Micah 3:4

3:4 Someday these sinners will cry to the Lord for help, ¹ 

but he will not answer them.

He will hide his face from them at that time,

because they have done such wicked deeds.”

Micah 5:3

5:3 So the Lord ²  will hand the people of Israel ³  over to their enemies ⁴ 

until the time when the woman in labor ⁵  gives birth. ⁶ 

Then the rest of the king’s ⁷  countrymen will return

to be reunited with the people of Israel. ⁸ 

[3:4]  ¹ tn Heb “then they will cry out to the Lord.” The words “Someday these sinners” have been supplied in the translation for clarification.

[5:3]  ² tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:3]  ³ tn Heb “them”; the referent (the people of Israel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:3]  ⁴ tn The words “to their enemies” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[5:3]  ⁵ sn The woman in labor. Personified, suffering Jerusalem is the referent. See 4:9-10.

[5:3]  ⁶ sn Gives birth. The point of the figurative language is that Jerusalem finally finds relief from her suffering. See 4:10.

[5:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “his”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “to the sons of Israel.” The words “be reunited with” are supplied in the translation for clarity.