1:5a–f
This verse has six poetic lines. The first two lines give the reason for the coming judgment of the LORD that is described in 1:4a–d. In 1:5a–b, 1:5b restates the meaning of 1:5a. In 1:5c–d, the question in 1:5c repeats the person named in 1:5a, and the answer in 1:5d corresponds to the capital of the nation that bears his name. The question in 1:5e unexpectedly includes Judah as the southern part of the nation of Israel as a whole, and the answer in 1:5f corresponds to the capital of that southern part:
5a All this is for the transgression of Jacob
5b and the sins of the house of Israel.
5c What is the transgression of Jacob ?
5d Is it not Samaria ?
5e And what is the high place of Judah ?
5f Is it not Jerusalem ?
1:5a–b
There are two main ways to interpret the underlined parts, transgression and sins, and the parts in bold print, Jacob and the house of Israel :
(1) The parallel parts in these two lines refer to the same thing. The words “transgression” and “sins” refer to the same crime or offense. The names “Jacob” and “the house of Israel” refer to the same people. For example:
All this will happen because the people of Israel have sinned and rebelled against God. (Good News Translation)
(2) The parallel parts in these two lines refer to different things. The words “transgression” and “sins” seem to refer to different crimes or offenses. The name “Jacob” refers to the people of the northern kingdom, and “the house of Israel” refers to the people of the southern kingdom. For example:
All this is because of Jacob’s rebellion and the sins of the nation of Israel. (NET Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Many commentaries follow this interpretation. Here are some other ways to translate 1:5a–b:
5a All this is because of the crime of Jacob, 5b the sin of the House of Israel. (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
5a And why is this happening? Because of the rebellion of Israel—5b yes, the sins of the whole nation. (New Living Translation (2004))
1:5a
transgression: In Hebrew, this word means “disobedience of a law” or “rebellion against a king or other leader.” In this verse, it refers to the fact that the Jews had transgressed (disobeyed) God’s laws. They had rebelled against the LORD. In some languages, it may be better to translate this with a verb. For example:
All this has happened because Jacob’s descendants have rebelled ⌊against the LORD⌋.
Jacob: Jacob is the name of Abraham’s grandson whom God later renamed Israel (see Genesis 35:10). The name Jacob here represents all of Jacob’s descendants, the people of Israel. It does not refer to the man Jacob himself.
Here are some ways to translate the name Jacob :
Jacob’s descendants
-or-
Israel (Good News Translation)
-or-
the people/nation of Israel
1:5b
and the sins of the house of Israel: See the note above on 1:5a–b. The word sins is a general word. It restates the more specific meaning of “rebellion” in 1:5a. In some languages, it may be better to translate 1:5b as a separate sentence. For example:
⌊Yes,⌋ the people of Israel have sinned.
the house of Israel: The word house here means “nation” or “people.” Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
the Israelites
-or-
the people of Israel
-or-
the nation of Israel (New Century Version)
General Comment on 1:5a–b
The Good News Translation (quoted above) gives an example where “Jacob” and “Israel” have been combined into one term. Here is an example where “transgressions” and “sins” have been combined into one term:
This will happen because of the terrible sins of Israel, the descendants of Jacob. (Contemporary English Version)
1:5c–f
These four lines are rhetorical questions that made the audience think about the nature and cause of the rebellion of the Israelites. For Micah’s original hearers and readers, these rhetorical questions were vivid and emphatic. The four questions occur in two pairs. In each pair of questions, the second question answers the first question by asking another question that expects the answer “Yes.”
1:5c–d
What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria?: There are at least three ways to interpret the meaning of the first question:
(1) It means “What (or who) is the cause of Jacob’s transgression?” or “Who is to blame for his crime?” For example:
Who is to blame for Israel’s rebellion? Samaria, the capital city itself! (Good News Translation)
(2) It means “What transgression did Jacob commit?” or “What did Jacob do to transgress God’s laws?” For example:
What is Jacob’s crime? Isn’t it Samaria? (God’s Word)
(3) It means “What (or where) is the place of Jacob’s transgression?” For example:
What is the place of Jacob’s sin? Isn’t it Samaria? (New Century Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is the best way to understand the Hebrew text, and it is supported by a majority of commentaries.
Here are some other ways to translate interpretation (1):
Who is to blame for Israel’s rebellion? Samaria, its capital city! (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Samaria has led Israel to sin (Contemporary English Version)
If you decide to follow interpretation (2), here are two possible ways to translate it:
How have Jacob’s descendants rebelled? Look at the people in Samaria!
