Then Micah said: The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered Then does not necessarily indicate that Micah immediately uttered the words here. There could have been a lapse between the time the Levite became Micah’s priest and the time of this utterance, so we might say “Later” or simply “And” (New International Version). Many versions omit this conjunction (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation). The general verb said may be expressing internal thoughts, so it could also be rendered “said to himself” (Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie).

Now I know that …: The adverb Now shows that Micah is making an observation. I know means that he is certain or sure. This clause may be rendered “I really believe” or “Now I know for sure.”

The LORD will prosper me: The mention of the LORD forms an inclusio around this section (verse 17.2, 13). Micah mistakenly thinks he has done what is right, so he believes that the LORD will bless him for this (see Deut 7.12). There is strong irony here, since the audience knows that God is not pleased with Micah’s actions. Prosper renders a causative form of the Hebrew verb meaning “be good,” so we might say “Yahweh will cause good things to happen to me” or “Yahweh will do me good.” Some languages might use the verb “bless,” while others might have a special verb such as “give fruit” or “come out,” which is used figuratively to speak of success or prosperity on different levels.

Because I have a Levite as priest: This is Micah’s reason for being sure God will bless him, which of course, in the ears of all listening to this story, is complete nonsense. Some languages may prefer to reverse this clause and the previous one, as in Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version. The dialogue here mirrors the narration, which often happens in Hebrew.

A translation model for this verse is:

• Then Micah said, “Now I am certain that Yahweh will be good to me, because I have a Levite as a priest [in my home].”

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .