MIC 1:8 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Because of that, I’ll mourn and wail.
⇔ I’ll go barefoot and undressed.
⇔ I’ll wail like the jackals
⇔ ≈ and mourn like owls

1:8 OSHB variant note: שילל: (x-qere) ’שׁוֹלָ֖ל’: lemma_7758 n_1.0 morph_HAamsa id_33jQ8 שׁוֹלָ֖ל

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 Ἕνεκεν τούτου κόψεται, καὶ θρηνήσει, πορεύσεται ἀνυπόδετος, καὶ γυμνὴ ποιήσεται κοπετὸν ὡς δρακόντων, καὶ πένθος ὡς θυγατέρων σειρήνων.
(Heneken toutou kopsetai, kai thraʸnaʸsei, poreusetai anupodetos, kai gumnaʸ poiaʸsetai kopeton hōs drakontōn, kai penthos hōs thugaterōn seiraʸnōn. )

BrTr Therefore shall she lament and wail, she shall go barefooted, and being naked she shall make lamentation as that of serpents, and mourning as of the daughters of sirens.

ULT Because of this, I will lament and wail;
⇔ I will go barefoot and naked;
⇔ I will wail like the jackals
⇔ and mourn like owls.

UST Because Samaria will be destroyed, I will weep and wail.
⇔ I will walk around barefoot and naked.
⇔ I will howl like a jackal
⇔ and screech like an owl.

1:8 Or a serpent or a dragon

1:8 Literally like daughters of an ostrich or like daughters of an owl

OEB ⇔ This is why I will mourn and wail,
⇔ I will go barefoot and naked,
⇔ I will howl like the jackals
⇔ and mourn like the desert owl.

WEBBE ⇔ For this I will lament and wail.
⇔ I will go stripped and naked.
⇔ I will howl like the jackals
⇔ and mourn like the ostriches.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For this reason I will mourn and wail;
⇔ I will walk around barefoot and without my outer garments.
⇔ I will howl like a wild dog,
⇔ and screech like an owl.

LSV For this I lament and howl,
I go spoiled and naked,
I make a lamentation like dragons,
And a mourning like daughters of an ostrich.

FBV Because of this I will weep and wail, I will walk barefoot and naked, and will howl like jackals and mourn like owls.

T4T Because Samaria will be destroyed, I will weep and wail.
⇔ I will walk around ◄barefoot/without any sandals on my feet► and naked.
⇔ I will howl like a jackal/wolf
⇔ and screech like an owl,

LEB • On account of this I will lament and wail. I will go about barefoot and naked.
• I will make a lamentation like the jackals,
• and a mourning ceremony like the ostriches .[fn]

1:1 Literally “daughters of an ostrich”

BBE For this I will be full of sorrow and give cries of grief; I will go uncovered and unclothed: I will give cries of grief like the jackals and will be in sorrow like the ostriches.

Moff I will bewail this and lament,
⇔ I will go barefoot and unclad,
⇔ howling like a jackal,
⇔ wailing hoarsely like an ostrich;

JPS For this will I wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked; I will make a wailing like the jackals, and a mourning like the ostriches.

ASV For this will I lament and wail; I will go stripped and naked; I will make a wailing like the jackals, and a lamentation like the ostriches.

DRA Therefore will I lament and howl: I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and a mourning like the ostriches.

YLT For this I lament and howl, I go spoiled and naked, I make a lamentation like dragons, And a mourning like daughters of an ostrich.

Drby For this will I lament, and I will howl; I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the jackals, and mourning like the ostriches.

RV For this will I wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the jackals, and a mourning like the ostriches.

SLT For this I will lament and wail; I will go stripped and naked: I will make wailing as jackals, and mourning as the daughters of the ostrich.

Wbstr Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.

KJB-1769 Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.[fn]

1.8 owls: Heb. daughters of the owl

KJB-1611 Therfore I wil waile and houle, I will goe stript and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the [fn]owles.
(Therefore I will wail and houle, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.)

1:8 Heb. daughters of the owle.

Bshps Wherefore I wyll mourne and make lamentation, bare and naked wyl I go: I wyll mourne lyke the Dragons, and take sorowe as the Ostriches.
(Wherefore I will mourn and make lamentation, bare and naked will I go: I will mourn like the Dragons, and take sorrow as the Ostriches.)

Gnva Therefore I will mourne and howle: I wil goe without clothes, and naked: I will make lamentation like the dragons, and mourning as the ostriches.
(Therefore I will mourn and howle: I will go without clothes, and naked: I will make lamentation like the dragons, and mourning as the ostriches. )

Cvdl Wherfore I wil mourne & make lamentacion, bare & naked will I go: I must mourne like ye dragos, & take sorow as ye Estriches:
(Wherefore I will mourn and make lamentation, bare and naked will I go: I must mourn like ye/you_all dragons, and take sorrow as ye/you_all Ostriches:)

Wycl On this thing Y schal weile and yelle, Y schal go spuylid and nakid; Y schal make weilyng of dragouns, and mournyng as of ostrigis.
(On this thing I shall wail and yelle, I shall go spuylid and naked; I shall make wailing of dragons, and mourning as of ostriches.)

