7:20a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

20a
You will show faithfulness to Jacob

20b and loving devotion to Abraham,

There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted phrase) in 7:20b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 7:20a. For example:

17b and ⌊you will show⌋ loving devotion to Abraham,

In these lines, Micah expresses his confidence that the LORD will show his faithfulness and loyalty to Jacob and Abraham. The lines refer to the promise he made to Abraham and Jacob to be faithful to his covenant with them. The implication is that the LORD would be faithful and loyal to the descendants of these patriarchs as well.

Some versions make this implied information explicit. For example:

You will show your faithfulness and constant love to your people, the descendants of Abraham and of Jacob, as you promised our ancestors long ago. (Good News Translation)

faithfulness…loving devotion: In Hebrew, these words have a similar meaning. This pair of words often occurs in other verses of the Old and New Testaments. For example, Exodus 34:6 “steadfast love and faithfulness” and John 1:7 “grace and truth.” In this verse, the word faithfulness means that the LORD is “reliable.” He keeps every promise. The word loving devotion means that the LORD shows love by keeping his covenant. The same Hebrew word is used in 7:18d. See the note there.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

loyal…loyal love (NET Bible)
-or-
faithfulness…unfailing love (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
keep your word…be faithful (Contemporary English Version)

Jacob…Abraham: These are two important ancestors in the history of Israel. The LORD made his covenant with Abraham and reaffirmed it to Jacob.

7:20c

as You swore to our fathers from the days of old: In this line, Micah reaffirms why they can have faith in the LORD. The LORD swore to their ancestors long ago that he would be faithful and loyal.

swore: In Hebrew, this word means “to make a promise by binding oneself by an oath.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

promised on oath (NET Bible)
-or-
pledged on oath (New International Version)
-or-
promised (New Living Translation (2004))

our fathers: This phrase probably refers to Jacob and Abraham, the two ancestors of the people of Israel that are named in 7:20a–b.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

our forefathers (New American Standard Bible)

from the days of old: This phrase probably refers to the specific time when the LORD swore an oath to the ancestors. Often the word from can indicate a duration of time. However, in this context, the meaning is probably not a duration of time, but a point in time. It was the time in the distant past when the special relationship between the LORD and the people of Israel began. It is recommended that you translate this phrase in a way that indicates a point in time rather than a duration. For example:

as you promised our ancestors many years ago (Contemporary English Version)

Here are some other ways to translate the phrase the days of old :

in ancient times (NET Bible)
-or-
long ago (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
in days gone by (Revised English Bible)

General Comment on 7:20a–c

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

You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago. (New Living Translation (2004))

BIBLIOGRAPHY

This is a total list of references used for writing the Translator’s Notes on Micah 1–7.

Achtemeier, Elizabeth. Minor Prophets I. Edited by W. Ward Gasque, Robert L. Hubbard Jr., and Robert K. Johnston. Understanding the Bible Commentary Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012.

Adeyemo, T. Africa Bible commentary. Nairobi, Kenya; Grand Rapids, MI: WordAlive Publishers; Zondervan, 2006. (Cited as ABC)

Allen, Leslie C. The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah. NICOT. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1976. (Cited as NICOT).

Andersen, Francis I., and Freedman, David Noel. Micah: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible, Vol. 24E. New York: Doubleday, 2000. (Cited as A&F)

Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: SESB Version. (2003). (electronic ed.). Stuttgart: German Bible Society. (Cited as BHS)

Barker, K. L. (1999). Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (Vol. 20). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. (Cited as NAC)

Brannan, Rick, Penner, Ken M., Loken, Israel, Aubrey, Michael and Hoogendyk, Isaiah. (Eds.). (2012). The Lexham English Septuagint. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Brannan, R., & Loken, I. The Lexham Textual Notes on the Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014.

Clark, D. J., & Mundhenk, N. A translator’s handbook on the book of Micah. London; New York: United Bible Societies, 1982. (Cited as UBS Handbook)

Davis, Dale Ralph. A Study Commentary on Micah. EP Study Commentary. Darlington, England; Carlisle, PA: Evangelical Press, 2010.

Hays, J. Daniel, Message of the Prophets: A Survey of the Prophetic and Apocalyptic Books of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010).

Hillers, Delbert R. Micah: A Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Micah. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984.

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R. & Brown, D. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997. (Cited as JFB).

Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch, F. Commentary on the Old Testament (Vol. 10). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996. (Cited as KD).

Mangum, Douglas, ed., Lexham Context Commentary: Old Testament, Lexham Context Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020).

Margolis, Max L. Micah: Commentary. The Holy Scriptures with Commentary. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1908.

Matthews, V. H., Chavalas, M. W., & Walton, J. H. The IVP Bible background commentary: Old Testament (electronic ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000. (Cited as IVPB).

Mays, James L. Micah: A Commentary. OTL. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1976.

McComiskey, T. E., & Longman, T. I. “Micah.” In D. E. Garland (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel–Malachi (Revised Edition) (Vol. 8). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008. (Cited as EBC).

Patterson, R. D. & Hill, A. E. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 10: Minor Prophets, Hosea–Malachi. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008. (Cited as CBC).

Pusey, E. B. “The Minor Prophets, A Commentary.” In Barnes’ Notes. Volume 8. 1885. Reprint. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1985.

Smith, R. L. Micah–Malachi. Word Biblical Commentary (Vol. 32). Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1984. (Cited as WBC).

Waltke, Bruce K. “Micah: An Introduction and Commentary.” In Obadiah, Jonah, Micah: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. (Vol. 23a). General Editor D. J. Wiseman. Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1988. (Cited as TOTC).

Waltke, Bruce K. “Micah.” In The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical & Expository Commentary. Volume 2. Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, and Habakkuk. Ed. Thomas Edward McComiskey. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993. (Cited as Waltke 1993).

Waltke, Bruce K. A Commentary on Micah. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2007. (Cited as Waltke 2007).

Walton, J. H. (2009). Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old Testament): The Minor Prophets, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. (Cited as ZIBBC).

English Bible Versions

Berean Standard Bible. Berean Standard Bible Publishing, 2023. (cited as Berean Standard Bible)

Contemporary English Version. New York: American Bible Society, 1995. (cited as Contemporary English Version)

English Standard Version. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2001. (cited as English Standard Version)

Good News Translation (also published as Today’s English Version (Good News Translation), Second Edition). New York: American Bible Society, 1992. (cited as Good News Translation)

God’s Word. God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society, 1995. (cited as God’s Word)

The Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1966. (cited as Jerusalem Bible)

J. B. Phillips, The New Testament in Modern English. New York: Macmillan, 1958, 1972. (cited as Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

King James Version (Authorized Version), 1611. (cited as King James Version)

Living Bible. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 1971. (cited as Living Bible)

New American Bible. Camden, New Jersey: Thomas Nelson, Inc, 1971. (cited as New American Bible)

New American Bible, Revised Edition. Washington, DC: Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., 2010. (cited as New American Bible, Revised Edition)

New American Standard Bible. The Lockman Foundation, 1995. (cited as New American Standard Bible)

New Century Version (also published as The Everyday Bible). Dallas: Word Publishing, 1991. (cited as New Century Version)

The New English Bible. 2nd edition (corrected). New York: Oxford University Press, 1972, 1970. (cited as New English Bible)

NET Bible Bible. New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 1999. (cited as NET Bible)

New International Reader’s Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014. (cited as New International Reader’s Version)

New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973, 1978, 1984, 1993, 2011. (cited as New International Version)

The New Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1985. (Jerusalem Bible revised). (cited as New Jerusalem Bible)

Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 1985. (cited as Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc, 1982. (cited as New King James Version)

New Living Translation. Wheaton: Tyndale, 2004. (cited as New Living Translation (2004))

Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Wheaton: Tyndale, 1996. (cited as New Living Translation (1996))

New Revised Standard Version. Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, 1989. (Revised Standard Version revised.) (cited as New Revised Standard Version)

The Revised English Bible. Oxford University Press, 1989. (New English Bible revised). (cited as Revised English Bible)

Revised Standard Version. Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, 1946, 1952. (cited as Revised Standard Version)

The Voice Bible: Step Into the Story of Scripture. Ecclesia Bible Society. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2012. (cited as The Voice)

Abbreviations used only in the Footnotes

BDB

Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon

BHS

Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia

DCH

Dictionary of Classical Hebrew

HALOT

Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament

Hebrew Old Testament Text Project

Hebrew Old Testament Text Project

KTBH

Key Terms in Biblical Hebrew

MT

Masoretic Text

NIDOTTE

New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis

TDOT

Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament

TLOT

Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament

TW

Translator’s Workplace

TWOT

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament