MIC 1:15 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

1:15 OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

1:15 OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

1:15 OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX ἕως τοὺς κληρονόμους ἀγάγωσι, κατοικοῦσα Λαχείς· κληρονομία ἕως Ὀδολλὰμ ἥξει, ἡ δόξα τὴς θυγατρὸς Ἰσραήλ.
(heōs tous klaʸronomous agagōsi, katoikousa Laⱪeis; klaʸronomia heōs Odollam haʸxei, haʸ doxa taʸs thugatros Israaʸl. )

BrTr until they bring the heirs, O inhabitant of Lachis: the inheritance shall reach to Odollam, even the glory of the daughter of Israel.

ULT I will again bring a conqueror to you,
⇔ inhabitants of Mareshah;
⇔ the splendor of Israel will come to Adullam.

UST You people of Mareshah,
⇔ Yahweh will soon send someone to conquer your town.
⇔ It will be necessary for the great leaders of Israel to go and hide in the cave near Adullam.

1:15 Mareshah sounds like the Hebrew for conqueror.

OEB I will hand you to a conqueror, people of Mareshah,
⇔ the leaders of Israel will hide in Adullam Cave!

WEBBE I will yet bring a conqueror to you, inhabitants of Mareshah.
⇔ The glory of Israel will come to Adullam.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Residents of Mareshah, a conqueror will attack you,
⇔ the leaders of Israel shall flee to Adullam.

LSV Yet I bring the possessor to you, O inhabitant of Mareshah,
The glory of Israel comes to Adullam.

FBV I will bring a conqueror to attack you, people of Moresheth. The leaders of Israel will go to Adullam.[fn]

1:15 Adullam was the cave where David hid when he was running away from king Saul ( 1 Samuel 22:1). In other words, the leaders of Israel will run away to hide.

T4T The name of your town of Mareshah means ‘conqueror,’
⇔ and Yahweh will soon send someone to conquer your town.
⇔ It will be necessary for the great/glorious leaders of Israel to go and hide in the cave at Adullam city.

LEB • I will again bring the conqueror upon you, O inhabitants of Mareshah;
• the glory of Israel
• will come to Adullam.

BBE Even now will the taker of your heritage come to you, you who are living in Mareshah: the glory of Israel will come to destruction for ever.

Moff I will march the conqueror on you yet,
⇔ O men of Mareshah;
⇔ and Israel’s pomp shall perish utterly.

JPS I will yet bring unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah, him that shall possess thee; the glory of Israel shall come even unto Adullam.

ASV I will yet bring unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah, him that shall possess thee: the glory of Israel shall come even unto Adullam.

DRA Yet will I bring an heir to thee that dwellest in Maresa: even to Odollam shall the glory of Israel come.

YLT Yet the possessor I do bring in to thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah, To Adullam come in doth the honour of Israel.

Drby I will yet bring unto thee an heir, O inhabitress of Mareshah; the glory of Israel shall come even unto Adullam.

RV I will yet bring unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah, him that shall possess thee: the glory of Israel shall come even unto Adullam.
(I will yet bring unto thee/you, Oh inhabitant of Mareshah, him that shall possess thee/you: the glory of Israel shall come even unto Adullam. )

SLT Yet I will bring to thee him possessing, O inhabitress at the head: he shall come even to Adullam, the glory of Israel.

Wbstr Yet will I bring an heir to thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come to Adullam the glory of Israel.

KJB-1769 Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel.[fn][fn]
(Yet will I bring an heir unto thee/you, Oh inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel. )

1.15 inhabitant: Heb. inhabitress

1.15 he…: or, the glory of Israel shall, etc

KJB-1611 Yet wil I bring an heire vnto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: [fn]he shall come vnto Adullam, the glory of Israel
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

1:15 Or, the glory of Israel shall come &c.

Bshps And as for thee O thou that dwellest at Maresa, I shall bring a possessioner vpon thee, he shal come to Adullam, the glory of Israel.
(And as for thee/you Oh thou/you that dwellest/dwell at Maresa, I shall bring a possessioner upon thee/you, he shall come to Adullam, the glory of Israel.)