Luth Darüber muß ich klagen und heulen; ich muß beraubt und bloß dahergehen; ich muß klagen wie die Drachen und trauern wie die Straußen.
(Darüber must I complain/sue and cry/wail; I must robbed and just go_along; I must complain/sue as/like the dragons and mourn as/like the ostriches.)

ClVg Super hoc plangam, et ululabo; vadam spoliatus, et nudus; faciam planctum velut draconum, et luctum quasi struthionum:
(Above/Over this plangam, and ululabo; I_will_go spoilstus, and naked; I_will_do crying like/as of_dragons, and mourningm as_if ostrichnum: )

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 1:8–9

In this paragraph, Micah described the sadness that he felt because of the disaster that would happen to Samaria (1:8a–c, 9a). Then he described the disaster that would also happen to Judah and Jerusalem (1:9b–c).

In 1:6–7, the LORD was the speaker. But here in 1:8–9, Micah is the speaker. In some languages, it may be helpful to make this explicit. For example:

Then Micah said, “Because of this I will mourn and lament. (GNT)

1:8a

Because of this I will lament and wail;

¶ Micah said: Because of those things that will happen, I will mourn with loud cries and wail.
¶ Then I said: I am sorrowful because of those terrible things that will happen to Samaria, so I will weep loudly and wail/howl.

Because of this: This phrase refers back to the LORD’s statement in 1:6–7 that he will punish the people of Samaria severely. For this reason, Micah will lament and wail. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

For this… (NRSV)

And so,…

That is the reason why…

I will lament and wail: Most versions translate these verbs as future tense (will). Here are some other ways to express the meaning of the Hebrew verb tense here:

I lament and wail (NAB)

I must lament and wail (NASB)

I have decided to lament and wail

lament and wail: These verbs have almost the same meaning. They both refer to the Jewish custom of weeping in a loud voice and wailing loudly to show their sorrow. Micah used both verbs here to emphasize his sorrow. Here are some other examples of versions that use two similar verbs to express loud mourning:

I will weep and wail (NIV)

I shall howl and wail (NJB)

In some languages, it may be more natural to express this emphasis in a different way. For example:

I will mourn greatly

I will mourn and mourn

1:8b

I will walk barefoot and naked.

I will walk around barefoot, and I will wear no outer garment.
As a sign that I am mourning, I will wear no sandals/shoes and no outer clothes while I am walking around.
I will walk with bare feet and I will wear only a loincloth, so people will know that I am greatly distressed.

I will walk barefoot and naked: This is a symbolic action. Micah said he will walk around barefoot and naked to show that he was very sad. In some languages, it may be helpful to make the meaning of Micah’s actions explicit. For example:

To show my sorrow, I will walk around barefoot and naked. (GNT)

In other languages, it may be appropriate to supply a footnote that clarifies the meaning of the symbolic action. Here is an example:

Micah did this to show how sad he was that the LORD planned to punish his people.

barefoot: In Hebrew, there are two ways to interpret the word barefoot:

It means that Micah would not wear any shoes or sandals on his feet. For example:
I will walk around barefoot (GNT) (BSB, CEV, GW, NAB, NET, NASB, NCV, NLT, NIV, NJB, NRSV, GNT)
It means that Micah would not wear any jewelry or good clothing. For example:
I will go stripped (RSV) (ESV, KJV, NJPS, RSV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions and commentaries.The REB (“despoiled”) is unique among English versions. It is hard to know what this translation means in the context. Here are some other ways to translate barefoot:

I will not wear/use any shoes/sandals

I will wear nothing on my feet

naked: In Hebrew, there are two ways to interpret the word naked:

It means “to not wear an outer garment” but “to wear only a loincloth.” For example:
I will walk around barefoot and without my outer garments. (NET)
It means “completely naked,” without any clothes. Almost all English versions translate this as “naked.”

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with almost all commentaries.According to UBS (page 137), the usual meaning of the Hebrew word for naked (“having no outer garments and wearing only a loincloth”) probably applies here. KD (page 292) explains that Micah was “not wearing an upper garment,” and JFB (page 688) adds that a “prophet’s upper garment was usually rough and coarse-haired.” Other commentaries that agree with interpretation (1) include NAC, NICOT, and WBC. A&F prefer interpretation (2). On pages 193–194, they explain that “Nakedness suits a captive better than a mourner. So the balance is even. In v 16 a mother mourns her captured children; in v 8 the prophet mimes both captives and their mourners in one acted prophecy.”

Here are some other ways to translate interpretation (1):

I will walk around barefoot and wearing only a loincloth.

I will walk around with no shoes and no shirt or sarong.

1:8c

I will howl like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich.

