SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 2023 – Page 2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 7:3

7:3

In this verse Micah continued to describe the evil behavior of the people of Israel. He gives three examples of corrupt people of influence: officials, judges and powerful people.

7:3a

Both hands are skilled at evil: This clause introduces the three examples of corrupt types of people in 3b–d.

The word hands has a figurative meaning of the use of power. That is probably the meaning here. The word skilled is literally “do well.” The full clause means that the people in each example were experts at using their power to do evil. They were clever and successful at it.

7:3b

the prince and the judge demand a bribe: This clause combines two examples. Both the prince and the judge ask for bribes. The phrases the prince and the judge refer to two classes/types of people. Their roles in society provided them with many opportunities to influence and manipulate people. In some languages it may be more natural to translate these phrases as plural forms. For example:

Officials and judges alike demand bribes. (New Living Translation (2004))

prince: In Hebrew, the word prince means “a leader in government, the military or religion.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

official (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
rulers (New Century Version)

judge: In Hebrew, the word judge is a person who makes decisions or arbitrates disagreements of various kinds.

bribe: See the note on “for a bribe” in 3:11a.

7:3c

When the powerful utters his evil desire: This clause gives the third example of an influential class/type of person. It may be more natural in some languages to translate the phrase the powerful with plural word forms. for example:

Powerful people dictate what they want. (God’s Word)

powerful: In Hebrew, this word means “great” or “distinguished.” In this context it probably refers to a rich person who was able to influence others.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

prominent men (NET Bible)
-or-
people with influence (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Rich people (New Century Version)
-or-
the important man

utters his evil desire: In Hebrew, the word utters means “say,” “tell” or “command.” People with power could get what they want simply by telling someone that they want it.

The phrase his evil desire means more literally “mischief or lust of his soul.” It refers to the hurt or destruction or other kind of evil that the powerful person wants to happen so that he can attain his selfish goals.

Here are some ways to translate this clause part:

• Translate the action of speaking, and make explicit that the desire is for evil. For example:

the great man utters the evil desire of his soul (English Standard Version)
-or-
The rich man makes his crooked plea (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

• Translate the end result. Leave implied the action of speaking and that the desire is for evil. For example:

The people with influence get what they want (New Living Translation (2004))

they all conspire together: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “he and they weave it.” Here this expression means that corrupt officials, judges and powerful people scheme together to give the powerful people what they want. The Hebrew expression “he and they weave it” leaves implicit that the evil scheming is unjust. Other translations of the clause make this aspect of meaning explicit. For example:

they pervert justice (New Revised Standard Version)

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

And they grant it. (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
and they do what is necessary to satisfy them (NET Bible)
-or-
they all conspire together (New International Version)
-or-
So they scheme together. (God’s Word)
-or-
and together they scheme to twist justice (New Living Translation (2004))

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 7:4

7:4a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

4a
The best of them is like a brier ;

4b
the most upright ⌊is sharper than⌋ a hedge of thorns.

In Hebrew, there is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted phrase) in 7:4b (bracketed in the Berean Standard Bible above). In some languages, you may not need to do this, or it may be more natural to supply missing words that match 7:4a more closely. For example:

4b
the most upright ⌊is like⌋ a hedge of thorns.

In these parallel lines Micah continues to describe the widespread evil among the people of that time. Each line is a figure of speech that compares the best of the people to undesirable weeds.

The best of them…the most upright: In Hebrew, these phrases are more literally “their good person” and “an upright [person].” In Hebrew, the word “good” means “ethical.” In Hebrew, the word upright means “morally straight” or “just.” However, in this context these words are meant as sarcasm. The people are not truly good and upright. The similes indicate that the level/standard of moral goodness and responsibility among the people is very low.

Here are some ways to translate these phrases:

• Use sarcasm. Rely on the comparison of the people to weeds to indicate that the words for “good” and upright are meant negatively here.

This example uses superlatives, best and most. It gives attention to the most responsible people among them.

The best of them is like a briar. The most decent person is sharper than thornbushes. (God’s Word)

This example uses normal words for “good” and upright. It gives attention to the people as a group.

