complete verse (Micah 6:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Micah 6:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “You (plur.) followed the lifestyle of sin
    that one of Omri and his son Ahab.
    So, I shall destroy you
    and make you to be despised.
    You shall be shamed/ridiculed in every place.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Because you observed the decrees of Omri
    and all the practices of the House of Ahab,
    because you followed their traditions
    I will destroy you.
    Therefore your people will constantly be ridiculed
    and You will be despised by the people of all the nations."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “This will happen to you (plur.) because you (plur.) have followed the evil deeds, statutes, advices of King Omri and of his child King Ahab. Therefore I will-destroy you (plur.) and you (plur.) will-be-despised and mocked by the other nations.’ ’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “People from many nations will see what Yahweh does for you,
    and they will be ashamed
    because they do not have any power.
    They will put their hands over their mouths and their ears because they will be very amazed because of what Yahweh does,
    and they will not be able to say anything or hear anything.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

1st person pronoun referring to God (Japanese)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also pronoun for “God”.

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Micah 6:16

This verse repeats the accusation that the people have been disloyal to God, and it also repeats the threat that God will punish them.

Here the people’s sin is stated in terms of a historical example. They had “kept the statutes of Omri, and all the works of the house of Ahab” (Revised Standard Version). Omri was politically one of the most important kings of the northern kingdom of Israel. He ruled from 885 to 874 B.C. and was followed by his son Ahab from 874 to 853 B.C. The family of Omri held the throne longer than any other family in the northern kingdom, yet they were outstanding for their wickedness. Ahab encouraged people to worship foreign gods because he was under the influence of his pagan wife Jezebel. He is condemned especially for this in 1 Kgs 16.23-24; 21.25-26.

Notice how Good News Translation has built into its translation some of the information that is only implicit in the Hebrew. The words This will happen because link this verse with those that precede. In the rest of the sentence, you have followed the evil practices of King Omri and of his son, King Ahab, the words evil, King, and his son are all added to make explicit to the modern reader information that was already known to the original hearers or readers. Most translators will find it helpful to their readers if they do the same. Followed means “to do the same thing that someone else does,” or “to copy.” Evil practices could be translated as “the evil things they did.”

On the other hand, Good News Translation has translated the literal “of the house of Ahab” as of his son, King Ahab. “The house of Ahab” means Ahab and the others of his family who became kings. Ahab was followed as king first by one son, Ahaziah, then by another son, Joram or Jehoram. These were the last kings of Israel who came from the family of Omri and Ahab. Both Ahaziah and Joram are called evil kings (see 1 Kgs 22.52 and 2 Kgs 3.2). The whole line can be restructured as “you have done the same evil things that King Omri and his son King Ahab and the others of their family did.” Or it may be easier in some languages to say “… and his son King Ahab and his sons did.”

The people of Micah’s day, about 150 years later than Omri and Ahab, had followed the bad example of these kings and could thus be said to have continued their policies. Policies means “their usual way of acting.” Because of their evil deeds, the Lord would bring these people to ruin. This can be translated as “destroy your country.” The prophets probably thought that this would happen by sending an enemy army to conquer them. When this happened, all the neighboring nations would despise them. This is the meaning of the expression “make … your inhabitants a hissing” (Revised Standard Version). In places where hissing is used as a sign of scorn, translators may be able to mention hissing, but even then they will probably need to expand the sentence and say “I will make the people of other nations hiss at you.”

The last sentence of the verse repeats the sense of the previous one. Good News Translation has restructured the literal translation of Revised Standard Version into simple and natural modern English: People everywhere will treat you with contempt. People everywhere refers to “the people of other nations.” If this group has just been mentioned in the previous line, translators could just refer to them with a pronoun, “they,” or perhaps one could even combine the last two lines of this verse, since the meaning of the two is so similar.

As the footnotes in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation show, the reading “peoples” or People everywhere follows the ancient Greek translation. If the Hebrew text is followed, the meaning of the final line is as in Good News Translation‘s second footnote. The thought is then that the people of Israel deserve to be scorned by other nations, even though they are God’s people, because they have disobeyed him.

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. et al. A Handbook on Micah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1978, 1982, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 6:16

6:16

There are two main ways to interpret the relationship between 6:16 and the previous verses:

(1) Verse 6:16 repeats the main themes of the previous verses in a more concise way. The repeated themes are sin, and the judgment that results. People sinned by following the practices of King Omri and Ahab. As a result the LORD will judge them. For example:

You have kept Omri’s laws and all the practices of the descendants of Ahab, and you have followed their advice. That is why I will ruin you. Your people will be ridiculed. You will bear the disgrace of my people.” (God’s Word)

(2) Verse 6:16 gives the reason for the LORD’s judgment described in 6:13–15. The reason for that judgment is that the people followed the practices of Omri and Ahab. The second part of 6:16 announces another judgment. For example:

Jerusalem, this will happen because you followed the sinful example of kings Omri and Ahab. Now I will destroy you and your property. Then the people of every nation will make fun and insult you. (Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It has good commentary and version support. It also does not conflict with 6:13a.

6:16a–c

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

16a
You have kept the statutes of Omri

16b and all the practices of Ahab’s house;

16c
you have followed their counsel.

