Mikha 5:7

5:7 Those survivors from ¹  Jacob will live ² 

in the midst of many nations. ³ 

They will be like the dew the Lord sends,

like the rain on the grass,

that does not hope for men to come

or wait around for humans to arrive. ⁴ 

Mikha 7:16

7:16 Nations will see this and be disappointed by ⁵  all their strength,

they will put their hands over their mouths,

and act as if they were deaf. ⁶ 

[5:7]  ¹ tn Heb “the remnant of” (also in v. 8).

[5:7]  ² tn Heb “will be.”

[5:7]  ³ tn This could mean “(scattered) among the nations” (cf. CEV, NLT) or “surrounded by many nations” (cf. NRSV).

[5:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “that does not hope for man, and does not wait for the sons of men.”

[5:7]  sn Men wait eagerly for the dew and the rain, not vice versa. Just as the dew and rain are subject to the Lord, not men, so the remnant of Israel will succeed by the supernatural power of God and not need the support of other nations. There may even be a military metaphor here. Israel will overwhelm their enemies, just as the dew completely covers the grass (see 2 Sam 17:12). This interpretation would be consistent with the image of v. 7.

[7:16]  ⁵ tn Or “be ashamed of.”

[7:16]  ⁶ tn Heb “and their ears will be deaf.” Apparently this means the opposing nations will be left dumbfounded by the Lord’s power. Their inability to respond will make them appear to be deaf mutes.