Their goodness is twisted like rank weeds and their honesty like briars. (Revised English Bible)

• Translate the negative meaning of the words “good” and upright in this context. For example:

The so called good person is really as bad as a brier. The one they say is upright is dangerous like a thorn bush that pricks and scratches.
-or-
Some of them are as bad as briars and thorns, and the rest of them are even worse.

brier…hedge of thorns: In Hebrew, the words brier and hedge of thorns refer to plants with thorns. Here the similes compare the people to these thorny plants. The way they are similar is that they are both harmful.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

thornbush…prickly plant (New Century Version)
-or-
rank weeds…briars (New English Bible)

sharper than a hedge of thorns: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “more than a thorn hedge.” A hedge is a row of plants that may line the boundary of a property. The phrase probably means that the upright person of this simile causes even more harm/injury to other people than a thorn hedge would cause. Some versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, make this meaning clear. For example:

the most godly among them are more dangerous than a row of thorn bushes (NET Bible)
-or-
The [most] upright, worse than a barrier of thorns (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

General Comment on 7:4a–b

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

The most honest of them is worse than a thorn patch. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Even the best and most honest of them are as worthless as weeds. (Good News Translation)

7:4c

The day for your watchmen has come, the day of your visitation: The phrases The day for your watchmen and the day of your visitation, are two ways to refer to the same event. The word day does not refer to a literal 24–hour day. Here it refers to the time when the LORD would punish the people of Israel. The phrase has come indicates that the time had arrived.

The day for your watchmen: There is a textual issue about the word watchmen :

(1) The Masoretic Text has watchmen. For example:

The day of your watchmen (English Standard Version)

(2) Some scholars say that the original word was “judgment.” For example:

But your judgment day is coming swiftly now. (New Living Translation (2004))

(New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible)

(3) Some scholars say that the original word was “from the north.” For example:

Now from the north their punishment approaches! (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions and commentaries.

At the time of Micah, a “watchman” or “sentinel” was a person who gave a warning to the residents of a town or city when he saw potential danger. In this verse the word watchmen referred to the prophets. In the past the prophets had warned the people that this time of punishment was coming.

Here are some ways to translate the phrase The day for your watchmen :

• Make some aspects of meaning more explicit. Both examples below make explicit that the people were previously warned. The second example also makes explicit the identity of the sentinels/watchmen:

The day that your watchmen warned you about has come. (New Century Version)
-or-
The day has come when God will punish the people, as he warned them through their watchmen, the prophets. (Good News Translation)

• Translate the phrase literally and leave the aspects of meaning implied. For example:

The day of their watchmen, of their punishment, has come. (Revised Standard Version)

• Leave the entire phrase The day for your watchmen implied. Allow the reference to punishment to provide the meaning. For example:

The day of their punishment has come (Revised English Bible)
-or-
But your judgment day is coming swiftly now. Your time of punishment is here (New Living Translation (2004))

your: In 7:4a–b and 7:4d Micah uses the pronouns “them” and “their” to talk about the people. He used the pronoun your in this line and in 7:5 to address the people directly. In Hebrew poetry, it is common for an author to alternate pronouns in this way, even though the pronoun referent remains the same.

One way that versions reduce the potential confusion to readers is to reduce the number of times the pronouns alternate. For example, the New Revised Standard Version has “their” in this line to match the other pronouns in 7:4. The New International Version does it differently. It has “you/your” in this line and in 7:4d:

4c The day God visits you has come, the day your watchmen sound the alarm. 4d Now is the time of your confusion. (New International Version)

Use the most natural and least confusing way in your language to translate the pronouns in this verse.

the day of your visitation: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “your visitation.” Here the phrase means “the LORD’s judgment of the people.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

your doom (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
your judgment day…Your time of punishment (New Living Translation (2004))

7:4d

Now is the time of their confusion: This line means that the punishment from the LORD will cause confusion among the people.

Now: This word indicates “at that time.” Here are some other ways to translate it:

Then (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
That will be when (New Jerusalem Bible)

is the time: This phrase is not in the Hebrew text. It is an expression in English that the Berean Standard Bible and some other versions supply. It reinforces that the time of punishment would happen at that time. If this expression is not natural in your language, it is best to leave it untranslated.

confusion: This word refers to chaos or disorder or panic that results from an attack by an enemy. The LORD probably allowed this kind of attack as his means of punishment.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 7:5

7:5a–c

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning (these lines are from the Revised Standard Version):

5a
Put no trust in a neighbor,

5b
have no confidence in a friend;

5c
guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom;

In these lines, Micah warns the people to trust no one. He gives this warning in three parallel clauses. The degree of closeness to the other person increases in each clause.

