OET interlinear MIC 6:8

6:8

In this verse, Micah answered the questions that the people asked in 6:6–7. His answer was to remind the people what the LORD required of them.

Some versions begin this verse with the word “No,” to make the connection of this verse to the previous questions more explicit. For example:

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good (NLT)

There are three main ways to translate the structure of the clauses in this verse:

• Translate 6:8a as a statement. Translate 6:8b–c as a rhetorical question.The implied answer to the question is “nothing else is required.” For example:

  ^8aHe has told you, O man, what is good;

  ^8b–cand what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (ESV)

• Translate 6:8a as a statement. Translate 6:8b as a question and 6:8c as the answer to the question. For example:

  ^8aHe has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

  ^8bAnd what does the Lord require of you?

  ^8cTo act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (NIV)

• Translate 6:8a–c as parallel statements. For example:

  ^8a The Lord has told you, human, what is good;

  ^8b he has told you what he wants from you:

  ^8c to do what is right to other people, love being kind to others, and live humbly, obeying your God. (NCV)

6:8a

He has shown you, O man, what is good: In this clause Micah reminded the people that the LORD had already made known the good that he wanted from them. He had told it to them through his law, the prophets, and priests.DRD (page 128), Pusey (page 82), and TOTC (page 213).

O man: Here Micah addressed the questioner(s) directly. Some versions have added the word O to make it clear that O man is a term of address (vocative). Use a vocative that is natural in your language when a person speaks to a group of people or a representative of a group.

In Hebrew, the phrase O man is literally the word “adam.” Here “adam” is the word for “human.”DCH (pages 126–127). It is not a name. This vocative may imply a contrast between finite human beings and the infinite God.NICOT (page 371).

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

He has told you, O mortal, what is good (NRSV)

The Lord has told you, human, what is good (NCV)

what is good: This phrase means “that which is good.”BDB #4078 says that in some cases the question word “what” approximates in meaning to the simple relative. In Hebrew, the word good has a wide range of meaning. Here it probably means “moral good.”UBS (page 233) and Waltke 2007 (page 363). It is the kind of good that is described in the rest of this verse.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

what is right (NJB)

what is good for us to doSuggestion by UBS (page 233).

6:8b

And what does the LORD require of you: This clause introduces the answer to the people’s questions about what will please the LORD.

In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “and what Yahweh asking from you.” It is ambiguous whether it is a question or a statement. For examples of each form of the clause, see the Note on 6:8 “three main ways to translate the structure of the clauses.”

The connecting word And begins this clause. It may indicate that the phrase in 6:8a “He has told you” applies to this clause as well. Not only has the LORD told the people what is good, he has also told them what he requires of them. For example:

^8band he has told you what he requires of you:

Some versions leave this connection implied. For example:

What he requires of us is this: (GNT)

Indicate the connection of this clause to the previous one in a natural way in your language.

require: This word can mean “ask for,” “require,” or “demand.”BDB #1875 (page 205). For example:

wants (NJB)

require (ESV)

demands (CEV)

6:8c

but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?: In this clause, Micah reminded the people of the LORD’s requirements by giving examples.

The people thought that the LORD required only sacrifices. However he also required good, moral attitudes and behavior. In this clause the word but contrasts these two thoughts.Waltke 2007 (page 364) says the full thought is this: “You thought I AM requires sacrifice, but rather he requires ethical behavior.” Most versions leave this contrast implicit.

If you wish to make this contrast more explicit in your translation, here are some examples:

So what does the Lord require of you? He requires not only sacrifices but/rather for you to be just, to love mercy, and to live humbly with your God.

He has told you what he wants from you. He does not want more offerings, but for you to do what is right, to love being kind to others, and to live in humble obedience to your God.

act justly: In Hebrew, the word translated as act justly has a broad range of meanings related to actions that are right and just. It can refer to judicial process as well as an attribute of man in general.TWOT (#2443c). In this phrase, it may refer especially to fair and honest treatment of those who are weak or powerless.TOTC (page 213) and NICOT (page 373).

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

do what is right (NLT)

do what is just (GNT)

promote justice (NET)

love mercy: This phrase means to show kindness even when it is not required or deserved. It refers to both activities and attitudes.CBC (pages 336–338).

The word that the BSB translates as love means to “like” or “love” a thing. It can refer to love for either physical/concrete or abstract things.TWOT (#29). Here the meaning is to love to do kind deeds.

In Hebrew, the word that the BSB translates as mercy has several aspects of meaning:

1. steadfastness, loyalty

2. kindness, mercy

Translate this phrase in a way that fits naturally in the context. Here it may refer particularly to showing a concern for the needs of others. The LORD’s covenant with Israel required them to have this concern in response to the love that the LORD had shown to them.TWOT (#698a) says God was obviously in a covenant relationship with Israel, and he expressed this relationship in eternal ḥesed, but ḥesed does not necessarily involve a covenant nor does it mean loyalty to a covenant. Rather, it is a kind of love, including mercy, close to the KJV rendering “lovingkindness.” Vine (page 142) insists that three basic meanings of the word always interact: kindness, steadfastness, and love. He says that ḥesed is not only a matter of obligation within a relationship; it is also generosity. It is not only a matter of loyalty, but also of mercy.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

let mercy be your first concern (CEV)

show constant love (GNT)

love being kind to others (NCV)

walk humbly with your God: In this phrase the word walk is a figure of speech that means “follow a pattern of conduct or a lifestyle.”Mounce (page 924).

In Hebrew, the word humbly has a range of meanings related to being careful, wise, and prudent.HALOT (electronic edition, page 1039). These qualities depend upon a person having an attitude of submission/humility to God and a desire to conform to his will.EBC (page 540) and TOTC (page 214).

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

humbly obey your God (CEV)

live in humble fellowship with our God (GNT)