I will howl like a jackal and will raise my voice to moan like an ostrich.
I will wail. Because of my sorrow, I will howl like wolves/coyotes. I will make loud, harsh noises like ostriches.
I will wail and make loud, sad noises like some animals and birds.

In 1:8a, Micah said that he would “lament and wail.” Here in 1:8c, he used two similes to compare his lamenting and wailing to the noises made by two kinds of animals: jackals and ostriches. The following note on “howl” applies to both similes.

I will howl: In Hebrew, the word the BSB translates as howl is a noun that is related to the verb “lament” in 1:8a. In some languages, it may be more natural to use a verb here in 1:8c too, as the BSB does. For example:

I will cry loudly… (NCV)

like a jackal: In Hebrew, the word jackal is plural. Some versions translate it as plural, others as singular. Translate it in a way that is natural in your language.

A jackal is a wild animal that resembles a wild dog. Jackals often howl at night. If there is no word for jackal in your language, you may be able to use the word for a similar kind of animal that makes a sad/lonely howling noise.The KJV has “dragons.” No modern scholars follow this interpretation. A&F (page 194) give the following explanation: “The reading in LXX of ‘dragons’ (cf. Vulgate) has confused the plural of tan, ‘jackal,’ with tannîm a variant of tannin.” Hillers (page 22) says: “The LXX drakontōn and the V draconum arise from confusion with tannin.” For example:

like a wolf (REB)

like the wild dogs (NCV)

like a pack of coyotes/hyenas

and mourn like an ostrich: There are two main ways to interpret the meaning of the Hebrew word for ostrich:

It refers to an ostrich. This very large bird used to be found in Israel but is now found mainly in Africa. For example:
I will…wail like an ostrich. (GNT) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GW, NAB, NASB, NJPS, NRSV, GNT)
It refers to a kind of owl. For example:
I shall shriek like the owls (NJB) (KJV, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NLT, REB)

TN will follow interpretation (1). You may follow either interpretation. Choose an interpretation that fits the terminology of your language and also has cultural associations with a loud, shrill, or harsh noise. Both interpretations are almost equally supported by translations and commentaries.Commentaries that support interpretation (1) include Hillers, KD, WBC, ZIBBC, and JFB. Hillers (page 23) says that the ostrich gives a “loud, strident call.” KD (page 292) describes it as a “strong, mourning cry.” JFB (page 688) says that ostriches give a shrill and long-drawn, sigh-like cry, especially at night.” Commentaries that support interpretation (2) include NAC, Waltke 2007, EBC, CBC, ABC, and IVPB. NAC (pages 54–45) comments that the word is an “Arabic etymological cognate with the root idea of “desert.” So the entire Hebrew phrase (ḇnôṯ yaʿănâ) would mean literally “daughters of the desert,” hence “desert owls” or “eagle owls” or simply “owls” (REB “desert-owl”).” Waltke 2007 (pages 66–67) explains: The literal meaning of ḇaṯ yaʿănâ…is either ‘daughter of greed’ (Gesenius) or ‘the daughter of the wilderness’ (Wetzstein), and it has consequently been always explained as the ostrich (LXX, Vulg., Targ., Pesh.); for this bird is noted for its voracious appetite and is found only in the wilderness. Not all, however, that is said of this bird in the O.T. is applicable to the ostrich. This indeed inhabits the open wilderness…, but it does not haunt deserted or ruined cities; it certainly does not wail (Mic. 1:8) but booms; nor is it raptorial. These are all habits of owls, so that the ḇaṯ yaʿănâ may well be the eagle owl (Aharoni), a large owl which is found in semi-desert areas covered with scrub, where it rests on bushes during the day and hunts…by night.…The Syr. ba(r)t yarora (Pesh.) “daughter of the vomiter” (Mic. 1:8) agrees with the explanation of the word; for all owls bring up the indigestible parts of their food in the form of pellets…”

Here are some questions to ask in deciding on an interpretation to follow:

How do the major translations in your area or country translate the name of this bird?
What birds in your area are known for making loud, shrill, or harsh cries?

Be sure to test your translation carefully for unexpected meanings. For example, in some parts of the world, people believe that owls are a sign (omen) of bad luck or disaster. In such areas, it may be better to refer to a different bird.

Here are some other options for translating jackal or ostrich (or “owls”):

Borrow words from a language of wider communication. Then supply a footnote that explains the meaning. Here is an example footnote that explains jackals and owls:
In the thinking of the Jews, jackals and owls made loud, sad noises.
Translate the meaning without using similes. Then supply the similes in a footnote. Here is an example:
I will wail and make sad noises. (Footnote: In Hebrew, it says: I will howl like the jackals and moan loudly like the ostriches.)

If possible, use similes to keep the vividness that these figures of speech conveyed to the original audience.

Parallel MIC 1:8

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

Paragraph 1:8–9

1:8a

1:8b

1:8c

General Information: