MIC 4:2 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) Many nations will go and say,
⇔ “Come, let’s go up to Yahweh’s mountain,
⇔ ≈ to the house of the Yakob’s god
⇔ so that he will teach us his ways,
⇔ ≈ and we will walk on his paths.”
⇔ Because the law will go out from Tsiyyon,
⇔ ≈ and Yahweh’s message from Yerushalem.

Key: khaki:verbs, blue:Elohim, 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 καὶ πορεύσονται ἔθνη πολλὰ καὶ ἐροῦσι, δεῦτε, ἀναβῶμεν εἰς τὸ ὄρος Κυρίου, καὶ εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Θεοῦ Ἰακώβ· καὶ δείξουσιν ἡμῖν τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ πορευσόμεθα ἐν ταῖς τρίβοις αὐτοῦ· ὅτι ἐκ Σιὼν ἐξελεύσεται νόμος, καὶ λόγος Κυρίου ἐξ Ἱερουσαλήμ.
(kai poreusontai ethnaʸ polla kai erousi, deute, anabōmen eis to oros Kuriou, kai eis ton oikon tou Theou Yakōb; kai deixousin haʸmin taʸn hodon autou, kai poreusometha en tais tribois autou; hoti ek Siōn exeleusetai nomos, kai logos Kuriou ex Hierousalaʸm. )

BrTr And many nations shall go, and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and they shall shew us his way, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Sion shall go forth a law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

ULT Many nations will go and say,
⇔ “Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh,
⇔ to the house of the God of Jacob
⇔ so that he will teach us his ways,
⇔ and we will walk in his paths.”
⇔ For from Zion the law will go out,
⇔ and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.

UST People from many nations will say to each other,
⇔ “Let us go to the mountain where Yahweh is,
⇔ to the temple where we can worship the God whom Jacob worshiped.
⇔ There he will teach us how he wants us to conduct our lives,
⇔ and we will do what he wants us to do.”
⇔ Mount Zion is the place where he will teach people;
⇔ and people will go out from Jerusalem to tell others his messages.

OEB and many peoples will go and say,
⇔ ‘Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mount,
⇔ to the house of the God of Jacob,
⇔ so that he may instruct us in his ways,
⇔ so that we may walk in his paths.’
⇔ For from Zion proceeds instruction
⇔ and the Lord’s word from Jerusalem.

WEBBE Many nations will go and say,
⇔ “Come! Let’s go up to the mountain of the LORD,
⇔ and to the house of the God of Jacob;
⇔ and he will teach us of his ways,
⇔ and we will walk in his paths.”
⇔ For the law will go out of Zion,
⇔ and the LORD’s word from Jerusalem;

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(1-4)But when all is said and done,
  God’s Temple on the mountain,
Firmly fixed, will dominate all mountains,
  towering above surrounding hills.
People will stream to it
  and many nations set out for it,
Saying, “Come, let’s climb God’s mountain.
  Let’s go to the Temple of Jacob’s God.
He will teach us how to live.
  We’ll know how to live God’s way.”
True teaching will issue from Zion,
  God’s revelation from Jerusalem.
He’ll establish justice in the rabble of nations
  and settle disputes in faraway places.
They’ll trade in their swords for shovels,
  their spears for rakes and hoes.
Nations will quit fighting each other,
  quit learning how to kill one another.
Each man will sit under his own shade tree,
  each woman in safety will tend her own garden.
God-of-the-Angel-Armies says so,
  and he means what he says.

NET Many nations will come, saying,
⇔ “Come on! Let’s go up to the Lord’s mountain,
⇔ to the temple of Jacob’s God,
⇔ so he can teach us his commands
⇔ and we can live by his laws.”
⇔ For Zion will be the source of instruction;
⇔ the Lord’s teachings will proceed from Jerusalem.

LSV And gone have many nations and said,
“Come and we go up to the mountain of YHWH,
And to the house of the God of Jacob,
And He teaches us of His ways,
And we walk in His paths,”
For a law goes forth from Zion,
And a word of YHWH from Jerusalem.

FBV Many nations will come and say, “Let's go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the Temple of the God of Jacob. There God will teach us his ways and we will follow his directions.”[fn] God's teachings will spread out from Zion, his word from Jerusalem.