There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted phrase) in 6:16b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 6:16a. For example:

16b and ⌊you have kept⌋ all the practices of Ahab’s house;

These parallel lines give examples from Israel’s history to show how the people had sinned. Omri and his son Ahab were the longest ruling kings in the northern kingdom and were known for their wickedness. They abused their power, they exploited others, and they worshiped idols. See 1 Kings 16:25–33.

6:16a

You have kept the statutes of Omri: This line is more literally “and it has been kept the statutes of Omri.” Many versions, such as the Berean Standard Bible, translate this line with an active verb. In some languages, it will be more natural to use passive forms. For example:

The statutes of Omri and all the works of the house of Ahab are observed (New American Standard Bible)

In Hebrew, this sentence starts with “and.” Here the word may indicate that this clause is the concluding indictment against the people. In this context, it does not indicate “because.” For more details, see the note above on “the relationship between 6:16 and the previous verses.” Many versions, such as the Berean Standard Bible, leave this word implied.

the statutes of Omri: This line means that the people did the same kinds of things that Omri had done. In this context, the word statutes probably does not refer to laws or ordinances but to customs and practices/behaviors. For more details see 2 Kings 17:7–20.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

the evil practices of King Omri (Good News Translation)
-or-
you have followed the wicked customs of Omri

6:16b

and all the practices of Ahab’s house: This parallel line means that the people also did the kinds of deeds that King Ahab and his family had done.

The practices of Ahab’s house may include the following evil acts:

(a) Marriage to an idolater

(b) Baal worship

(c) Robbery and murder

(d) Persecution of true prophets

(e) Child sacrifice

(f) Unjust and oppressive measures

(g) Apostasy, depravity, greed and injustice

Ahab’s house: This phrase means “Ahab’s family/household.” His household included his wife, children, dependent relatives, officials and slaves. The phrase probably also included his descendants who later became kings.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Ahab’s dynasty (NET Bible)
-or-
the descendants of Ahab (God’s Word)
-or-
Ahab’s family (New Century Version)

6:16c

you have followed their counsel: This line means that the people followed the bad example of Omri and Ahab and his family by continuing the same kinds of evil practices.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

You have continued their policies (Good News Translation)
-or-
by modelling yourselves on their standards (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
you have followed their traditions (New International Version)

counsel: In Hebrew, this word means “plans” or “decisions.” It refers to a person’s usual way of living/acting.

General Comment on 6:16a–c

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

16a–c you followed the sinful example of kings Omri and Ahab (Contemporary English Version)
-or-

16a–b you have followed the evil practices of King Omri and of his son, King Ahab. 16c You have continued their policies (Good News Translation)

6:16d–e

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

16d Therefore I will make you a desolation,

16e and your inhabitants an object of contempt;

There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted phrase) in 6:16e. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 6:16d. For example:

16e and ⌊I will make⌋ your inhabitants an object of contempt;

These two parallel lines and the next line are three parts of a judgment against the city of Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah. This judgment was the LORD’s response to the sin described in 16a–c.

Therefore: In Hebrew, this word is more literally “so that” or “to the end that.” The meaning is that judgment was the inevitable consequence of people’s disobedience. It may imply that the LORD had no alternative other than to judge.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

That is why (God’s Word)
-or-
you force me (New Jerusalem Bible)

you…your inhabitants: The referent of you and your is probably the city of Jerusalem and/or the entire kingdom of Judah. The references to both you and your inhabitants probably indicates that the judgment would be against the people as well as the places where they lived.

Here are some other ways to translate these referents:

you and your property (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
you…your citizens (New Jerusalem Bible)

a desolation…an object of contempt: Both phrases describe a situation that is so awful or appalling that people react to it with astonishment and horror.

In Hebrew, the word desolation means both “ruin/waste” and “appalment/horror.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

an appalling sight (NET Bible)
-or-
an object of horror (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
give you over to ruin (New International Version)
-or-
let you be destroyed (New Century Version)

The phrase an object of contempt is more literally, “an object of hissing.” This means that people will make a hissing sound in response to the ruin. At that time the act of hissing indicated scorn and ridicule.

If your language group has this custom with the same meaning, you may be able to translate this phrase literally. However, if this custom is unknown or has a different meaning in your language group, here are some other ways to translate it:

will be taunted derisively (NET Bible)
-or-
will be treated with contempt (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
will be laughed at (New Century Version)

6:16f

you will bear the scorn of the nations: There is a textual issue with the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as nations :

(1) The Masoretic Text has “my people.” The word refers to the LORD’s people. They are scorned by other people. The identity of the scorners is left implicit. For example:

and you will endure the insults aimed at my people (Revised English Bible)

(English Standard Version, God’s Word, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible)

(2) The LXX has “of peoples.” The word refers to people of other nations. They scorn Yahweh’s people. For example:

and other nations will make fun of you (New Century Version)

The Display will follow option (1). It makes good sense and has good support from commentators, the Peshitta, and modern versions. However, option (2) also has good support from modern versions and some commentators. You may want to follow this option if it is followed by a major language translation in your area.

This is the third part of the LORD’s judgment against the city of Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah. The LORD’s people who live there will bear/endure scorn from people of other nations.

scorn: This word means “reproach” or “contempt.” In this context, it indicates that other nations insult, taunt, or mock the LORD’s people.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

bear the disgrace of my people (God’s Word)
-or-
suffer taunts and mocking directed against my people
-or-
you, my people will be jeered and shamed

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