MIC 7:13 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 7:8–13: The LORD will restore his people

In this section, the speaker expressed his trust that the LORD would restore and bless his people again after a time of suffering for their sin. Their borders would be enlarged and people would come there from other nations.

Here are some other examples of section headings:

Penitence and Trust in God (NRSV)

Israel Will Rise (NIV)

The Lord Brings Salvation (GNT)

Paragraph 7:11–13

In this paragraph, Micah gives a prophecy about the restoration of Jerusalem. The prophecy may also have a secondary reference to the future salvation of individuals from all the peoples of earth.ABC (pages 1083–1084), and TOTC (page 223).

Some versions place a heading here. For example:

A Prophecy of Restoration (NRSV)

A Bright Future (CEV)

7:13a–b

(combined/reordered)

But the land will become empty and desolate because of the wickedness of those who live there. (NLT)

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^13aThen the earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants,

^13b as the fruit of their deeds.

There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted phrase) in 7:13b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 7:13a. For example:

^13b the earth will become desolate as the fruit of their deeds.

These lines talk about a future desolation of the earth. The reason for the desolation is because of the doings/actions of the people. This verse is probably a description of a future judgment from the LORD, since only he has authority and power to know and to judge people’s actions in this way. The first line is a summary statement. The second line gives more detail.

7:13a

Then the earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants,

Then/But the earth will become a wasteland because of the people who live there,
The land will be ruined because of those who live there.

Then the earth will become desolate: In Hebrew, the word become indicates the action of change from its present condition into a desolate condition.Waltke 2007 (pages 439–440) notes that this word form has the sense of “become” or “turn into.”

Then…will become: In Hebrew, this word is more literally “and it will become.” The function of the Hebrew word form is to introduce the next event after the preceding event.Waltke 2007 (pages 439–440) parses this word as a waw-consecutive form that indicates sequence.

Here are some ways to translate this word:

Use a word or phrase that introduces contrast between this verse and the preceding material. For example:
But the earth will be desolate (ESV)
In contrast, the earth will become a desolate wasteland
Use a word that introduces the next event and leaves contrast implied. For example:
And the earth will become desolate (NASB)
Then the earth will be ruined
Let the context imply that this is the next event. For example:
The earth will become desolate (NIV)
The earth will become a wasteland (GW)

the earth: In Hebrew, this word has various meanings.Mounce (page 900) includes among them: “world,” “earth,” “all inhabited lands,” “country,” “region,” “territory.” Here it follows the list of regions in 7:12. In this context, the word earth probably refers to the various regions of the earth outside of Israel.Both UBS (pages 254–255) and KD (page 345) state that the word “earth” here does not include the land of Israel, since this verse speaks of the punishment of enemy nations. Waltke 2007 (pages 439–440) suggests that, since nations representing the entire known world are in view [in 7:12], the word here refers to the earth, not a specific “land.” Most versions translate this word as the earth or “the land.”

desolate: In Hebrew, this word means “desolation,” “ruin,” “wasteland.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

a desolation (NJPS)

a wasteland (GW)

a disaster (CEV)

because of its inhabitants: In this clause part, the word because introduces the reason why the earth will become desolate. It is on account of its inhabitants.In Hebrew, “on,” which here means “on account of.” HALOT II (page 825) and Waltke 2007 (pages 439–440). In 7:13a, the details of what the inhabitants have done to deserve desolation is left implied.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause part:

Because of those who dwell in it (NJPS)

by reason of its inhabitants (NJB)

7:13b

as the fruit of their deeds.

for their deeds are wicked.
Their actions are evil.

as the fruit of their deeds: This clause makes more explicit what the inhabitants did to deserve punishment. Here the word as introduces the reason.In Hebrew, “from.” It is because of the fruit of their doings. The phrase fruit of their deeds refers to the consequences of their “actions.” Here the phrase refers to their evil deeds.Waltke 2007 (page 440) and Mounce (page 980).

Here are some other ways to translate this clause part:

as the fruit of their misdeeds (NJPS)

because of their deeds (NCV)

as their deeds deserve (REB)

General Comment on 7:13a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder these lines. For example:

But the land will become empty and desolate because of the wickedness of those who live there. (NLT)

The earth will become desolate because of what its inhabitants have done. (NET)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

וְ⁠הָיְתָ֥ה הָ⁠אָ֛רֶץ לִ⁠שְׁמָמָ֖ה עַל יֹֽשְׁבֶ֑י⁠הָ מִ⁠פְּרִ֖י מַֽעַלְלֵי⁠הֶֽם

and,it_will_become the=earth/land (into)_a,desolation on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in inhabitants_of,its from_the=fruit their_deeds_of,their

The phrase translated as on account of indicates that what follows is a reason for what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a reason for what came before. Alternate translation: [Because of her inhabitants, because of the fruit of their deeds, the land will become a desolation]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

וְ⁠הָיְתָ֥ה הָ⁠אָ֛רֶץ לִ⁠שְׁמָמָ֖ה

and,it_will_become the=earth/land (into)_a,desolation

Micah uses the word And here to indicate a contrast between the restoration that he has just described and the desolation that will come upon the rest of the earth. In your translation, indicate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [But the land will become a desolation on account of her inhabitants, from the fruit of their deeds]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

לִ⁠שְׁמָמָ֖ה

(into)_a,desolation

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of desolation, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [desolate]

Note 4 topic: writing-pronouns

יֹֽשְׁבֶ֑י⁠הָ מִ⁠פְּרִ֖י מַֽעַלְלֵי⁠הֶֽם

inhabitants_of,its from_the=fruit their_deeds_of,their

The pronoun her refers to the land, and the pronoun their refers to the people who live in the land. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [the land’s inhabitants … those people’s deeds]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מִ⁠פְּרִ֖י מַֽעַלְלֵי⁠הֶֽם

from_the=fruit their_deeds_of,their

Here Micah is speaking as if the results of what people do were the fruit that a plant produces. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [from the results of their deeds]

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 7:13