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.

1:13a

Harness your chariot horses, O dweller of Lachish: In this sentence, Micah spoke to the people who lived in the town of Lachish. It was an important town that King Rehoboam of Judah had fortified (see 2 Chronicles 11:5–12). That means that there were soldiers, horses, chariots, and other fighting equipment in the town.

There are two ways to interpret Micah’s words in this verse part:

(1) The inhabitants should prepare to flee from the enemy. They should ride in chariots to get away. For example:

Harness your chariot horses and flee, you people of Lachish. (New Living Translation (2004))

(New Living Translation (2004))

(2) The inhabitants should prepare to fight the enemy. For example:

Get the war chariots ready, you people of Lachish. (Contemporary English Version)

(Contemporary English Version)

Almost all commentaries clearly support interpretation (1). Most English versions are ambiguous. They say only that the people should harness the horses to the chariots. It is recommended that you leave the purpose for harnessing the horses implicit if possible. If that is not possible in your language, you should follow interpretation (1). The first two meaning lines in the Display will leave the purpose implied. The third meaning line will make it explicit.

Harness your chariot horses: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “Harness the chariot to the steed.” Most English versions reverse this order (“Harness the steeds to the chariots” (New Revised Standard Version)). Use whatever order is natural in your language.

Micah used the definite article “the” two times in this sentence: “Harness the steeds to the chariots.” He was referring to the horses and chariots that were in Lachish. In some languages, it may be better to use the pronoun your or to not use a definite article. For example:

People in Lachish! Tie horses to your(plur) chariots.

Another example is the New Living Translation (2004) (quoted above).

In Hebrew, “steed” and “chariot” are singular. Perhaps Micah used these singular words to refer to each horse or team of horses that pulled a chariot. For example:

harness the team to the chariot (New International Version)
-or-
Harness the chariot to the team of horses (New American Standard Bible)

Most versions uses plural forms. Use whatever is natural in your language.

Harness: This word means “to tie or fasten horses to the chariots.” People tied special ropes or straps on the horses and tied these ropes to the chariot. The horses pulled the chariot. Here is another way to translate this word:

hitch the horses to the chariots (NET Bible)

chariot horses: This phrase refers to a team of two or more horses that worked together to pull a chariot. See the New International Version, New American Standard Bible, and Good News Translation (quoted above) for some ways to translate this phrase.

chariot: The word chariot refers to two-wheeled carts pulled by one or more horses. One or more people rode in a chariot. In languages that do not use a specific word such as chariot, it may be possible to use a general term such as “carts” or “war carts.”

In some areas, people do not know about horses and chariots. If that is true in your area, you may want to translate the implied purpose in interpretation (1) without mentioning either of these words. For example:

You people in Lachish! Prepare to flee from your enemies.

horses…Lachish: Micah made a pun in this sentence. In Hebrew, the word translated as horses sounds like the name of the city Lachish.

You may want to use a footnote to help your readers understand this pun. For example:

Lachish sounds like the Hebrew term for “team of horses.” (New Living Translation (2004) footnote)

If you do not use footnotes, you may decide to include the meanings of the place and the pun in your translation. For example:

And you who live in Lachish, ⌊the name of your town sounds like “horses,” so⌋ fasten your horses to your chariots.

O dweller of Lachish: In Hebrew, these words are at the end of the sentence. In some languages, this may be the natural place to put these words. In other languages, it may be more natural to put this phrase at the beginning of the sentence. For example:

You who live in Lachish, harness the team to the chariot. (New International Version)

Put this phrase in a place that is natural in your language.

1:13b

You were the beginning of sin to the Daughter of Zion: In this sentence, Micah said that the people of Lachish were the beginning of sin to the people of Jerusalem.

You: In Hebrew, this pronoun is either “she” or “it.” The pronoun refers to Lachish in 1:13a.

the beginning of sin: Lachish was the beginning of sin to Jerusalem in the sense that the people of Lachish were the first ones to lead (encourage, influence) the people of Jerusalem to do a certain sin. Here are some other ways to translate 1:13b:

You were the first to lead the people of Zion into sin. (God’s Word)
-or-
Jerusalem’s sins started in you (New Century Version)
-or-
You influenced Daughter Zion to sin (NET Bible)

sin: Micah did not specify a particular sin. Almost all English versions leave the kind of sin implied. Commentaries interpret the nature of the sin in two main ways:

(1) The sin was idolatry, including the worship of Baal.

