1:3a–b

For behold, the LORD comes forth from His dwelling place; He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth: The previous verse described a courtroom where the Lord GOD will act simultaneously as a prosecuting attorney, witness, and judge. Here in 1:3a–b, Micah figuratively described the LORD as a warrior who would come from heaven to defeat and establish control over the whole earth.

1:3a

For behold: Verse 1:2c already implies a reason why the people should listen. The word For introduces a further reason why they should begin to listen.

The word behold here has the basic meaning “Look!” It indicates that Micah’s words were urgent. It was as if all people could look up in the sky at that moment and see the LORD coming down out of heaven.

Here are some ways to translate the function of these words:

• Make both words explicit. For example:

For see, the Lord comes forth… (New American Bible)

• Make only one word explicit. For example:

Look ! The Lord is coming… (New International Version)

• Leave both words implied. For example:

The Lord is coming… (Good News Translation)

With any of these options, be sure that your translation clearly expresses the urgent reason for the people to pay close attention to what will happen.

the LORD comes forth from: This phrase indicates an action that could take place at any time in the near future. Here are some other ways to translate it:

the LORD is about to come
-or-
the LORD is starting to come
-or-
the LORD will come very soon

His dwelling place: This phrase refers to the place where God lives in heaven. It refers to the same thing as the phrase “His holy temple” in 1:2c.

1:3b

He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth: This phrase indicates that the LORD will come down from heaven and tread on (stride across and step/walk on) the high places of the earth. According to most scholars, this action symbolizes the LORD’s conquest and control of the earth.

high places: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as high places can refer to either the tops of hills and mountains or to pagan shrines/altars, where people worshiped other gods. These shrines were called high places because people usually built them on the upper slopes or tops of hills or mountains.

In the context of the phrase “of the earth” and “the mountains” in v.4, the phrase high places probably refers primarily to the tops of hills and mountains. However, the mention in v.5 of the centers of idol worship in Samaria and Jerusalem probably also implies the LORD’s defeat of idol worship. It is recommended that you translate this phrase in a general way. For example:

the high places of the earth (English Standard Version)
-or-
the tops of the mountains (Good News Translation)
-or-
on the hills and mountains

Do not use a phrase such as “the worship places of the earth” (God’s Word) or “every pagan altar” (Contemporary English Version) that can refer only to idol worship. It is recommended that you add a footnote that clarifies the two implied meanings. For example:

The Hebrew word used here means “high places.” Most scholars think that it refers here to hills or mountains. Some scholars think that it also refers to the pagan altars that were located there.

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