MIC 4:3 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.)

Key: khaki:verbs, red:negative.
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 κρινεῖ ἀναμέσον λαῶν πολλῶν, καὶ ἐξελέγξει ἔθνη ἰσχυρὰ ἕως εἰς μακράν· καὶ κατακόψουσι τὰς ῥομφαίας αὐτῶν εἰς ἄροτρα, καὶ τὰ δόρατα αὐτῶν εἰς δρέπανα, καὶ οὐκέτι μὴ ἀντάρῃ ἔθνος ἐπʼ ἔθνος ῥομφαίαν, καὶ οὐκέτι μὴ μάθωσι πολεμεῖν·
(Kai krinei anameson laōn pollōn, kai exelegxei ethnaʸ isⱪura heōs eis makran; kai katakopsousi tas ɽomfaias autōn eis arotra, kai ta dorata autōn eis drepana, kai ouketi maʸ antaraʸ ethnos epʼ ethnos ɽomfaian, kai ouketi maʸ mathōsi polemein; )

BrTr And he shall judge among many peoples, and shall rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into sickles; and nation shall no more lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn to war any more.

ULT He will judge among many peoples
⇔ and will decide for strong nations far away.
⇔ They will beat their swords into plowshares
⇔ and their spears into pruning hooks.
⇔ Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
⇔ nor will they train for war any longer.

UST Yahweh will settle disputes between many different people and groups who are fighting against each other,
⇔ and he will also settle disputes between powerful nations that are far away.
⇔ Then people will hammer their swords to cause them to become plow blades,
⇔ and hammer their spears to cause them to become pruning knives.
⇔ Armies of nations will no longer fight against armies of other nations,
⇔ and they will no longer train men how to fight in wars.

OEB ⇔ He will arbitrate between many peoples,
⇔ and render decisions for numerous nations,
⇔ They will beat their swords into ploughshares,
⇔ and their spears into pruning hooks.
⇔ Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
⇔ they will learn war no more.

WEBBE and he will judge between many peoples,
⇔ and will decide concerning strong nations afar off.
⇔ They will beat their swords into ploughshares,
⇔ and their spears into pruning hooks.
⇔ Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
⇔ neither will they learn war any more.

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 He will arbitrate between many peoples
⇔ and settle disputes between many distant nations.
⇔ They will beat their swords into plowshares,
⇔ and their spears into pruning hooks.
⇔ Nations will not use weapons against other nations,
⇔ and they will no longer train for war.

LSV And He has judged between many peoples,
And given a decision to mighty nations far off,
They have beaten their swords to plowshares,
And their spears to pruning-hooks,
Nation does not lift up sword to nation,
Nor do they learn war anymore.

FBV The Lord will decide the cases of the nations, he will settle arguments between distant powerful nations. They will hammer their swords and turn them into plough blades, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not fight against each other anymore; they will no longer learn methods of warfare.

T4T Yahweh will settle disputes between many people,
⇔ and he will also settle disputes between powerful nations that are far away.
⇔ Then people will hammer their swords to cause them to become plow blades,
⇔ and hammer their spears to cause them to become pruning knives.
⇔ Armies of nations will no longer fight against armies of other nations,
⇔ and they will no longer train men how to fight in wars.

LEB   • And he will judge between many peoples and will arbitrate for strong nations far away;
• and they will beat their swords into plowshares
  • and their spears into pruning hooks;
• nation will not lift up a sword against a nation,
  • and they will no longer learn war.

BBE And he will be judge between great peoples, and strong nations far away will be ruled by his decisions; their swords will be hammered into plough-blades and their spears into vine-knives: nations will no longer be lifting up their swords against one another, and knowledge of war will have gone for ever.

Moff He will decide disputes of many races,
⇔ and arbitrate between strong foreign powers,
⇔ till swords are beaten into ploughshares,
⇔ spears into pruning-hooks;
⇔ no nation draws the sword against another,
⇔ no longer shall men learn to fight,

JPS And He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide concerning mighty nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

ASV and he will judge between many peoples, and will decide concerning strong nations afar off: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

DRA And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into spades: nation shall not take sword against nation: neither shall they learn war any more.

YLT And He hath judged between many peoples, And given a decision to mighty nations afar off, They have beaten their swords to ploughshares, And their spears to pruning-hooks, Nation lifteth not up sword unto nation, Nor do they learn war any more.