(2) The sin was relying on military power instead of God.

It is likely that some of the people were guilty of one or both of these sins. Commentaries slightly favor interpretation (1), but it is recommended that you use a general word for sin and leave the specific sin implied.

If your translation uses footnotes, you may want supply a footnote that summarizes the specific sins that were probably implied. For example:

The sin that Micah was talking about was probably the sin of worshiping idols, specifically Baal (see 1 Kings 16:26–32). But the sin may also have been that Lachish led the nation to trust the power of war chariots instead of the LORD.

the Daughter of Zion: This phrase is a poetic way to refer to the people who live in Jerusalem. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Jerusalem (Good News Translation)
-or-
the people of Jerusalem
-or-
the people of Zion (God’s Word)

If you use a translation like one of these, you may want to use a footnote to give the literal translation. For example:

Hebrew: the daughter of Zion (New Living Translation (2004) footnote)
-or-
1:13b “the people of Jerusalem.” What it says in Hebrew is: the daughter of Zion.

1:13c

for: This word (ki in Hebrew) is a conjunction that marks a reason. Micah used it here to give evidence for what he said in 1:13b. For example:

Because (New American Standard Bible)

Some versions leave the reason implied. For example:

the crimes of Israel can be traced to you (New Jerusalem Bible)

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of the clauses so that the reason precedes the result. For example:

You imitated the sins of Israel and so caused Jerusalem to sin. (Good News Translation)

the transgressions of Israel were found in you: This clause means that the people in Lachish rebelled against the LORD and broke his laws in the same way that the people of Israel did.

the transgressions of Israel: See the note on the word “transgression” at 1:5a for more information about the meaning of that word.

Israel: The name Israel refers here to the people in the northern kingdom. Lachish was a city in Judah, the southern kingdom. But the people in Lachish did the same kind of evil things.

were found: This is probably a figurative way of saying that the transgressions of Israel also occurred in Lachish. Here are some ways to translate this clause:

You imitated the sins of Israel… (Good News Translation)
-or-
you broke the same laws ⌊of God⌋ that the people of Israel broke
-or-
you imitated the people of Israel and broke ⌊God’s⌋ laws in the same way that they did

General Comment on 1:13b–c

In some languages, it may be clearer to reverse the order of 1:13b and c. For example:

c You people of Lachish are guilty of breaking ⌊God’s⌋ laws, just like the people of Israel did. b And so you were the first to cause the people of Jerusalem to sin.

Translate 1:13b–c in the order that is natural and clear in your language.

© 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.

Section 7:14–20

A prayer to the LORD for restoration, and praise for his mercy

This section has two main parts. The first part, 7:14–17, contains prayers to the LORD for the restoration of his people and the defeat of their enemies. The second part, 18–20, is a hymn of praise to the LORD for his compassion and his faithful relationship with Israel. These Notes and the Display will assume that the main speaker is Micah, who speaks as a representative of the people. However, in 7:15 and in 18–20 there are brief changes of speaker and/or addressee. See the notes under paragraph 7:14–17 and under paragraph 7:18–20 for more detailed discussion.

Here are some other examples of section headings:

Prayer and Praise (New International Version)
-or-
The Lord ’s compassion on Israel (New Living Translation (2004))

Paragraph 7:14–17

The Notes and the Display will follow the paragraph description below:

• In 7:14 Micah prayed to the LORD on behalf of the people.

• In 7:15 the LORD told how he would answer the prayer.

• In 7:16–17 Micah prayed again based on the answer that the LORD gave in 7:15.

• Some versions place paragraph headings here. These are some examples:

A prayer for the Confusion of Zion’s Enemies (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Micah’s Prayer and the Lord ’s Answer (Contemporary English Version)

7:14

In this verse Micah prayed to the LORD using agricultural figures of speech that the people at that time understood.

He asked the LORD to rule over his people and to restore the blessings that they enjoyed in the past.

7:14a

Shepherd with Your staff Your people: Here Micah used a metaphor to ask the LORD to rule over his people. This metaphor compares the activities of a ruler to those of a shepherd. A shepherd cared for his sheep by guiding, leading, feeding and protecting them.