The Revised Standard Version has been used as the source line for 7:5a–c, because it better follows the word choices in most versions.

7:5a

(Revised Standard Version) Put no trust in a neighbor: In Hebrew, the word trust can also mean “believe,” “have confidence,” or “rely” on another person. In Hebrew, the word neighbor can also mean “associate,” “companion,” or “friend.” It indicates a low level relationship with another person. They know each other to some extent, but they are not close friends.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

Don’t trust anyone (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Don’t believe your neighbor (Good News Translation)

7:5b

(Revised Standard Version) have no confidence in a friend: In Hebrew, the word confidence can also mean “trust,” “have confidence,” or “rely” on another person. This word is very similar in meaning to the Hebrew word for “trust” in 5a. In Hebrew, the word friend means “close friend,” “partner,” “ally,” or “companion.” It indicates a stronger relationship with another person than the word “neighbor.” They know each other fairly well and are close friends.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

not even your best friend (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
or trust your friend (Good News Translation)

7:5c

(Revised Standard Version) guard the doors of your
mouth from her who lies in your bosom: In Hebrew, the phrase guard the doors of your mouth is a figure of speech that means to be careful not to say something that will put you in danger.

In Hebrew, the word bosom refers to the part of the body between the arms. The phrase her who lies in your bosom is a way to say “your wife.” This warning indicates the most intimate kind of relationship.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

Don’t even share secrets with the one who lies in your arms! (NET Bible)
-or-
Be careful what you say even to your husband or wife. (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 7:6

7:6a–d

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

6a
For a son dishonors his father,

6b
a daughter rises against her mother,

6c
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

6d
A man’s enemies are the members of his own household.

In this verse Micah gave the reason for his warnings to the people in 7:5 not to trust even the people close to them. It was because members of their own households were their enemies.

Micah gives three examples. In each example he describes a relationship between a member of a family to another member. In each relationship the younger member behaves in a way that dishonors and opposes the authority of an older family member. Each was an example of a serious offense in that society.

The examples use singular forms: “son,” “daughter,” “daughter-in-law,” etc. However, each phrase represents a large group of people: “sons,” “daughters,” “daughters-in-law,” etc. In some languages it will be more natural to use plural forms. For example:

Sons refuse to respect their own fathers, daughters rebel against their own mothers, daughters-in-law despise their mothers-in-law. (Contemporary English Version)

7:6a

For: This word introduces a reason for Micah’s warnings in 7:5. See the previous note for more explanation.

Some versions indicate the connection of this verse to the previous ones in a different way. For example, the Good News Translation refers back to the time period that is described in 7:1–5:

In these times sons treat their fathers like fools (Good News Translation)

Some other versions do not have an explicit connecting word or phrase. Instead they leave the connection implied. For example:

A son treats his father with contempt (God’s Word)

a son dishonors his father: In Hebrew, the word dishonors is related to the word for “fool.” In this clause the word means that the son insults and/or dishonors his father by treating him like a fool.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

A son will not honor his father (New Century Version)
-or-
For son insults father (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
For a son thinks his father is a fool (NET Bible)

7:6b

a daughter rises against her mother: In Hebrew, the phrase rises against is an expression that means “to rebel and be defiant.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

A daughter will turn against her mother (New Century Version)
-or-
daughter rebels against mother (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
a daughter challenges her mother (NET Bible)
-or-
The daughter defies her mother (New Living Translation (2004))

7:6c

and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law: There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted phrase) in this verse part. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 7:6b. For example:

6c and a daughter-in-law ⌊rises⌋ against her mother-in-law

The description of the expression “rises against” in 7:6b applies to this verse part also.

In that society a daughter-in-law normally joined her husband’s family. The daughter-in-law was expected to respect the authority of her mother-in-law. Here she did not show that respect.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

and a daughter-in-law will be against her mother-in-law (New Century Version)
-or-
The daughter-in-law defies her mother-in-law (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
a daughter-in-law rebels against her mother-in-law (God’s Word)

7:6d

A man’s enemies are the members of his own household: There are three main interpretations of the referent of the phrase members of his own household :

(1) The phrase refers to family members. For example:

People’s enemies are the members of their own families. (God’s Word)

(Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, God’s Word, New Century Version)

(2) The phrase refers to all the males in a household. For example:

A man’s enemies are the men of his own household (New American Standard Bible)

(King James Version, New American Standard Bible)

(3) The phrase refers to the servants in a household. For example:

a man’s enemies are his own servants (NET Bible)

(NET Bible)

Some versions are ambiguous. They translate the word household literally which leaves implied the referents of the word. However, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It best fits the context of the three relationships described in this verse.