Gnva Yet will I bring an heire vnto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah, he shall come vnto Adullam, the glorie of Israel.
(Yet will I bring an heir unto thee/you, Oh inhabitant of Mareshah, he shall come unto Adullam, the glory of Israel. )

Cvdl And as for the (o thou that dwellest at Morassa) I shal brynge a possessioner vpon the, ad the plage of Israel shal reach vnto Odolla.
(And as for the (o thou/you that dwellest/dwell at Morassa) I shall bring a possessioner upon them, and the plague of Israel shall reach unto Odolla.)

Wycl Yit Y schal brynge an eir to thee, that dwellist in Maresa; the glorie of Israel schal come til to Odolla.
(Yet I shall bring an heir to thee/you, that dwellest/dwell in Maresa; the glory of Israel shall come till to Odolla.)

Luth Ich will dir Maresa, den rechten Erben bringen; und die Herrlichkeit Israels soll kommen bis gen Adullam.
(I will you/to_you(sg) Maresa, the right inheritance bring/get; and the glory/splendour Israels should coming until to/toward Adullam.)

ClVg Adhuc hæredem adducam tibi quæ habitas in Maresa; usque ad Odollam veniet gloria Israël.
(Still the_heir I_will_bring to_you which you_live in/into/on Maresa; until to Odollam will_come glory Israel. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:8–16: Micah mourned because an enemy army will invade Judah and take many people into exile

In 1:5, Micah mentioned the sins of the people in Samaria and Jerusalem. In 1:6–7, he predicted that the LORD would destroy Samaria. Here in 1:8–16, he predicted that the LORD would also punish the people in Judah, including Jerusalem. He would punish them by causing an enemy army to invade Judah.

This section has two paragraphs: 1:8–9 and 1:10–16. In the first paragraph, Micah said that he would “lament and wail” (BSB). He described the way that he would mourn and then gave the reason. In the second paragraph, he mentioned several cities in Judah that an enemy army would soon attack on its way to Jerusalem. Some versions have separate section headings for each paragraph. The Notes will include both paragraphs as part of the same section. Here are some other examples of section headings for the entire section (1:8–16):

Lament for Jerusalem and the lowland towns (NJB)

Judah Is Doomed (CEV)

The Doom of the Cities of Judah (NRSV)

Micah mourned the disaster that will happen to various cities in Judah

If you choose to use separate section headings for 1:8–9 and 1:10–16, here are some examples for 1:8–9:

Weeping and Mourning (NIV, BSB)

Micah’s Great Sadness (NCV)

Either the CEV or NRSV headings above will be appropriate for 1:10–16. Here is another example:

Disaster will happen to various cities in Judah

Paragraph 1:10–16

In this paragraph, Micah mentioned the names of eleven towns in Judah in addition to the city of Jerusalem (v.12). These towns were located in the foothills between the low coastal area and the mountains of Judah.EBC (page 508). According to A&F (page 212), some of the cities mentioned have not been identified, and it is not possible to guess the route of the attack or the identity of the invaders. It could have been any of several different kings.

In many English versions as well as TN, 1:10–16 forms one paragraph. Some versions divide it into two or three paragraphs. For example, the GNT has two paragraphs (10–14 and 15–16). The NLT has three paragraphs (10–12, 13–15, and 16). Use whatever paragraph structure is appropriate for your language.

Here are some of the poetic variations of Micah’s lament in 1:10–16:

In some verses, he spoke to the people in a particular town. In other verses, he spoke about them.
Sometimes he used plural nouns or pronouns to refer to the people in a particular town. At other times, he used singular nouns or pronouns.

English versions consistently use either plural or singular forms throughout these verses. For example, in 1:11b, the NJB uses singular pronouns:

She has not left her city, she who lives in Zanaan. (NJB)

The NIV uses a plural pronoun:

Those who live in Zaanan will not come out. (NIV)

You may use either singular or plural forms or a combination of the two, depending on what is natural and appropriate in your language.

In 1:10–16, Micah used past tense verbs to describe what was still in the future. See the notes on 1:9b and 1:9c for more details.

Micah also made puns with the names of several of the towns or cities. A pun is a figure of speech in which a person uses a word that has two meanings or a word that sounds like another word.