Here are some ways to translate this metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

Shepherd your people with your shepherd’s rod. (NET Bible)

• Keep part of the metaphor and make some of the meaning explicit. For example:

With your shepherd’s staff, take care of your people (God’s Word)

• Change the metaphor to a simile and make some of the meaning explicit. For example:

LORD, rule your people. Guide and protect them, like a shepherd with his staff.

• Translate the meaning directly. For example:

O Lord, come and rule your people (New Living Translation (1996)).

with Your staff: A staff was a rod that a shepherd used to guide his sheep and to protect them from wild animals. In this metaphor, the phrase with Your staff highlighted Micah’s request that the LORD would guide and protect his people.

7:14b

the flock of Your inheritance: This phrase continues the metaphor from 14a. In this part of the metaphor the LORD’s people are compared to a flock of sheep or other domesticated animal. The phrase of Your inheritance gives attention to the special relationship that the LORD has with Israel. They are the people he chose to be his own.

Here are some ways to translate this part of the metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

Your very own flock (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

who are like your own flock ⌊of sheep⌋

• Translate the meaning directly. For example:

the people you have chosen (Good News Translation)

7:14c

They live alone in a woodland: This line describes the setting where the flock lives. There are two main interpretations of the phrase live alone in a woodland :

(1) The setting is undesirable. The people live in a wooded place that is not good for grazing or farming. The word alone implies that the area is isolated from other people. For example:

the one that lives alone in a thicket (NET Bible)

(2) The setting is desirable. The people live in a place with wood and pasture land. The word alone implies that the area is secure and protected from negative influences of other people. For example:

which lives by itself in a forest, in fertile pasturelands (New International Version)

Some versions are ambiguous and have not been listed above. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with more versions and commentators. It provides a reason why Micah asked the LORD to allow the people to move from their present location to fertile pasturelands in 7:14d.

woodland: In Hebrew, this word means “thicket,” “undergrowth,” “wood.” Here the reference is probably to a thicket or other kind of poor land for grazing. Some versions make this meaning explicit. For example:

they live alone in a thicket (New Living Translation (2004))

7:14d

surrounded by pastures: This line is part of the clause that starts in 7:14c. It describes the location of the forest. There are two main interpretations of the phrase surrounded by :

(1) The forest is surrounded by good pasture land. The phrase pastures indicates a contrast to forest land, which is less fertile. For example:

Grasslands surround us (Contemporary English Version)

(2) The forest is part of the good pasture land. Both places are fertile. For example:

they live alone in the woods, in fertile pasturelands (God’s Word)

Some versions are ambiguous and have not been listed above. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with more versions and commentators.

pastures: There are two main interpretations of the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pastures :

(1) The word means “ garden land.” It refers to land that is very fertile and good for pasture. For example:

Grasslands surround us (Contemporary English Version)

(2) The word means “Carmel/Mount Carmel.” It is a location in the northern part of Israel. For example:

…on the heights of Mount Carmel (New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with the majority of versions and commentators.

Here are some other ways to translate pastures :

farmland (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
fertile pastures (God’s Word)
-or-
meadows (Revised English Bible)

7:14e

Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old: In this line, Micah asks the LORD to restore to the people of Israel the prosperity and blessing that they enjoyed in the past. This line continues the metaphor in which the LORD’s people are compared to a flock of animals. In this part of the metaphor, the people’s experience of blessing is compared to the feeding of a flock of animals in good pasture.

Here are some ways to translate this part of the metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

Allow them to graze in Bashan and Gilead as they did in the old days. (NET Bible)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

like a flock ⌊of sheep⌋, let them feed ⌊again⌋ in Bashan and Gilead as in the past

• Translate the meaning directly. For example:

let the people you have chosen enjoy the abundance of your blessings as they did long ago

Bashan and Gilead: These two places were occupied by the people of Israel early in their history. They were known for their excellent pastures. Here they represent abundant prosperity and blessing.

the days of old: This phrase refers to the early time period in the history of Israel when they first began to occupy the land.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

As in days long ago (New International Version)
-or-
as in days gone by (Revised English Bible)
-or-
as they did long ago (Good News Translation)

© 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.