MIC 4:13 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=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) ⇔ Get going and thresh, daughter of Tsiyyon,
⇔ because I’ll make your horn into iron,
⇔ ≈ and I’ll make your hooves into bronze.
⇔ And you’ll break many peoples into pieces
⇔ and you’ll confiscate their unjust earnings to devote to Yahweh—
⇔ ≈ their wealth will be for the master of the whole world.”

Key: khaki:verbs, green:YHWH.
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 Ἀνάστηθι, καὶ ἀλόα αὐτοὺς θυγάτηρ Σιὼν, ὅτι τὰ κέρατά σου θήσομαι σιδηρᾶ, καὶ τὰς ὁπλάς σου θήσομαι χαλκᾶς· καὶ κατατήξεις λαοὺς πολλοὺς, καὶ ἀναθήσεις τῷ Κυρίῳ τὸ πλῆθος αὐτῶν, καὶ τὴν ἰσχὺν αὐτῶν τῷ Κυρίῳ πάσης τῆς γῆς.
(Anastaʸthi, kai aloa autous thugataʸr Siōn, hoti ta kerata sou thaʸsomai sidaʸra, kai tas hoplas sou thaʸsomai ⱪalkas; kai katataʸxeis laʼous pollous, kai anathaʸseis tōi Kuriōi to plaʸthos autōn, kai taʸn isⱪun autōn tōi Kuriōi pasaʸs taʸs gaʸs. )

BrTr Arise, and thresh them, O daughter of Sion: for I will make thine horns iron, and I will make thine hoofs brass: and thou shalt utterly destroy many nations, and shalt consecrate their abundance to the Lord, and their strength to the Lord of all the earth.

ULT Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion,
⇔ for I will make your horn to be iron,
⇔ and I will make your hooves to be bronze.
⇔ And you will break into pieces many peoples and you will devote to Yahweh their unjust earnings,
⇔ their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.”

UST Yahweh says, “So, you people of Jerusalem, rise up and punish the nations who oppose you.
⇔ I will cause you to be very strong,
⇔ as if you had horns made of iron,
⇔ as if you had hooves made of bronze;
⇔ and you will crush many nations.
⇔ Then you will take from your enemies the valuable things that they have taken from other countries,
⇔ and I will cause you to dedicate those things to me, the one who is the Lord of all the people on the earth.”

OEB ⇔ ‘Arise, thresh, daughter of Zion.
⇔ I will make your horns iron,
⇔ and your hoofs brass,
⇔ so you might beat in pieces many peoples,
⇔ and devote to the Lord their spoil,
⇔ and their wealth to the ruler of all the earth.

WEBBE Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion,
⇔ for I will make your horn iron,
⇔ and I will make your hoofs bronze.
⇔ You will beat in pieces many peoples.
⇔ I will devote their gain to the LORD,
⇔ and their substance to the Lord of the whole earth.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET “Get up and thresh, Daughter Zion!
⇔ For I will give you iron horns;
⇔ I will give you bronze hooves,
⇔ and you will crush many nations.”
⇔ You will devote to the Lord the spoils you take from them,
⇔ and dedicate their wealth to the sovereign Ruler of the whole earth.

LSV Arise, and thresh, O daughter of Zion,
For I make your horn iron,
And I make your hooves bronze,
And you have beaten small many peoples,
And I have devoted to YHWH their gain,
And their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth!

FBV People of Zion, get up and start threshing, for I will make for you iron horns and bronze hooves[fn] so you can break many nations into pieces. You will present their stolen plunder to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

4:13 As if Jerusalem was like a bull, the Lord will give them the extra strength like metallic horns and hooves to defeat their enemies.

T4T ⇔ So, you people of Jerusalem, rise up and punish [MET] the nations who oppose you.
⇔ I will cause you to be very strong,
⇔ as if [MET] you had horns made of iron,
⇔ as if [MET] you had hoofs made of bronze;
⇔ and you will crush many nations.
⇔ And then you will take from your enemies the valuable things that they have taken from other countries,
⇔ and you will dedicate those things to me, the one who is the Lord of all the people on the earth.”

LEB   • Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for your horn I will make as iron
  • and your hooves as bronze.
• And you will break many peoples in pieces,
  • and their gain you will devote to destruction to Yahweh,
  • and their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.”

BBE Up! and let the grain be crushed, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron and your feet brass, and a number of peoples will be broken by you, and you will give up their increase to the Lord and their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

Moff “Maiden Sion, up and thresh!
⇔ I will make you horns of iron,
⇔ hoofs as hard as bronze,
⇔ to trample many a people down,
⇔ consecrating their spoils to the Eternal,
⇔ their wealth to the Lord of all the earth;

JPS Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion; for I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass; and thou shalt beat in pieces many peoples; and thou shalt devote their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.

ASV Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion; for I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass; and thou shalt beat in pieces many peoples: and I will devote their gain unto Jehovah, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.

DRA Arise, and tread, O daughter of Sion: for I will make thy horn iron, and thy hoofs I will make brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many peoples, and shalt immolate the spoils of them to the Lord, and their strength to the Lord of the whole earth.

YLT Arise, and thresh, O daughter of Zion, For thy horn I make iron, And thy hoofs I make brass, And thou hast beaten small many peoples, And I have devoted to Jehovah their gain, And their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth!

Drby Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion, for I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass; and thou shalt beat in pieces many peoples; and I will devote their gain to Jehovah, and their substance to the Lord of the whole earth.

RV Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many peoples: and thou shalt devote their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
(Arise and thresh, Oh daughter of Zion: for I will make thine/your horn iron, and I will make thy/your hooves brass: and thou/you shalt/shall beat in pieces many peoples: and thou/you shalt/shall devote their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. )

SLT Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will set thy horn iron, and thy hoofs of brass: and thou didst crush many peoples: and I devoted their plunder to Jehovah, and their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

Wbstr Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain to JEHOVAH, and their substance to the Lord of the whole earth.

KJB-1769 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
(Arise and thresh, Oh daughter of Zion: for I will make thine/your horn iron, and I will make thy/your hooves brass: and thou/you shalt/shall beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. )

KJB-1611 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horne yron, & I will make thy hooues brasse, and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gaine vnto the LORD, and their substance vnto the LORD of the whole earth.
(Arise and thresh, Oh daughter of Zion: for I will make thine/your horn iron, and I will make thy/your hooves brass, and thou/you shalt/shall beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the LORD of the whole earth.)

Bshps Therefore get thee vp, O thou daughter Sion, and thresshe out the corne: for I wyll make thy horne iron, and thy hooues brasse, that thou mayst breake in peeces many people: their goodes shalt thou consecrate vnto the Lorde, and their substaunce vnto the ruler of the whole worlde.
(Therefore get thee/you up, Oh thou/you daughter Zion, and thresshe out the corn: for I will make thy/your horn iron, and thy/your hooves brass, that thou/you mayest/may break in pieces many people: their goods shalt/shall thou/you consecrate unto the Lord, and their substance unto the ruler of the whole world.)

Gnva Arise, and thresh, O daughter Zion: for I will make thine horne yron, and I will make thine hooues brasse, and thou shalt breake in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their riches vnto the Lord, and their substance vnto the ruler of the whole worlde.
(Arise, and thresh, Oh daughter Zion: for I will make thine/your horn iron, and I will make thine/your hooves brass, and thou/you shalt/shall break in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their riches unto the Lord, and their substance unto the ruler of the whole world. )

Cvdl Therfore get the vp (o thou doughter Sion) and throsshe out the corne: For I wil make thy horne yron, and thy clawes brasse, that thou mayest grynde many people: their goodes shalt thou appropriate vnto the LORDE, and their substaunce vnto the ruler off the whole worlde.
(Therefore get the up (o thou/you daughter Zion) and throsshe out the corn: For I will make thy/your horn iron, and thy/your claws brass, that thou/you mayest/may grynde many people: their goods shalt/shall thou/you appropriate unto the LORD, and their substance unto the ruler off the whole world.)

Wycl Rise thou, douyter of Sion, and threische, for Y schal putte thin horn of irun, and Y schal putte thi nailis brasun; and thou schalt make lesse, ether waste, many puplis, and schalt sle to the Lord the raueyns of hem, and the strengthe of hem to the Lord of al erthe.
(Rise thou/you, daughter of Zion, and threische, for I shall put thin horn of iron, and I shall put thy/your nails bronze; and thou/you shalt/shall make less, either waste, many peoples, and shalt/shall slay/kill to the Lord the ravin/plunder_or_preys of hem, and the strength of hem to the Lord of all earth.)

Luth Darum mache dich auf und dresche, du Tochter Zion! Denn ich will dir eiserne Hörner und eherne Klauen machen, und sollst viel Völker zerschmeißen; so will ich ihr Gut dem HErr’s verbannen und ihre Habe dem Herrscher der ganzen Welt.
(Therefore make you/yourself on/in/to and threshing, you(sg) daughter Zion! Because I will you/to_you(sg) iron Hörner and brazen to_steal make, and should many peoples smash; so will I you(pl)/their/her good_(one) to_him LORD’s banish/exile and their/her goods to_him ruler the/of_the entire world.)

ClVg Surge, et tritura, filia Sion, quia cornu tuum ponam ferreum, et ungulas tuas ponam æreas; et comminues populos multos, et interficies Domino rapinas eorum, et fortitudinem eorum Domino universæ terræ.]
(Get_up, and tritura, daughter Sion, because horn your(sg) I_will_put to_carryum, and ungulas yours I_will_put coppers; and comminues to_the_peoples many, and interficies Master robberys their, and strength/courage their Master of_the_universe of_the_earth/land.] )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:9–13: The people of Jerusalem will suffer exile in Babylon, but in the future the LORD will deliver them from their enemies

In this section, the LORD spoke about the future. He said that he would punish his people. He would cause their enemies to take them as captives to Babylon. But the LORD also promised that in the future he would regather his people. He would make them a strong nation, and he would rule over them.Scholars analyze the structure of 4:9–5:15 in different ways. The Notes will list only a few of the analyses here; some of them have only minor variations. A&F (page 394) posit five sections, each beginning with ʿaṯṯâ “now” (4:9–10a, 10b, 11–13, 14; 5:1–3) [5:4–5, 6, 7–9, 10–15]. In this analysis, 4:11–13 forms the center unit, with two units on either side. WBC (vol. 32, pages 11–12) has 4:9–10,11–13; 5:1–4, 5–6, 7–9, 10–15. NICOT (page 257), NAC (page 42) and Waltke 2007 (page viii) have 4:9–10, 11–13; 5:1–6, 7–9, 10–15. TOTC (page 150) and Waltke 1993 (page 598) has 4:9–13; 5:1–6, 7–9, 10–15.

In this section, as in the previous section, Micah quoted the words of the LORD and also sometimes referred to the LORD in the third person.

The Notes have divided this section into two paragraphs. If a separate paragraph heading will be helpful for your readers, here are some possible headings for each paragraph.

^9–10Why the Israelites Must Go to Babylon (NCV)

^9–10Current suffering and captivity, but future rescue

^11–13Her Enemies to Be Crushed on the Threshing-Floor (NJB)

^11–13Jerusalem will completely destroy its enemies

Paragraph 4:11–13

In this paragraph, Micah told the people of Jerusalem that people of many nations had gathered together to attack Jerusalem. But actually, the LORD had a different plan. He had gathered those nations together to punish those nations. He would make his people strong so they could defeat their enemies.

In 4:11–12, Micah used a Hebrew verb tense that usually refers to events that have already happened or that are now happening.The verbs that are in perfect tense in 4:11–12 are: “have assembled” (11a), “saying” (11b), “know” (12a), “understand” (12a), and “has gathered” (12b).

Throughout this paragraph (4:11–13), Micah wrote as if many nations had already assembled to attack Jerusalem. But the time period to which he referred has similar uncertainties to 4:9b–c. See the notes on those verse parts. The recommendation here is the same: translate in a way that allows either a present time or a future time to be understood.