Drby And he shall judge among many peoples, and reprove strong nations, even afar off; and they shall forge their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-knives: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

RV and he shall judge between many peoples, and shall reprove strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
(and he shall judge between many peoples, and shall reprove strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. )

SLT And he judged between many peoples, and he admonished to strong nations even to far off; and they beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning-knives: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, and they shall no more learn war.

Wbstr And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

KJB-1769 ¶ And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.[fn]
(¶ And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. )

4.3 pruninghooks: or, scythes

KJB-1611 ¶ [fn]And he shall iudge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afarre off, and they shall beate their swords into plowshares, and their speares into pruning hookes: nation shall not lift vp a sword against nation, neither shall they learne warre any more.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

4:3 Or, sythes.

Bshps And he shall iudge many people, and rebuke mightie nations of farre countreys: so that of their swordes they shal make ploughshares, and sythes of their speares: one people shall not lift vp a sworde against another, yea they shall no more learne to fight.
(And he shall judge many people, and rebuke mighty nations of far countries: so that of their swords they shall make ploughshares, and sythes of their spears: one people shall not lift up a sword against another, yea they shall no more learn to fight.)

Gnva And he shall iudge among many people, and rebuke mightie nations a farre off, and they shall breake their swordes into mattockes, and their speares into sithes: nation shall not lift vp a sword against nation, neither shall they learne to fight any more.
(And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke mighty nations afar off, and they shall break their swords into mattocks, and their spears into sithes: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn to fight anymore. )

Cvdl and shall geue sentence amonge the multitude off the Heithen, and refourme the people off farre coutrees: so that of their swerdes they shal make plowshares, and sythes off their speares. One people shall not lift vp a swerde agaynst another, yee they shall nomore lerne to fight:
(and shall give sentence among the multitude off the Heathen, and reform the people off far countries: so that of their swords they shall make plough-shares, and sythes off their spears. One people shall not lift up a sword against another, ye/you_all they shall no more learn to fight:)

Wycl and he schal deme bitwixe many puplis, and schal chastise stronge folkis til in to fer. And thei schulen bete togidere her swerdis in to scharis, and her speris in to picoisis; a folc schal not take swerd ayens folc, and thei schulen no more lerne for to fiyte.
(and he shall judge between many peoples, and shall chastise strong folks/people till in to far. And they should beat together her swords in to schariots, and her speris in to picoisis; a folk/people shall not take sword against folk/people, and they should no more learn for to fiyte.)

Luth Er wird unter großen Völkern richten und viel Heiden strafen in fernen Landen. Sie werden ihre Schwerter zu Pflugscharen und ihre Spieße zu Sicheln machen. Es wird kein Volk wider das andere ein Schwert aufheben und werden nicht mehr kriegen lernen.
(He becomes under large peoples direct and many heathens punish in distant land(n). They/She become their/her swords to/for Pflugscharen and their/her skewers to/for sickles make. It becomes no/not people against the other/different a sword lift and become not more get learn.)

ClVg Et judicabit inter populos multos, et corripiet gentes fortes usque in longinquum: et concident gladios suos in vomeres, et hastas suas in ligones: non sumet gens adversus gentem gladium, et non discent ultra belligerare.
(And will_judge between to_the_peoples many, and corripiet people/nations strong until in/into/on longinquum: and concident swords his_own in/into/on vomits, and hastas their_own in/into/on spades: not/no sumet nation against nation a_sword, and not/no discent beyond/besides belligerare. )

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.

4:3a–4:4b

Here is an overall view of the flow of thought in these verse parts. The relationships have been indicated with an underline:

The LORD will settle all disputes between nations. (3:a–b)

Therefore nations will no longer need weapons and will not fight one another, (3:c–d)

because, in fact, they will no longer learn to fight wars. (3e–f)

Instead, everyone will live in peace without fear (4a–b).

Most versions leave the relationships implied. Use an approach that is natural in your language.

4:3a–b

(combined/reordered)

He will settle arguments among all people groups, even people who live in great nations far away.

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^3aThen He will judge between many peoples

^3band arbitrate for strong nations far and wide.

4:3a

Then He will judge between many peoples

He will act as the judge to stop arguing between many peoples.
Yahweh will settle arguments among many people,

Then He will judge between many peoples: The LORD will act as a judge. When people or nations have a disagreement, he will listen to both sides and decide what is the right thing to do.

many peoples: Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

many people groups

many nations (NCV)

4:3b

and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide.