This line is probably a summary statement that refers to the relationships described in 7:6a–c.

enemies: This word refers to people hostile towards others, “foe.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

a person’s enemies will be members of his own family (New Century Version)
-or-
Your family is now your enemy (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 7:5–6

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the verses. For example, in reverse order 7:6 describes the situation first and 7:5 then gives advice on how to respond to the situation.

7:6 Sons disrespect their fathers, daughters rebel against their mothers, and daughters-in-law defy their mothers-in-law. Your enemies are in your own house! 7:5 So don’t trust anyone, not your friends and not even your own wife!

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 7:7

7:7a

But as for me: In this part of the lament the tone/mood changes from negative to positive. This phrase introduces a strong contrast between the unfaithful people and Micah’s own hope in the LORD.

Here are some ways to translate this clause:

• Translate the strong contrast. For example:

But as for me (English Standard Version)
-or-
But I (Good News Translation)

• Leave the contrast implied. This option is only recommended when the implied contrast will be clearly understood. For example:

…I (God’s Word)

I will look to the LORD: In this clause part, Micah indicated that he expected the LORD to fulfill his promises to the people of Israel and had faith that he would do so.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause part:

I will look to the Lord for help (New Century Version)
-or-
I will watch for the Lord (Good News Translation)
-or-
I will keep watching for the Lord (NET Bible)

7:7b

I will wait for the God of my salvation: In this clause part, Micah indicated that he had confidence that God would save him. In Hebrew, the word wait has a form that means “to be committed/resolved to wait.”

The phrase God of my salvation is a title that describes God as the savior/deliverer. In some languages it may be more natural to translate the title in a different way. For example:

I will wait for God to save me (New Century Version)
-or-
I will put my trust in God my savior (New American Bible)

God: In this title, the Hebrew word for God is a form of elohim and not Yahweh. Some versions translate as God instead of “LORD.” Use your general term for God here.

7:7c

My God will hear me: In this clause part, Micah indicated his certainty that God would hear his prayer. The phrase My God indicates a close relationship with God. Again, the Hebrew word for God is a form of elohim here.

Here are some ways to translate this clause part:

• Translate more literally. For example:

my God will hear me (English Standard Version)

• Make explicit some implicit aspects of meaning. For example:

and I will wait for him to answer my prayer (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
My God will hear my lament. (NET Bible)
-or-
and my God will certainly hear me (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 6:11

6:11a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

11a
Can I excuse dishonest scales

11b or bags of false weights?

There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted phrase) in 6:11b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 6:11a. For example:

11b or ⌊can I excuse⌋ bags of false weights?

This verse is another rhetorical question. Its function is to express the next accusation of the LORD against the people.

Here are some ways to translate this rhetorical question:

• As one or more rhetorical questions. You may use slightly different questions, if that is more natural in your language. For example:

Can I justify wicked scales and a bag of deceptive weights? (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
How can I ignore the use of fraudulent scales? How can I close my eyes to inaccurate weights used to deceive?

• As a statement. For example:

I do not condone the use of rigged scales, or a bag of deceptive weights. (NET Bible)

Can I excuse:
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Can I justify (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Shall I acquit (English Standard Version)

dishonest scales…bags of false weights: Each phrase describes a way that a merchant cheated a customer. The phrase dishonest scales refers to measuring balances that were made to be inaccurate in a way that benefitted the merchant. The phrase bags of false weights refers to bags or pouches of inaccurate weights. They may have been lighter or heavier than the true weight. Together these measuring devices were used to deceive others.

Here are some other ways to translate these phrases:

misleading scales or a bag of fraudulent weights (Revised English Bible)
-or-
I do not condone the use of rigged scales, or a bag of deceptive weights. (NET Bible)

General Comment on 6:11a–b

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

How can I tolerate your merchants who use dishonest scales and weights? (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 7:9

7:9

In this verse, the speaker is the personification of Jerusalem, as in 7:8. The speaker first describes the consequences of his sin. He then expresses faith that the LORD will justly punish Jerusalem’s enemies for their wrongs, and restore the (people of the) city to a right relationship with him.

7:9a

Because I have sinned against Him, I must endure the rage of the LORD: The speaker (personified Jerusalem) accepts that its people have sinned and therefore deserve the anger of the LORD.