4:2 Literally, “walk in his paths.”

T4T People from many nations will say to each other,
⇔ “Let’s go to the mountain where Yahweh is,
⇔ to the temple where we can worship the God whom Jacob worshiped.
⇔ There God will teach us how he wants us to conduct our lives,
⇔ and we will do what he wants us to do.”
⇔ Zion Hill is the place where he will teach people;
⇔ and people will go out from Jerusalem to tell others his messages.

LEB • And many nations will come and say, “Come! Let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh,
  • and to the temple[fn] of the God of Jacob,
• that he may teach us his ways,
  • and that we may walk in his paths,”
• for the law will go out from Zion,
  • and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.

4:? Literally “house”

BBE And a number of nations will go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will give us knowledge of his ways and we will be guided by his word: for from Zion the law will go out, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Moff Nations shall stream to it,
⇔ and many a people shall exclaim,
⇔ “Come, let us go to the Eternal’s hill,
⇔ to the house of Jacob’s God,
⇔ that he may instruct us in his ways,
⇔ to walk upon his paths.”
⇔ For instruction comes from Sion,
⇔ and from Jerusalem the Eternal’s word.

JPS And many nations shall go and say: 'Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths'; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

ASV And many nations shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem;

DRA And many nations shall come in haste, and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob: and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth out of Sion, and the word of the Lord out of Jerusalem.

YLT And gone have many nations and said, Come and we go up to the mount of Jehovah, And unto the house of the God of Jacob, And He doth teach us of His ways, And we do walk in His paths, For from Zion doth go forth a law, And a word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.

Drby And many nations shall go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, and to the house of the [fn]God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and Jehovah's word from Jerusalem.

4.2 Elohim

RV And many nations shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
(And many nations shall go and say, Come ye/you_all, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Yerusalem. )

SLT And many nations went and said, Come, and we will go up to the mountain of Jehovah, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us from his ways, and we will go in his paths: from Zion will instruction go forth, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.

Wbstr And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

KJB-1769 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
(And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Yerusalem. )

KJB-1611 And many nations shall come, and say; Come, and let vs goe vp to the mountaine of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Iacob, and he will teach vs of his wayes, and wee will walke in his pathes: for the Law shall goe foorth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Ierusalem.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps Yea, the multitude of the Gentiles shall haste them thither, saying: Come, let vs go vp the to hill of the Lorde, and to the house of the God of Iacob, and he shall teache vs his wayes, and we wyll walke in his pathes: for the lawe shall come out of Sion, and the word of God from Hierusalem.
(Yea, the multitude of the Gentiles shall haste them thither/there, saying: Come, let us go up the to hill of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Yacob, and he shall teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall come out of Zion, and the word of God from Yerusalem.)

Gnva Yea, many nations shall come and say, Come, and let vs goe vp to the Mountaine of the Lord, and to the House of the God of Iaakob, and hee will teache vs his wayes, and we wil walke in his pathes: for the Lawe shall goe forth of Zion, and the worde of the Lord from Ierusalem.
(Yea, many nations shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, and to the House of the God of Yacob, and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the Law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Yerusalem. )

Cvdl and the multitude off the Gentiles shal haist them thither, sayege: Come, let vs go vp to the hill of the LORDE, & to the house of the God of Iacob: that he maye teach vs his waye, and that we maye walke in his pathes. For the lawe shall come out off Sion, ad the worde of God from Ierusalem,
(and the multitude off the Gentiles shall haste them thither/there, saying: Come, let us go up to the hill of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Yacob: that he may teach us his way, and that we may walk in his paths. For the law shall come out off Zion, and the word of God from Yerusalem,)

Wycl and shulen seie, Come ye, stie we til to the hil of the Lord, and to the hous of God of Jacob; and he schal teche vs of hise weies, and we schulen go in hise pathis. For lawe schal go out fro Syon, and the word of the Lord fro Jerusalem;
(and shall say, Come ye/you_all, ascend/descend we till to the hill of the Lord, and to the house of God of Yacob; and he shall teach us of his ways, and we should go in his paths. For law shall go out from Syon, and the word of the Lord from Yerusalem;)