He will act as a mediator to settle arguments between powerful nations all over the world.
and when strong nations far away argue with each other, Yahweh will settle their arguments.

and arbitrate: The word arbitrate is a synonym of the word “judge” in 4:3a. Here are some other ways to translate it:

settle arguments (CEV)

make decisions about (NCV)

for strong nations far and wide: This phrase refers to strong nations that are far from Israel. Here are some other ways to translate strong:

mighty (NJB)

powerful (CEV)

far and wide: This is an English idiom which means “far away and extending over a great area.” It is implied that God will also settle disputes for nations that are near to Israel. For example:

among the great powers near and far (GNT)

General Comment on 4:3a–b

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

He will settle arguments between distant and powerful nations. (CEV)

He will be the judge who will cause arguing to cease among all people groups, even people who live in great nations far away.

4:3c–d

(combined/reordered)

Therefore the people of the nations will use hammers to pound the metal of their swords and spears to make plows and sickles.
People will not need weapons any longer. So they will use their swords and spears to make farm tools like plows/hoes and sickles.

These parallel lines describe the next things that will happen as a result of 4:3a–b. Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^3cThen they will beat their swords into plowshares

^3dand their spears into pruning hooks.

There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted phrase) of the verb in 4:3d. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing verb from 4:3c. For example:

^3dand they shall beat their spears into pruning hooks.

In Hebrew, 4:3c begins with a conjunction that is often translated by “and.” For example:

and they shall beat their swords… (ESV)

Other translations (including the BSB) use a conjunction that often introduces the next action. For example:

Then they will hammer their swords… (NASB)

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

Therefore

As a result

Many versions leave the Hebrew conjunction implied. Introduce the parallel results in 4:3c–d in a way that is natural in your language.

“Swords” and “spears” are two kinds of weapons that represent any weapons that people used in warfare. “Plowshares” and “pruning hooks” are two kinds of farm tools that represent any farm tools.

These verse parts refer to pounding iron to make tools. Blacksmiths usually do this kind of work. They heat (“smith/forge”) a piece of iron in a fire. Then they beat it with a hammer to change its shape. Micah said that in the future, people will beat their iron weapons to make farm tools.

swords…spears: These words occur frequently in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. Use the same terms in your language that you have used elsewhere.

plowshares: A “plowshare”Some scholars think that the Hebrew word for plowshares can also mean “hoes.” The REB translates the word as “mattocks.” A mattock is a digging tool, similar to a hoe. is a metal tip for a plow. Farmers in Israel made plows from wood. They put a metal tip on the part of the plow that dug up the dirt. Some versions make this explicit. For example:

plow blades (NCV)

The GNT uses the more general word “plows,” which also occurs frequently in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. You may choose to use the same term here. Another option is to use a term that refers to similar tools. For example:

hoes

digging tools

pruning hooks: The word pruning hooks refers to tools with curved iron blades similar to small sickles. The blade was attached to a wooden handle. Farmers used pruning hooks to cut off small branches from grape vines and trees. Here are some other ways to translate this term:

pruning knives/shears (GNT/GW)

hooks for trimming trees (NCV)

If it is awkward or unnatural to use one or more of the translation suggestions mentioned above, here are some other ideas:

Use borrowed words from a language of wider communication and provide pictures of each item.
Use general terms. For example:
They will make their weapons into farming tools.
People will use parts of their weapons to make tools for farming.
Substitute terms for weapons or tools used in your language area. For example:
weapons: arrows and darts
tools: rakes and shovels (CEV)

If you use any of the three bullet point options above, you may want to supply a footnote that gives a more literal translation.

4:3c

Then they will beat their swords into plowshares

The people will beat their swords with hammers to make them into plows.

4:3d

and their spears into pruning hooks.

They will beat their spears to make them into knives for pruning trees.

4:3e

Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation,

One nation will not fight against another nation.
At that time, people from different nations will no longer wage war against each other.

Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation: This idiom means that one nation will not wage war against another nation. Here are some other ways to translate this line:

Nations will never again go to war (GNT)

Nations will never fight against each other (GW)

4:3f

nor will they train anymore for war.

From that time onward, people will not even learn how to fight wars.
In fact, they will never again train to fight in battle.

nor will they train anymore for war: This means “they will not learn how to wage war” or “they will not train how to fight in a battle.” For example:

and they will never train for war again (GW)

they will never again be trained for war (REB)

Parallel MIC 4:3