OET interlinear MIC 7:14

7:14

In this verse Micah prayed to the LORD using agricultural figures of speech that the people at that time understood.

He asked the LORD to rule over his people and to restore the blessings that they enjoyed in the past.

7:14a

Shepherd with Your staff Your people: Here Micah used a metaphor to ask the LORD to rule over his people.TOTC (page 224) says that the metaphor of a shepherd was common in the ancient Near East to represent an ideal king. See also Mounce (page 1043), “to care for flocks…by extension: to rule, with a focus on care and concern.” This metaphor compares the activities of a ruler to those of a shepherd. A shepherd cared for his sheep by guiding, leading, feeding and protecting them.

Here are some ways to translate this metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

  Shepherd your people with your shepherd’s rod. (NET)

• Keep part of the metaphor and make some of the meaning explicit. For example:

  With your shepherd’s staff, take care of your people (GW)

• Change the metaphor to a simile and make some of the meaning explicit. For example:

  LORD, rule your people. Guide and protect them, like a shepherd with his staff.

• Translate the meaning directly. For example:

  O Lord, come and rule your people (NLT96).

with Your staff: A staff was a rod that a shepherd used to guide his sheep and to protect them from wild animals. In this metaphor, the phrase with Your staff highlighted Micah’s request that the LORD would guide and protect his people.Waltke 2007, UBS, CBC, and JFB.

7:14b

the flock of Your inheritance: This phrase continues the metaphor from 14a. In this part of the metaphor the LORD’s people are compared to a flock of sheep or other domesticated animal. The phrase of Your inheritance gives attention to the special relationship that the LORD has with Israel. They are the people he chose to be his own.In Hebrew, this phrase is more literally “the flock of your inheritance.” UBS (page 257) warns translators that in some languages the word “inheritance” may suggest that someone has to die before the heir can take possession of the flock. That is not the correct meaning here. In this verse, the correct meaning of the word “inheritance” is “belonging to you in a special way.”

Here are some ways to translate this part of the metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

  Your very own flock (NJPS)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

  who are like your own flock of sheep

• Translate the meaning directly. For example:

  the people you have chosen (GNT)

7:14c

They live alone in a woodland: This line describes the setting where the flock lives. There are two main interpretations of the phrase live alone in a woodland:

1. The setting is undesirable. The people live in a wooded place that is not good for grazing or farming. The word alone implies that the area is isolated from other people.Favored by NICOT, NAC, and UBS. For example:

   the one that lives alone in a thicket (NET) (CEV, GNT, NET, NJB, NJPS, NLT, REB)

2. The setting is desirable. The people live in a place with wood and pasture land. The word alone implies that the area is secure and protected from negative influences of other people.Favored by KD, TOTC, Waltke 2007, and JFB. For example:

   which lives by itself in a forest, in fertile pasturelands (NIV) (GW, NIV)

Some versions are ambiguous and have not been listed above. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with more versions and commentators. It provides a reason why Micah asked the LORD to allow the people to move from their present location to fertile pasturelands in 7:14d.

woodland: In Hebrew, this word means “thicket,” “undergrowth,” “wood.”HALOT (electronic edition, pages 422–423). Here the reference is probably to a thicket or other kind of poor land for grazing.NICOT, UBS, and NAC. Some versions make this meaning explicit. For example:

they live alone in a thicket (NLT)

7:14d

surrounded by pastures: This line is part of the clause that starts in 7:14c. It describes the location of the forest. There are two main interpretations of the phrase surrounded by:

1. The forest is surrounded by good pasture land. The phrase pastures indicates a contrast to forest land, which is less fertile.Favored by NICOT, NAC, and UBS. For example:

   Grasslands surround us (CEV) (CEV, GNT, NET, NJB, NJPS, REB)

2. The forest is part of the good pasture land. Both places are fertile.Favored by KD, TOTC, Waltke 2007, and JFB. For example:

   they live alone in the woods, in fertile pasturelands (GW) (GW, NIV)

Some versions are ambiguous and have not been listed above. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with more versions and commentators.

pastures: There are two main interpretations of the Hebrew word that the BSB translates as pastures:

1. The word means “ garden land.” It refers to land that is very fertile and good for pasture.Mounce (page 951), NICOT, NAC, and UBS. For example:

   Grasslands surround us (CEV) (CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NRSV, REB, BSB)

2. The word means “Carmel/Mount Carmel.” It is a location in the northern part of Israel.EBC, NAC, ABC, TOTC, and Pusey. For example:

   …on the heights of Mount Carmel (NLT) (KJV, NAB, NLT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with the majority of versions and commentators.

Here are some other ways to translate pastures:

farmland (NJPS)

fertile pastures (GW)

meadows (REB)

7:14e

Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old: In this line, Micah asks the LORD to restore to the people of Israel the prosperity and blessing that they enjoyed in the past.EBC (page 549) states that Bashan and Gilead were places of great fertility that became symbols of plenty. Here they are used in a request that the LORD restore Israel’s former years of blessing. This line continues the metaphor in which the LORD’s people are compared to a flock of animals. In this part of the metaphor, the people’s experience of blessing is compared to the feeding of a flock of animals in good pasture.

Here are some ways to translate this part of the metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

  Allow them to graze in Bashan and Gilead as they did in the old days. (NET)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

  like a flock of sheep, let them feed again in Bashan and Gilead as in the past

• Translate the meaning directly. For example:

  let the people you have chosen enjoy the abundance of your blessings as they did long ago

Bashan and Gilead: These two places were occupied by the people of Israel early in their history.CBC (page 344) states that Bashan was located east and northeast of the Sea of Galilee. Gilead was located in the Transjordan between the Yarmuk and Arnon Rivers. They were known for their excellent pastures.Carson, CBC, NICOT, JFB, UBS, KD, ZIBBC, and ABC. Here they represent abundant prosperity and blessing.However, some commentators suggest that the intent of Micah’s request may be more literal. Micah may be asking the LORD to expand Israel’s territory to include Bashan and Gilead once again. UBS, Pusey, and NAC.

the days of old: This phrase refers to the early time period in the history of Israel when they first began to occupy the land.This reference was probably to the time of Moses and Joshua. See NAC, KD, and TOTC.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

As in days long ago (NIV)

as in days gone by (REB)

as they did long ago (GNT)