4:13

In TN and most versions, 4:11–13 is one paragraph. Some versions make 4:13 a separate paragraph.The following English translations begin a new paragraph at 4:13: NCV, NIV, NLT96, RSV, and GNT. The NIV also divides 4:13 into two paragraphs. You may do whatever fits the paragraph structure of your language.

4:13a

Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion,

“People of Jerusalem! Go^(plur) attack your enemies! Attack them severely like people thresh wheat!
Yahweh says: “O people of Jerusalem! Go ahead! Attack and destroy your enemies!

Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion: Micah here quoted the words of the LORD. The LORD’s command to the Daughter of Zion has two actions: Rise and thresh. In the Old Testament, the word Rise is often used in commands that summon people to fight their enemies. After the people rise, they are to thresh. Here are some other ways to translate this command:

Get up and thresh (GW)

Start your threshing (NJB)

thresh: For the meaning of thresh and for translation advice, see the notes on 4:12c. In this verse, thresh is a metaphor that compares the action of attacking an enemy to threshing grain.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

Keep the metaphor. For example:
Rise and thresh (NIV)
Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
Rise up and thresh like a cow threshing grain.
Get up and crush your enemy as a cow threshes grain.
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
go and punish your enemies! (GNT)
Smash them to pieces (CEV)

4:13b–c

(combined/reordered)

You will be able to do this, for I will make you^(plur) strong. You will be as strong as a bull with horns made of iron and hoofs made of bronze.

In these lines, the LORD used two metaphors to assure the people of Zion that he will give them the strength they need to destroy their enemies.KD (pages 319–321) and NICOT (pages 334–338).

Notice the parallel lines that are similar in meaning:

^13bfor I will give you horns of iron

^13cand hooves of bronze

In Hebrew, there is an ellipsis (deliberate omission) of the words “I will give” in the second line. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words. For example:

^13cand I will give you hooves of bronze

I will give you horns of iron and hooves of bronze: These metaphors compare the people of Jerusalem to a very strong ox or bull.

Here are some other ways to translate these metaphors:

Keep the metaphors. For example:
I will give you horns of iron; I will give you hoofs of bronze (NIV)
Change the metaphors to similes. For example:
I shall make your horn like iron, I shall make your hooves like bronze. (NJB)
Change the metaphors to similes and make some aspects of the meaning explicit. For example:
I will make you as strong as a bull with iron horns and bronze hoofs. (GNT)
I will make you strong as if you had horns of iron and hoofs of bronze. (NCV)
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
I will make you strong so that your enemies will be unable to defend themselves against you.

iron…bronze: Iron and bronze were the strongest metals available in the time of the Old Testament prophets.UBS (pages 202–203). In these metaphors, they symbolize great strength as well as hardness.Waltke 2007 (page 255–256).

4:13b

for I will give you horns of iron

You will be able to do this, because I will make your^(plur) horns as strong and hard as iron,
I will make you as strong as a bull with iron horns

for: This word introduces the reason that the people of Israel can be confident.

horns: Here horns refers to the horn of an ox or bull. In the first metaphor, it symbolizes strength.EBC (page 528).

4:13c

and hooves of bronze

and I will make your^(plur) hoofs as hard as bronze.
and bronze hoofs.

hooves: Oxen or bulls threshed grain under their hooves. In the second metaphor, hooves symbolized the people’s ability to kick, maim, and crush their enemies.NICOT (pages 334–338).

4:13d

to break to pieces many peoples.

You^(plur) will crush/trample many nations,
You will utterly defeat the armies/soldiers of many countries,

to break to pieces many peoples: This line is probably a continuation of the metaphor of threshing. It compares the action of people killing the enemy soldiers to the action of oxen or bulls crushing and breaking stalks of grain into many pieces.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

Keep the metaphor. For example:
so you can trample many nations to pieces (NLT)
Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
You will crush many nations like a bull that crushes stalks of grain into many pieces.
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
You will completely destroy the enemy armies that surround you.