Luth Und die Völker werden herzulaufen, und viel Heiden werden gehen und sagen: Kommt, laßt uns hinauf zum Berge des HErr’s gehen und zum Hause des Gottes Jakobs, daß er uns lehre seine Wege, und wir auf seiner Straße wandeln! Denn aus Zion wird das Gesetz ausgehen und des HErr’s Wort aus Jerusalem.
(And the peoples become herelaufen, and many heathens become go and say: Comet, let us/to_us/ourselves up for_the mountains/hills the LORD’s go and for_the house the God’s Yakobs, that he us/to_us/ourselves teach his ways, and we/us on/in/to his road walk! Because out_of Zion becomes the law go_out and the LORD’s word out_of Yerusalem.)

ClVg et properabunt gentes multæ, et dicent: Venite, ascendamus ad montem Domini, et ad domum Dei Jacob: et docebit nos de viis suis, et ibimus in semitis ejus, quia de Sion egredietur lex, et verbum Domini de Jerusalem.
(and properabunt people/nations multæ, and they_will_say: Come, I_will_go_upus to mountain Master, and to house/home of_God Yacob: and teachbit us from/about ways to_his_own, and ibimus in/into/on paths his, because from/about Sion will_go_out the_law, and the_word/saying Master from/about Yerusalem. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:1–8: The LORD will rule the world as King from Jerusalem and cause all nations to be at peace

In the last verse of chapter 3, Micah described the destruction that would happen to the temple and to all of Jerusalem. But here in 4:1–8, he described the future importance of the city and the many good things that will result when the LORD rules as King over all the nations from that city.

The Notes have divided this section into two paragraphs (4:1–5 and 4:6–8) with one section heading. Here are some other examples of section headings:

The Lord’s Future Reign (NLT)

The future reign of Yahweh in Zion (NJB)

The Lord Will Teach the Nations (GW)

Some versions use two section headings, one for 4:1–5 and another for 4:6ff. For example:

^1–5Peace and Security through Obedience

^6ffRestoration Promised after Exile (NRSV)

^1–5The Lord’s Universal Reign of Peace

^6ffIsrael Will Return from Exile (GNT)

^1–5Better Days Ahead for Jerusalem

^6ffRestoration Will Follow Crisis (NET)

You may use one or more section headings in your language.

Some versions, including the GNT and NRSV, make verse 5 a separate paragraph. Some versions, including the NRSV and NJB, make verse 8 a separate paragraph. Divide the paragraphs in a natural way in your language.

Paragraph 4:1–5

Here is a summary of Micah’s predictions in this paragraph:

(4:1a–c) The temple hill will become higher than other mountains and hills.
(4:1d–2) Many people will go there to learn about God.
(4:3–4) God will rule the world from Jerusalem. He will cause all nations to be at peace with one another.
(4:5) Even though the people of other nations follow their own gods, the people of Israel will follow the LORD forever.

The first three verses in this paragraph are very similar to Isaiah 2:2–4. If you have already translated Isaiah, you will want to translate these verses in a similar way.

4:2a

And many nations will come and say:

Yes, people from many nations will come there and say:
These people will come to that mountain/temple. They will say to each other:

And many nations will come: This verse part means that people from many countries will come to Jerusalem. In some languages, it may be better to combine 4:1d and 4:2a. For example:

Day after day people from many countries will come there

and say: These words introduce Micah’s quote of what the people will say to each other. Here are some other ways to introduce this quote:

This is what they will say to each other:

They will speak to each other, saying:

4:2b–e

There are two interpretations about the verse parts in which Micah quoted the people:

Micah quoted the people in 4:2b–e. Notice the closed quotes after 2e. For example:
^2b “Come on! Let’s go up to the Lord’s mountain,
^2cto the temple of Jacob’s God,
^2dso he can teach us his commands
^2eand we can live by his laws.”
^2fFor Zion will be the source of instruction;
^2gthe Lord’s teachings will proceed from Jerusalem. (NET) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GW, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJPS, NLT, NRSV, REB)
Micah quoted the people in 4:2b–g. For example:
^2b “Let us go up the hill of the Lord,
^2cto the Temple of Israel’s God.
^2dHe will teach us what he wants us to do;
^2ewe will walk in the paths he has chosen.
^2fFor the Lord’s teaching comes from Jerusalem;
^2gfrom Zion he speaks to his people.” (GNT) (NJB, GNT)

According to interpretation (1), Micah does not quote the people in 4:2f–g. These two lines are his own explanation. According to interpretation (2), Micah quotes the people throughout 4:2b–g.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most English versions. There is almost no difference in meaning between these two interpretations.

4:2b–c

(combined/reordered)

“Come^(plur) with us^(excl) to the house/temple that is on Yahweh’s mountain in Jerusalem.

These two lines are parallel. Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^2bCome, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

^2c to the house of the God of Jacob.

There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted phrase) in 4:2c. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing verb from 4:2b. For example:

^2c let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob.

In these two parallel lines (2b–c), the second line is more specific than the first. The people wanted to go “to the mountain of the LORD.” Specifically, they wanted to go “to the house” (temple) that was on that mountain.

4:2b

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

“Come^(plur) with us^(excl)! Let us^(incl) go to Yahweh’s mountain.
“Let us^(incl) go to the mountain in Jerusalem that Yahweh has chosen.

Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD: The people from other nations who will say these words urged or invited other people to go with them to Jerusalem.

The two verbs Come and let us go up refer to the same action. The first verb functions primarily to introduce the second verb and to add emphasis. It does not imply that the people should first come to a particular location and then set out on the journey to Jerusalem. Here are some other ways to translate these two verbs:

Let’s go to the mountain of the Lord (GW)

We^(excl) are going to the mountain where God’s house is. You^(plur) come with us^(excl)!

Hey! Let us^(incl) go…

go up to the mountain…: These people may have spoken about going up to Jerusalem because the main part of Jerusalem was on top of some hills, or perhaps they were intending to honor the city. If it is more natural in your language, you can translate this simply as “go,” as in the GW quoted above.

of the LORD: This phrase has the same meaning as it does in the phrase “the mountain of the house of the LORD” in 4:1b. Here are some other ways to translate it:

where the LORD lives

where the LORD’s temple is

4:2c

to the house of the God of Jacob.

We^(incl) will go to the house/temple where the descendants of Jacob worship God,
Let us go to the temple there. That is the place where the Jewish people worship God.

to the house of the God of Jacob: There are two main ways to translate the name God of Jacob:

Use the name “Jacob.” For example:
the God of Jacob (NIV)
the God whom Jacob worshiped
Use the name “Israel.” (Israel was another name for the man Jacob, and Jacob’s descendants were called the people of Israel or Israelites.) For example:
the God of Israel (NLT96)
Israel’s God (GNT)
the God whom the Israelite people worship

If you follow the second option, you may want to give the more literal wording in a footnote. For example:

the God whom the Israelite people worship [footnote: literally, the God of Jacob].

General Comment on 4:2b–c

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or rearrange the parts in these two parallel lines. For example:

“Come, let’s go to the house of the God of Jacob, which is on the mountain of the LORD.

4:2d–e

In both these parallel lines, the people told their purpose for going to Jerusalem:

^2dHe will teach us His ways,

^2eso that we may walk in His paths.”

Here are some ways to express this purpose:

Introduce 4:2d and/or 4:2e with a linking word or phrase like “that” or “so that.” For example:
^2d that he may instruct us in his ways,
^2e that we may walk in his paths.” (NAB)
^2d so that he can teach us his ways,
^2e and we can obey his teachings.” (NCV)
Begin a new sentence here at 4:2d. In some languages, it may be more natural to leave the purpose implied. For example:
^2dHe will teach us what he wants us to do;
^2ewe will walk in the paths he has chosen. (GNT)

4:2d

He will teach us His ways,

so that he will teach us^(incl) his commands
There he will teach us the way he wants us to live/behave,

He will teach us His ways: The word ways is an idiom. The Hebrew word used here is often translated “road.” God’s ways means “the ways/manner God wants people to live.” For example:

so that he can teach us his commands (NET)

4:2e

so that we may walk in His paths.”

and we^(incl) can then obey them.”
and we will live/behave that way.”

so that we may walk in His paths: The phrase His paths is a synonym of the phrase “His ways.” The phrase walk in His paths is also an idiom. To walk in God’s paths means “to follow his commands” or “to live the way that God wants.” For example:

and we can live by his laws (NET)

4:2f–g

(combined/reordered)

For it is from Zion, which is also named Jerusalem, that Yahweh will cause people to learn his words that he will teach them.

