Micah 5:3-4

Context

5:3 So the Lord¹ will hand the people of Israel² over to their enemies³

until the time when the woman in labor⁴ gives birth.⁵

Then the rest of the king’s⁶ countrymen will return

to be reunited with the people of Israel.⁷

5:4 He will assume his post⁸ and shepherd the people⁹ by the Lord’s strength,

by the sovereign authority of the Lord his God.¹⁰

They will live securely,¹¹ for at that time he will be honored¹²

even in the distant regions of¹³ the earth.

Micah 7:9

Context

7:9 I must endure¹⁴ the Lord’s anger,

for I have sinned against him.

But then¹⁵ he will defend my cause,¹⁶

and accomplish justice on my behalf.

He will lead me out into the light;

I will experience firsthand¹⁷ his deliverance.¹⁸

[5:3] ¹tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:3] ²tn Heb “them”; the referent (the people of Israel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

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

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

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

[5:3] ⁶tn Heb “his”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:3] ⁷tn Heb “to the sons of Israel.” The words “be reunited with” are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[5:4] ⁸tn Heb “stand up”; NAB “stand firm”; NASB “will arise.”

[5:4] ⁹tn The words “the people” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[5:4] ¹⁰tn Heb “by the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.”

[5:4] ¹¹tn The words “in peace” are supplied in the translation for clarification. Perhaps וְיָשָׁבוּ (vÿyashavu, “and they will live”) should be emended to וְשָׁבוּ (vÿshavu, “and they will return”).

[5:4] ¹²tn Heb “be great.”

[5:4] ¹³tn Or “to the ends of.”

[7:9] ¹⁵tn Heb “lift, bear.”

[7:9] ¹⁶tn Heb “until.”

[7:9] ¹⁷tn Or “plead my case” (NASB and NIV both similar); NRSV “until he takes my side.”

[7:9] ¹⁸tn Heb “see.”

[7:9] ¹⁹tn Or “justice, vindication.”