OET interlinear MIC 6:4

6:4a

6:4b

6:4a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^4aFor I brought you up from the land of Egypt

^4band redeemed you from the house of slavery.

In these lines, the LORD began to give evidence that he had not wronged the people of Israel. Rather, he had been good to them.There is a Hebrew word play here. The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as “have I wearied you” in 6:3b sounds similar to the Hebrew word that the BSB translates as “I brought you up” in 6:4a. This word play may have emphasized a contrast, as if the LORD were saying “I have not wearied you. Rather I have rescued you from slavery and brought you to the promised land.” See NAC (page 110), NICOT (pages 365–367) and WBC (page 51). His goodness was shown in the significant events of Israel’s past. The first event he talked about was that he rescued themIt was the ancestors of the people of Israel that the LORD rescued. However, Israelites of every generation identified with that past event almost as if it happened to them. The Exodus pointed to their relationship to the LORD, which defined who they were as a people. See NICOT, Waltke, WBC, EBC, KD, and UBS. out of slavery in Egypt.

For: Here this word introduces the LORD’s answer to the questions in 6:3. He had not wronged or wearied them. On the contrary, he had shown them kindness.JFB (page 693).

Here are some ways to translate this word:

For (ESV)

Indeed (NASB)

In fact (NJPS)

Some versions leave this word implied. For example:

I brought you out of Egypt (GNT)

brought you up…redeemed you: Both phrases refer to the LORD’s rescue of the people from slavery in Egypt.UBS (page 228). The phrase brought you up describes it as a change of their location. The phrase redeemed you describes it as a change of their circumstances from being slaves to being free people.

brought you up: The Hebrew word for brought you up literally means to bring someone upward from a lower to a higher place. It also has a figurative meaning of raising someone up from the underworld, giving life to someone dead.LTW “Resurrection.” In this context, it may have both literal and figurative meanings.Literally, Egypt was at a lower elevation than the places where the LORD brought them. Figuratively the LORD rescuing them from Egypt was comparable to his raising them from death to new life.

Some languages will not have a single word or phrase with both these meanings. If that is true in your language it is recommended that you translate the literal meaning and leave the figurative meaning implied.There are other Old Testament references to the same event that use the Hebrew word for “bring out” rather than “bring up.” An example is in Exodus 6:26. These other references suggest that the primary meaning of these similar phrases is the literal removal of the people from Egypt. For example:

For I brought you out of Egypt (NLT)

redeemed you: In Hebrew, the word that the BSB translates as redeemed you is literally “I ransomed you.” The word “ransom” means “transfer ownership of a person or object to another through payment of a price or an equivalent substitute.”TWOT (#1734) explains that when God delivered Israel from servitude to Egypt, the price he paid was the slaughter of the firstborn in Egypt, man and beast. Another suggestion is made by NICOT (pages 365–357). He says that here the Hebrew word for “I ransomed you,” has the general sense of release without thought of payment to the Egyptians.

Here are some other ways to translate the word in this context:

and ransomed you from the house of slavery (NASB)

from the place of slavery I released you (NAB)

and freed you from slavery (NCV)

the land of Egypt…the house of slavery: Both phrases refer to Egypt. The phrase the land of Egypt describes the literal location. The phrase the house of slavery describes Egypt figuratively with reference to the circumstances of the people while they were there.UBS (page 228).

house of slavery: In this phrase, the word house refers to a place, the land of Egypt. It does not indicate a literal house.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the place where you were forced to work very hardThis suggestion is from UBS (page 228).

the place of slavery (NAB)

the land of slavery (NIV)

the place of slave-labour (NJB)

Some versions leave the word house implied. For example:

I rescued you from slavery (GNT)

6:4c

I sent Moses before you, as well as Aaron and Miriam: The LORD gave the people effective leaders. This was a second significant event in Israel’s past that gave evidence of the LORD’s goodness to his people.

I sent…before you: This phrase probably indicates that the LORD chose and sent Moses, Aaron and Miriam to lead the people out of Egypt, through the wilderness of Sinai, and to the promised land.Some commentators point out that Moses, Aaron, and Miriam each served a prophetic role. This role is not made explicit here but their role as the representatives and spokesmen for the LORD is probably an implication of this phrase. See A&F (page 519), and Davis (page 123).

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you. (GNT)

I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you. (NLT)

I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to you. (NCV)

Moses…Aaron and Miriam: The Hebrew is more literally, “I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.” In some languages it is natural to list the most important name first, as is shown here. The BSB and some other translations separate Moses to stylistically show his importance. Others follow the Hebrew more closely. The birth order of these siblings was probably Miriam, Aaron, and Moses. In some other languages, it is natural to list the oldest first. Translate these three names in the order that is most natural in your language.For this suggestion see UBS (page 228).