In Hebrew, the first clause part gives the result, and the second clause part gives the reason. In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of these clause parts, as in the Berean Standard Bible. Here is another example:

We have sinned against the Lord, so now we must endure his anger for a while (Good News Translation)

Because: This word introduces the reason why Jerusalem must bear the indignation of the LORD. The reason is because the people have sinned against him.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Since (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
for (NET Bible)

sinned against Him: This phrase makes explicit that the sins of the people were directed against the LORD. The people failed to respect him.

I must endure: Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

be patient (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
tolerate
-or-
accept

rage: In Hebrew, the word rage means “anger” or “wrath.” In this context, the word refers both to wrath and to punishment, which is the result of his wrath.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

wrath (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
fury (God’s Word)
-or-
anger (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
punishes (New Living Translation (2004))

7:9b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

until He argues my case

and executes judgment for me

These lines indicate how long Jerusalem must bear the indignation of the LORD. It would be until the time when he defends them.

until: This time word indicates the end of the time of wrath and introduces the next event that is described in these lines.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

But after that, he will take up my case (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

But in the end he will defend us (Good News Translation)
-or-

But then he will defend my cause (NET Bible)

He argues my case…executes justice for me: These lines are more literally “he will conduct my case and he will do my justice.” In Hebrew, the first line has the same word for case as in Micah 6:1–2. See the notes there for more details.

These lines mean that the LORD would defend Jerusalem as if in a legal case or lawsuit. He would defend the rights of the people of Jerusalem while judging their enemy.

Here are some other ways to translate these lines:

He pleads my case and executes justice for me (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
he will defend us and right the wrongs that have been done to us (Good News Translation)
-or-
he will defend my cause and accomplish justice on my behalf (NET Bible)

7:9d–e

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

9d
He will bring me into the light;

9e
I shall see His righteousness.

These lines are two ways to say that the LORD would save them.

7:9d

He will bring me into the light: This line repeats the word light from 7:8c. It probably refers back to the same situation. The LORD would bring Jerusalem out of darkness into his light. As in 8c, this line is a metaphor that compares deliverance/salvation by the LORD to his bringing the people into the light. See the translation options under 7:8c for ideas of how to translate this line.

7:9e

I will see His righteousness: In Hebrew, the word see means “see,” “view,” “realize,” or “know.” Here it may mean that the speaker will see the LORD’s vindication figuratively, through eyes of faith, and/or literally through firsthand experience.

In Hebrew, the word righteousness has two aspects of meaning. It refers to the LORD’s “attribute of righteousness/justness.” It also refers to the action of saving his people, which shows his righteousness/justness.

Here are some ways to translate this line:

• Translate His righteousness as the LORD’s attribute of justness. For example:

I will see His righteousness (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
I will see his justice (New American Bible)

• Translate His righteousness as the LORD’s action that vindicates the speaker. For example:

I will experience firsthand his deliverance (NET Bible)
-or-
I will enjoy vindication by Him (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 7:10

7:10

This verse talks about the result of the LORD’s action of saving his people. The enemy had previously taunted the people. But after the LORD saves them, the enemy will be shamed and disgraced. Throughout this verse, the New International Version and some versions use singular pronouns and nouns, such as “my enemy.” Other versions, such as the Revised English Bible, use plural forms such as “my enemies” (7:10a). In some languages, it may be confusing to use singular forms when the topic is the inhabitants and “the enemy” is a group of soldiers. If that is the case in your language, you should use plural forms.

7:10a

Then my enemy will see: This line refers back to the LORD’s vindication in 7:9. In Hebrew, the word see is used once in 7:9 and twice in this verse, with both literal and figurative meanings. Here the enemy will literally see with her own eyes that the LORD saves his people. The enemy will also see figuratively. She will “know” that the LORD is able to save his people, contrary to her taunt.

Then: This time word introduces the next event after the LORD’s vindication in 7:9e.

Here is another way to translate this word:

When my enemies see it (Revised English Bible)

my enemy: See the note on “my enemy” in 7:8a. That information and translation advice applies here also.

7:10b

and will be covered with shame: This line describes the reaction of the enemy to the LORD’s vindication of his people. The phrase covered with shame means that the enemy will be overwhelmed with feelings of confusion, embarrassment and dismay.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

Now each of you will be disgraced and put to shame (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
and they will be ashamed (New Century Version)

she who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?”: This line indicates the reason why the enemy was covered with shame. It was because she had taunted the people of Jerusalem with these words. But afterwards, the LORD will prove that her taunt was mistaken when he vindicates his people.