In these two parallel verse parts, Micah explained the reason people will to go to Jerusalem. Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. Notice also that the parallel parts occur in the form of a chiasm (opposite order) in the two lines:

^2fFor the law will go forth from Zion

^2gand the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted phrase) of the verb in 4:2g. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing verb from 4:2f. For example:

^2gand the word of the LORD shall go forth from Jerusalem.

For: This word introduces the reason that people will go to Jerusalem. In some languages, it may be more natural to leave the reason implied. For an example, see the NCV quoted below.

from Zion…from Jerusalem: Here are two ways to translate these parallel names:

Translate the names separately. For example:
^2fFor Zion will be the source of instruction;
^2gthe Lord’s teachings will proceed from Jerusalem. (NET)
Translate the names separately, but make it clear that both names refer to the same city. For example:
^2fFor the Lord will teach people from Zion.
^2g That is, he will utter his words from Jerusalem.
Translate only one of the names to make it clear that Micah referred to one city, not two. For example:
^2fHis teachings will go out from Jerusalem,
^2gthe word of the Lord from that city. (NCV)

In Hebrew, these two phrases are emphatic. It will be “out of Zion/Jerusalem” that the LORD will instruct people and make known to them his word. Here are some ways to express this emphasis:

^2f Zion will be the place where the LORD teaches people his laws.

^2g It is from Jerusalem that the LORD will tell people his words.

4:2f

For the law will go forth from Zion

For/Because Zion will be the source of Yahweh’s teaching/instruction.
The reason they will go there is because Zion will be the place from which Yahweh will teach people.
It is from Zion that people will learn what Yahweh teaches.

For the law will go forth from Zion: The verb will go forth means here that Zion will be the source of law or instruction. See the NET quoted above.

In Hebrew, the word that the BSB translates as law (torah) is usually translated as “law,”This Hebrew word (torah) is related to the Hebrew verb in 4:2d that the BSB translates “teach” (yarah). but can also be translated as “instruction.” Here are some other ways to translate this word:

teaching (GNT)

teachings (GW)

instruction (NJPS)

4:2g

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Yes, what Yahweh teaches will come from Jerusalem.
Indeed, Yahweh will speak to all people from Jerusalem.

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem: This line means almost the same thing as the parallel line 4:2f. For ways to translate it, see the examples that have already been given under 4:2f–g.

General Comment on 4:2f–g

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

For in those days the Lord’s teaching and his word will go out from Jerusalem. (NLT96)

For from Zion, that is Jerusalem, the LORD will teach people his words that he wants them to learn.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

(Occurrence 0) Many nations

(Some words not found in UHB: and,they_will_come nations many and,they_will_say come and,let_us_go_up to/towards mountain_of YHWH and=near/to house_of god_of Yaakob so,that,he_may_teach_us from,his_of,ways and,so_that_we_may_walk in,his_of,paths that/for/because/then/when from,Zion go_out law and,the_word_of YHWH from,Jerusalem )

The word “nations” is a metonym for the people of the nations. Alternate translation: “The people from many nations”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / you

(Occurrence 0) Come

This is plural.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

(Occurrence 0) He will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths

Here “his ways” and “his paths” refer to what God wants the people to do. “Walk” means they will obey what he says.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

(Occurrence 0) from Zion the law will go out, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem

The law and the word going out is a metaphor for people hearing it and then being messengers to tell other people about it in other places. Alternate translation: “people will listen to the law in Zion and go out and tell others; they will listen to the word of Yahweh in Jerusalem and go out and tell others”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

(Occurrence 0) and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem

The words “will go out” are understood from the previous phrase. They can be repeated here. Alternate translation: “and the word of Yahweh will go out from Jerusalem”

Parallel MIC 4:2