In some verses, he used a word that sounded like the name of that town.
In other verses, he said something about a town that was related to the meaning of its name.

Here is a brief summary of the puns in each verseThis summary is condensed and adapted from EBC (pages 407–8.) and some general advice on how to translate puns. Complete notes on each verse will start with 1:10a.

Beth-leaphrah (1:10b): The name of this city sounds like the Hebrew words that mean “house of dust.” Micah commanded those who live in that town to roll in the dust.
Shaphir (1:11a): This name means “beautiful” or “pleasant” in Hebrew. Micah said that the lives of the people in that town will not be pleasant.
Zaanan (1:11b): This name sounds like the Hebrew word for “come out.” Micah said that the people there will not come out of their city.
Beth-ezel (1:11c): This name probably means “nearby house” in Hebrew. Micah said that Beth-ezel would no longer be nearby to serve as a “standing place” (protection, refuge) for Jerusalem.
Maroth (1:12a): This name sounds like the Hebrew word for “bitter.” Micah said that the people in that town will suffer bitterly.
Lachish (1:13): This name sounds like the Hebrew word for “team of horses.” Micah told the people in that town to flee like running horses.
Moresheth (-gath) (1:14a): This name sounds like the Hebrew word for “betrothed” (engaged to be married). Just like a young woman departs from her family when she gets married, so the people in that town would soon depart from Judah.
Achzib (1:14b): This name means “deception” in Hebrew. That town will be a deception to the kings of Israel. These kings had hoped in vain that the people of Achzib would help them fight the enemy.
Mareshah (1:15a): This name sounds like the Hebrew word for “conqueror.” The LORD will bring an enemy to that town who will conquer them.

In addition to the above puns, Micah also included the names of two places (Gath 1:10a) and Adullam (1:15b) that are famous in Jewish history. Their significance will be discussed in the notes on those verses.

The people to whom Micah spoke over 2,700 years ago understood the puns. They also understood the historical significance of Gath and Adullam. But most people today do not understand these things. That is the reason it is difficult to translate these verses clearly. Here are some general options to consider in translating the puns:

Ignore the puns. Most English versions do this in the actual translation. Just translate the name in the Hebrew text. Those who read your translation will understand the basic meaning of each verse, but they will not know that there was a pun in Hebrew.
Use footnotes to explain the puns. Many English versions with footnotes do this. For example, the NIV uses footnotes at 1:10a, 11b, 12a, 13a, and 15a to explain that a name sounds like another Hebrew word. It uses other footnotes at 1:10b, 11a, and 14b to explain the meaning of the name of a town.
Explain in your translation the meaning or the sound of the names for the cities. If you use this option, you will need to clearly indicate in some way that this information is not part of your translation.

Choose an option that is appropriate for the readers in your language area.

1:15a

I will again bring a conqueror against you, O dweller of Mareshah.

I will send someone to conquer you^(plur) also, people who live in Mareshah.
And Yahweh says, “As for you people who live in Mareshah, I will send someone who will conquer you as well.”
Yahweh said that he will cause/send enemies to fight against your town to defeat you.

In this verse part, Micah talked about Mareshah, another town in Judah. The LORD will send an enemy to conquer that city also.

I will again bring a conqueror against you: In Hebrew, there are three ways to interpret the word again:

It means “furthermore” or “also.” In 1:10–14, Micah said that an enemy army would attack several Jewish cities. Here in 1:15a, the LORD said that in addition to those other cities, he would also send an enemy army to conquer Mareshah. For example:
People of Mareshah: I will send someone to conquer you also.
And you too, people of Mareshah, I shall send others to take your place… (REB)
And besides that, I will send an army to conquer you too, people of Mareshah! (NASB, REB)
Some scholars think this word means “again,” or “one more time.” God will send a conqueror to Mareshah again. This implies that this is not the first time that God had sent a conqueror to Mareshah.
I will again bring a conqueror to you, inhabitants of Mareshah. (ESV) (BSB, ESV, GW, NJB, NRSV)
Some scholars think that this word mean “yet” or “still.” God had not yet sent an army to conquer them, but he would still do it. For example:
Yet must I bring to you the conqueror (NAB) (KJV, NAB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most commentaries.Most scholars do not mention this issue. No commentary supports the translation “again.” UBS (pages 149–150) says that if “again,” is correct, it would have to refer to a previous incident in which an enemy conquered Mareshah. “If ‘again’ does not mean ‘a second time’ in this verse, it may well be omitted in other languages, since the other alternatives are simply connecting words which do not add anything new to the sense.” Waltke 2007 (83–84) comments: “ʿōḏ (Also) can mean “beside,” or “again” (NRSV). The latter, however, diffuses the threat by raising the question, “When previously did God bring a conqueror against Mareshah?” “Besides” fits the context well.”

