Micah 4:9-11

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Micah 4:9 tn The Hebrew form is feminine singular, indicating that Jerusalem, personified as a young woman, is now addressed (see v. 10). In v. 8 the tower/fortress was addressed with masculine forms, so there is clearly a shift in addressee here. “Jerusalem” has been supplied in the translation at the beginning of v. 9 to make this shift apparent.
2. Micah 4:9 tn Heb “Now why are you shouting [with] a shout.”
3. Micah 4:9 tn Heb “Is there no king over you?”
4. Micah 4:9 tn Traditionally, “counselor” (cf. KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV). This refers to the king mentioned in the previous line; the title points to the king’s roles as chief strategist and policy maker, both of which required extraordinary wisdom.
5. Micah 4:9 tn Heb “that.” The Hebrew particle כִּי (ki) is used here in a resultative sense; for this use see R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 73, §450.
6. Micah 4:9 tn Heb “grabs hold of, seizes.”
7. Micah 4:10 tn Or perhaps “scream”; NRSV, TEV, NLT “groan.”
8. Micah 4:10 tn Or “redeem” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).
9. Micah 4:10 tn Heb “hand.” The Hebrew idiom is a metonymy for power or control.
10. Micah 4:11 tn Heb “let her be desecrated.” The referent (Jerusalem) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
11. Micah 4:11 tn Heb “and let our eye look upon Zion.” This is a Hebrew idiom for a typically smug or condescending look by someone in a superior position.