The words she who refers back to “my enemy” in 7:10a. The phrase who said to me introduces the words that the enemy spoke to Jerusalem. In some languages it may be unnatural or confusing to use a relative pronoun here. Some of the examples at the end of this note show other translation options.

The question, “Where is the LORD your God?” is rhetorical. The expected answer of the question is “Nowhere.” The rhetorical question implied either that the LORD was not real or that he had no power to save them. The purpose of the question was to taunt or mock the LORD and the people of Jerusalem.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

• Make explicit the referent of the relative pronoun, who. For example:

—the same enemies who taunted us by asking, “Where is the Lord your God?” (Good News Translation)

• Use a conjunction to introduce this line as a reason for the enemy’s shame. For example:

…because they asked me, ‘Where is the Lord your God?’ (God’s Word)

• Make this line a separate sentence. Allow the following lines, 7:10c–e, to make clear the reason for the enemy’s shame. For example:

They say to me, “Where is the Lord your God? (NET Bible)
-or-
You, my enemies, said, “The Lord God is helpless.” (Contemporary English Version)

7:10c–e

Notice that these three lines have the same topic:

10c My eyes will see her;

10d at that time she will be trampled

10e
like mud in the streets.

These lines describe what would happen to the enemy after she taunted the people of the LORD. The enemy would be defeated, and the people of the LORD would see it happen.

7:10c

My eyes will see her: This line is more literally “my eyes they will see her.” There are two main interpretations of this verse part:

(1) It means that the people of Jerusalem will witness the downfall of the enemy. For example:

With my own eyes I will see their downfall (New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It means that the people of Jerusalem will take pleasure in the downfall of the enemy. For example:

I will gloat over them. (NET Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most English versions. In Hebrew, the attitude of the people of Jerusalem is not made explicit here. It is best to leave it implied.

My eyes: This phrase may refer to literal eyes. However, the phrase is also a Hebrew expression for “I,” the one who sees. Some versions translate it as “I.” Either translation is acceptable. For example:

I shall be watching (New Jerusalem Bible)

The word “downfall” is supplied by several versions to make explicit what Jerusalem will see. The phrase “be trampled” means “defeat” or a change from a high to a low status. This kind of misfortune is indicated by the description in 10d–e.

Here are some ways to translate 7:10c:

• Translate literally. Leave implied what the eyes will see. For example:

My eyes will look on her (New American Standard Bible)

• Supply the word downfall or another word with a similar meaning. For example:

My eyes will see her downfall (New International Version)
-or-
We will see them defeated (Good News Translation)

7:10d–e

at that time she will be trampled like mud in the streets: This verse part describes the defeat of the enemy by her own enemies. It is a simile that compares the enemy to mud that people walk on. The simile implies total humiliation and weakness.

at that time: In Hebrew, this time word indicates the immediate future.

Here are some ways to translate this word:

• Use a word that means “immediately” or “in the near future.” For example:

now (English Standard Version)
-or-
very soon

• Translate as a future event. Leave implied how soon it will occur. For example:

They will get walked on (New Century Version)
-or-
as she is trampled (New Jerusalem Bible)

she will be trampled: In Hebrew, these words are more literally “she will become a trampling place.” This describes a location where people walk or step. In this simile that location is a street.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

she will be trampled underfoot (New International Version)
-or-
she shall be for trampling (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
They will get walked on (New Century Version)

like mud in the streets: This part of the simile compares the “trampling place” to mud in the streets as on the streets of ancient towns. At that time streets of mud were filthy places where people dumped garbage and excrement. This comparison to mire was a very vivid way to depict how humiliating the defeat of the enemy was.

Here are some ways to translate 7:10d–e. If possible, keep this figure of speech in your translation, as in the first two bulleted options below:

• Keep the simile. For example:

even now she will be trampled underfoot like mire in the streets (New International Version)

• Change the simile into a metaphor. For example:

Now she will be brought low, no more than (or Now she will become) a street of mud under the feet of (or a street of mud stepped on by the feet of) those who will defeat her.

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

Soon she will be completely humiliated by those who defeat her.

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 7:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 7:4

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 7:5

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 7:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 7:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 6:11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 7:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 7:10

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

American Bible Society