Many English versions (the NIV and GNT are two examples) leave this word untranslated. If the recommended interpretation is clear in your language, you may do the same thing.

I: This pronoun refers to the LORD. Micah spoke the LORD’s words here, like he did in 1:6.

In all of the rest of 1:10–16 Micah is the speaker. Only here at 1:15a is the LORD the speaker. A literal translation of 1:15a may confuse your readers. They may think that I refers to Micah. There are several ways you can translate this:

Translate the pronoun I literally. Your readers may need to study and think about the verse to understand that the LORD is the speaker, not Micah. Many English versions do this.
Translate the pronoun as I and also add a footnote to indicate who the speaker is. For example:
1:15a: The Lord is the one who is speaking here.
Translate the pronoun as I and also include a phrase such as “The LORD says,” or “This is what the LORD says” at the beginning or end of the sentence, wherever it is natural in your language. For example,
The LORD says, “You people of Mareshah, I will send enemies to conquer your town also…”
Translate 1:15a as an indirect quote. For example:
The LORD says that he will send a conqueror against you people in Mareshah.
Translate 1:15a as Micah’s words. For example:
People of Mareshah, the Lord will hand you over to an enemy, who is going to capture your town. (GNT)
People of Mareshah, the Lord will send someone to capture your town. (CEV)

Choose an option that is clear, natural, and appropriate in your language.

bring a conqueror against you: There are two ways to interpret the word conqueror here:

It refers to an enemy army that will fight against Mareshah and conquer it. For example:
an enemy, who is going to capture your town (GNT) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GW, NAB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NLT, NRSV, GNT)
It refers to an enemy army that will take possession of Mareshah like an heir takes possession of an inheritance.In addition to the NASB, the NJPS has “a dispossessor” and the REB has “others to take your place.” The KJV has “an heir.” For example:
the one who takes possession (NASB) (KJV, NASB, NJPS, REB)

Most commentaries prefer interpretation (2).UBS prefers interpretation (1), but comments (pages 149–150) that a translation such as “others to take your place” (NEB) “can be related to the idea of a conqueror if it means that the conquering people will take the people of Mareshah away into exile and brings others to live in their town.” Commentaries that support interpretation (2) include NICOT, WBC, A&F, EBC, JFB, TOTC, and NAC. WBC (page 19–20) says that the word can mean “possessor,” “heir,” or “conqueror.” Waltke 2007 and TOTC both translate “conqueror,” but TOTC (pages 170–171) comments: “Possibly by popular etymologizing, Mareshah was associated with the verb ‘dispossess’. A new heir will dispossess the old heritage of Judah.” NICOT (page 282) relates the name to yōrēš, “possessor, heir.” He comments: “Mareshah is to be taken over by a new heir. It is not insignificant that the word is often used of gains in war: the right of inheritance is to be won by conquest.” But it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions. It is not known whether enemy soldiers or people from other countries dispossessed the people of the town. A more general translation such as conqueror allows for both interpretations.

conqueror: This word is singular. It probably refers to an enemy army.It is possible that the singular conqueror refers to the king of the Assyrian enemies. The king sent his soldiers to attack the cities in Judah. If it is clearer in your language, you can translate this word as plural. For example:

I will bring against you people who will take your land, you who live in Mareshah. (NCV)

you: In Hebrew, this pronoun is singular. It refers by personification to the town of Mareshah. In some languages, it may be clearer to use a plural pronoun here. Translate this pronoun in a natural way in your language.

