and how big a clan was in relation to other groups.

5:2c

out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel: This clause is a prophecy about the coming of a future ruler. He will rule over Israel for the LORD. In the New Testament, Matthew (1:6) quoted this verse to indicate that Jesus fulfilled this prophecy.

out of you will come forth: The pronoun you in this phrase refers to Bethlehem Ephrathah. That is the place where the ruler will come from. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

a ruler of Israel will come from you (NLT)

out of you will come (NIV)

for Me: The pronoun Me refers to the LORD. The phrase for Me means “on my behalf.”Waltke 2007 (page 272) affirms this understanding of the Hebrew word as “dative of advantage to whom the action is directed, and of referring the pronoun to God….” Here are some implications of this phrase:

1. The ruler will act on behalf of the LORD.

2. The ruler will truly obey the LORD.Both a) and b) are suggested by UBS (page 207).

3. The ruler will follow the plan of the LORD and will promote His kingdom.KD (page 324).

4. The ruler (the Messiah) will come to serve the LORD and not himself.Waltke 2007 (page 272) and ABC (page 1080).

Some versions make one or more of these implications clearer. Consider if it will be helpful to do the same in your translation. For example:

will rule over Israel on my behalf (NET)

will rule Israel for me (NCV)

One to be ruler over Israel: The Hebrew word for ruler rather than the more specific word “king” is used here. If your language has a general word or phrase that refers to a person who rules a country, you should use it here.Some scholars believe there is no essential meaning difference between the Hebrew words for “ruler” and “king.” For example, NAC (page 97) mentions that both words can refer either to humans or to God in Micah as well as elsewhere in the OT. A&F (page 467) makes the same point and cites Genesis 37:8 in which both words are used to refer to Joseph. Others believe it is significant that the Hebrew word for “ruler” is used instead of the word for “king.” For example, NICOT (page 343) suggests that the word “ruler” indicates a lesser, subordinate status to the divine “king.” Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

But out of you will come for me a ruler out of Israel. (NIrV)

from you will come one who will rule Israel for me (NCV)

5:2d

5:2e

5:2d–e

Notice the parallel lines that are similar in meaning:

^2dOne whose origins are of old,

^2e from the days of eternity.

There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted phrase) in 5:2e. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 5:2d. For example:

^2e whose origins are from days of eternity.

One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity: In Hebrew, the word origins can refer to the place or the time period that something is from. A form of this word is translated as “come forth” in 5:2c. There it refers to the place that the ruler comes from. In 5:2d–e the word origins refers to the time period. This time period is indicated by the words of old and from the days of eternity.

There is more than one way to interpret this verse part:

1. The ruler is ancient. He is the son of God and he has always existed.JFB (page 692) says that “as the Son of God, His goings forth are from everlasting.” KD (page 325), says that the Hebrew word for “origins” “can only affirm the going forth from God at the creation of the world….” For example:

   His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity. (NASB)

2. The lineage of the ruler is ancient. His coming from Bethlehem implies that his ancestry goes back to the time of David.According to Waltke 2007 (page 275), the meaning of the Hebrew word for “origins” should be connected to the meaning in the first part of the verse. He comes from Bethlehem, which implies his ancestral origin from Jesse and the house of David. A&F (page 467) also states that his lineage is the more likely meaning here. For example:

   I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times. (GNT)

The LORD (speaking through Micah) may have meant both (1) and (2) here. If possible, translate these lines in a way that allows either or both interpretations to be understood. For example:

His origins go back to the distant past, to days long ago. (GW)