-or-
In what way have Jacob’s descendants rebelled? The people in Samaria are an example!
1:5c
What is the transgression of Jacob?: The phrase transgression of Jacob is the same phrase that Micah used in 1:5a. If possible, translate this phrase in a similar way.
1:5d
Is it not Samaria?: There are at least two ways to answer this question. These ways may not follow the unrelated interpretation choices followed for 1:5c.
• Use another rhetorical question that expects a “yes” answer. For example:
It is the people in Samaria, isn’t it?
• Use a statement. For example:
Samaria epitomizes their rebellion! (NET Bible)
-or-
It is the people who live in the city of Samaria!
Samaria: Micah used the name of this city here to refer to the people (or rulers) who lived there. Samaria was the capital city of the northern kingdom. The northern kingdom was usually called Israel. Some English versions make this information explicit. For example:
Samaria, the capital city itself ! (Good News Translation)
1:5e–f
And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem?: Before we consider the textual issue, note that the Hebrew text here uses the plural “high places.” Most English versions use the singular high place, because the second question specifies Jerusalem.
There is a textual issue with the first question:
(1) The Masoretic Text (MT) uses the Hebrew word translated as “high places.” For example:
What is Judah’s high place? (New International Version)
(2) The LXX (Septuagint) uses the Greek word “sin.” For example:
And what is the sin of the house of Judah? (Revised Standard Version)
(New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, Revised Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow the first option along with most versions and commentaries.
1:5e
And what is the high place of Judah?: There are at least two ways to interpret this rhetorical question. They correspond to the first and third choices in 1:5c–d.
(1) It means “Who is responsible for the high places in Judah?” This question can be sub-divided into two related questions: “Who worships idols at the high places?” and “Who/What causes the people to worship idols at the high places?” For example:
Who is guilty of idolatry in Judah? (Good News Translation)
-or-
…pagan altars at Jerusalem have made Judah sin (Contemporary English Version)
(2) It means “Where…” or “In what place are the high places of Judah?”
What is Judah’s place of idol worship? (New Century Version)
It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation. It is the best way to understand the Hebrew text. It also corresponds better with the recommended interpretation for 1:5c.
If you decide to follow interpretation (2), here are two possible ways to translate it:
And what are the shrines of Judah but Jerusalem? (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
What is Judah’s worship place? Isn’t it Jerusalem? (God’s Word)
high place: In 1:3b, Micah used the phrase “high places of the earth” to refer to the tops of hills and mountains. But here in 1:5e, Micah used high place to refer to a place where people worshiped idols. Here are some other ways to translate the Hebrew word for high place :
center of idolatry (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
pagan worship centers (NET Bible)
Judah: The name Judah refers to the southern kingdom. Here are some other ways to translate this name here:
the nation/people of Judah
1:5f
Is it not Jerusalem?: Jerusalem is the capital city of Judah. Here are some ways to translate this rhetorical question:
• Use a rhetorical question, as in the Berean Standard Bible. Supply other details, including the expected answer. For example:
Is it not the people of Jerusalem? Yes, it is!
• Use an exclamation. For example:
Jerusalem itself! (Good News Translation)
• Use a complete statement, with or without an exclamation mark. For example:
It is the people of Jerusalem, the capital city!
General Comment on 1:5c–f
In 1:5c–f, Micah used four rhetorical questions to convey his message vividly and forcefully. Here are some ways to translate these questions in your language:
• Translate all four questions as questions. Most literal English versions do this.
• Translate the first and third questions as questions, and the second and fourth questions as statements. For example:
5c Who is to blame for Israel’s rebellion? 5d Samaria, its capital city! 5e Where is the center of idolatry in Judah? 5f In Jerusalem, its capital! (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
5c How have the people of Jacob rebelled against God, you ask? 5d Those in the city of Samaria are the worst rebels! 5e Where are Judah’s pagan worship centers, you ask? 5f Right in Jerusalem! (based on NET Bible)
• Translate all four questions as statements. For example:
5c–d Samaria has led Israel to sin, 5e–f and pagan altars at Jerusalem have made Judah sin. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
5c–d The people in the city of Samaria led the people of Israel to rebel ⌊against God⌋. 5e–f And the people of Judah worship idols/gods at altars in Jerusalem itself.
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