O dweller of Mareshah: If it is more natural in your language, you can translate it as plural, as in the NRSV (“inhabitants of Mareshah”).

In Hebrew, the phrase dweller of Mareshah is at the end of 1:15b. In some languages, it may be better to have this phrase at the beginning of the sentence. For example:

O people of Mareshah, I will bring a conqueror to capture your town. (NLT)

Do whatever is natural in your language.

Mareshah: Mareshah was a town in Judah. It was about seven kilometers southwest of Achzib and five kilometers south of Moresheth.

Micah used a pun here. The Hebrew word for “conqueror” (yoresh) has a similar sound to the name Mareshah. If you use footnotes in your translation, here are some suggested footnotes:

The place name Mareshah sounds like the Hebrew word for “conqueror.” (NET footnote)

[Mareshah] This name sounds like the Hebrew word for a person who captures other cities and lands. (NCV footnote)

If you do not use footnotes and you feel it is important for your readers to understand that this is a pun, here is a way to translate this verse part so that the pun is explicit:

You people in Mareshah! The name of your town sounds like the word “conqueror.” So to you the LORD says, “I will send enemies to conquer your town also!”

1:15b

The glory of Israel will come to Adullam.

The leaders of Israel will flee to the town of Adullam.
The important people of Israel will run away and hide at Adullam.
The leaders of Israel will hide from their enemies, like David did long ago in the cave at Adullam.

The glory of Israel will come to Adullam: During the time of Micah, Adullam was an important fortified town. It was part of Rehoboam’s defense system along with Lachish (2 Chr. 11:6–10) and was located not far from Achzib between Lachish and Moresheth-gath.UBS, NAC, NICOT.

Micah is probably the speaker here. Even if the speaker is the LORD instead of Micah, it does not affect the meaning. There are two ways to interpret the meaning of the phrase The glory of Israel:

It refers to the leaders of the nation. For example:
The leaders of Israel (GNT) (NET, NLT, GNT)
It refers to a single king. For example:
Israel’s glorious king (CEV) (CEV, NIV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions and commentaries.Commentaries that support interpretation (1) include UBS, JFB, NAC, ABC, and Waltke 2007. NAC (pages 60–61) uses the phrase “Israel’s glorious leaders,” and Waltke 2007 (page 85) refers to “Israel’s military leaders and officials.” WBC (page 22) refers to a combination of things and people. He has” “wealth and nobles.” EBC (page 509) has simply “the people.” The NIV translation “He who is the glory of Israel” could refer to the king of Judah, or it could even refer to the Messiah. The Hebrew word for glory is also used to mean leaders in Isaiah 5:13; 17:3–4.

glory: Micah called these leaders Israel’s glory because they were important people. The other people in the nation were proud of them. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

Israel’s respected/famous leaders

will come to Adullam: The historical context of this phase is that over 200 years earlier, when King Saul and his army were searching for David to kill him, David and his men hid in a cave near the town of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1).

Here in Micah 1:15b, Adullam is a symbol for running away and hiding from danger. Micah’s words mean that Israel’s leaders will be in danger. They will run away and hide, just like David had done long ago.

Here are some ways that you can translate the phrase will come to Adullam:

Translate the verb will come literally. For example:
the leaders of Israel shall flee to Adullam (NET)

If you do this, you may want to add a footnote to explain the meaning. For example:

Adullam is the place where David hid in a cave when he was in danger. See 1 Samuel 22:1. Micah’s words in 1:15b indicate that Israel’s leaders will hide from danger just like David did.

…This probably means that the nation’s leadership will run for their lives and, like David of old, hide from their enemy in the caves of Adullam… (NET footnote)

Translate the verb will come in a way that will help your readers understand the symbolic meaning. For example:
The leaders of Israel will go and hide in the cave at Adullam. (GNT)

Here are some other ways to translate the name Adullam:

the town of Adullam

the cave at Adullam (GNT)

Adullam Cave (CEV)

Parallel MIC 1:15

Section 1:8–16: Micah mourned because an enemy army will invade Judah and take many people into exile

Paragraph 1:10–16

1:15a

1:15b