Mikha 5:7-8

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 

5:8 Those survivors from Jacob will live among the nations,

in the midst of many peoples.

They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,

like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,

which attacks when it passes through;

it rips its prey ⁵  and there is no one to stop it. 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.

[5:8]  ⁵ tn The words “its prey” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[5:8]  ⁶ tn Heb “and there is no deliverer.”