There are two main ways to understand the relationship of this line to the preceding lines. Either way is acceptable.

This action is part of the command of the LORD to the people to arise and thresh. Here he tells them how and who to thresh. For example:
You will beat many nations into small pieces (NCV)
This action is the reason why the LORD will make their horns like iron and their hoofs like bronze. He will do this so that they can defeat their enemies. For example:
so that you can crush many peoples (NJB)

break to pieces: In Hebrew, this is a verb that means “crush,” “grind,” “break in pieces.”TWOT (#448). Here it implies crushing the grain into powder.Waltke 2007 (page 256) uses the phrases “totally pulverizing the grain into powder and nothingness” and “grinding them as fine as dust.” If you translate this line as part of the threshing metaphor, use a word that fits the action of threshing.See UBS (pages 202–203). HALOT (electronic edition, page 230) lists Micah 4:13 as metaphorical. For example:

crush (NJB)

pulverize (NASB)

break to pieces (NIV)

trample (NLT)

many peoples: Here this phrase refers specifically to the soldiers/armies of other countries that are gathered together to fight against the people of Jerusalem.

4:13e–f

(combined/reordered)

and you will offer/dedicate the wealth that they unjustly gained to me, Yahweh, the lord/ruler of all the nations on earth.

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^13eThen you will devote their gain to the LORD,

^13f their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.

In Hebrew, there is an ellipsis (deliberate omission) of the words “and will devote” in the second line. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words. For example:

^13f and will devote their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.

In these lines, the LORD told the people of Zion what to do with the plunder that they will collect from the armies of the nations that they destroy.

Then you will devote: There is a textual issue here:

The LXX (Septuagint) has “and you will dedicate to the LORD.” For example:
You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the Lord (NIV) (CEV, ESV, GW, NAB, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT, NRSV, REB, BSB, GNT)
The Masoretic Text has “and I will totally destroy for Yahweh.” For example:
and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord (KJV) (KJV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions and commentaries.A footnote in NICOT (pages 334–338) says that wǝhaḥaramti is an archaic form of the second feminine singular. It cites in support the LXX, the Peshitta, the Vulgate, the Targum and Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar. An NJPS footnote also concurs with this analysis of the word form.

devote their gain…their wealth to the Lord: The phrases their gain and their wealth refer to the possessions of the enemy. The phrase their gain refers specifically to items that they had taken from people unjustly and through violence.Derivative under BDB (#1214). The phrase their wealth is a more general term for possessions of value.BDB (#2428).

The LORD told the people of Jerusalem not to keep for themselves the items that they capture from their enemies. They were told to devote their gain/wealth to the LORD. Here are some other ways to translate the first phrase:

You will present their stolen riches to the Lord (NLT)

You will claim their loot for the Lord (GW)

the wealth they got by violence you will present to me… (GNT)

This phrase probably means that they were to transfer valuable metal objects to the sanctuary and destroy everything else by burning it in honor of the LORD.See NICOT (pages 334–338), UBS (pages 202–203), KD (pages 319–321), and NAC (pages 93–94). Waltke 2007 (pages 256–257) focuses on the meaning of destruction: “Israel gave the ḥerem over to I AM by totally destroying it (Isa 43:28). By consecrating it to unholiness and destruction, not taking anything of the booty for themselves, Israel bore testimony that the spoils belong to I AM and rid the earth of their illicit gain.” It is suggested that you supply this information in a footnote rather than in your translation itself.

the LORD…the Lord of all the earth: In Hebrew, the word for Lord is literally “Yahweh.” The word for Lord is literally “lord” (Hebrew ʾadon).

The phrase Lord of all the earth indicates that Yahweh is the ruler over all nations, whether or not they recognize him as their ruler.UBS (pages 202–204).

4:13e

Then you will devote their gain to the LORD,

and you will present/offer the riches they stole from others to me, Yahweh.

4:13f

their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

You will offer their wealth to me, the master/lord of the whole earth.

Parallel MIC 4:13