Micah 7:18–19
Micah marvels: no one forgives like God, who delights in steadfast love
Study it word by word18Who is an El like you, forgiving iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, for he delights in loyal love.
19He will again have mercy on us; he will subdue our iniquities; and you will cast into the depths of the sea all their sins.
In its context
16The nations will see and be ashamed of all their might; they will put their hand on their mouth; their ears will be deaf.
17They will lick dust like the serpent, like the crawling things of the earth; they will come trembling out of their enclosures; before YHWH our Elohim they will tremble in dread, and they will be afraid of you.
…
20You will give faithfulness to Jacob, loyal love to Abraham, which you swore to our fathers from the days of old.
Its words in the original
- אֵלel· El, God, god
"El", an ancient Hebrew word for "God". Alone or with another title it is a name of the God of Israel: El Elyon (God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty). Neighboring peoples used the same word for their gods; then this translation writes "god" in lower case. It also means "mighty".
- נֹשֵׂאnose· lift, carry, bear
Lift up, carry, bear. "Bear sin" is to suffer its consequences; said of God, "taking away" sin is forgiving it. "Lift up the eyes" is to look.
- עָוֺןavon· iniquity
Iniquity: wickedness, a serious wrong. The same word covers the wrong, the guilt it leaves and the punishment it brings.
- עֹבֵרover· pass, cross over
Pass by, pass through, cross over; also go beyond, transgress (a command). In the causative form, make pass, bring across, take away.
- פֶּשַׁעpesha· transgression
A serious wrong against someone: rebellion, transgression.
- שְׁאֵרִיתsheerit· remnant
Remnant: those left alive after a disaster.
- נַחֲלָתnachalat· inheritance
Inheritance: the share each son receives; the land that falls to a family or tribe.
- הֶחֱזִיקhechezik· be strong, seize
Be strong; take hold of firmly, seize. In other forms, strengthen, encourage, repair; said of the heart, become stubborn.
- עַדad· forever
Forever, without end.
- אַפּap· anger, nose
Nose, nostrils. Since breathing grows hard in anger, the same word also means "anger"; sometimes "face".
- חָפֵץchafets· desire, delight in
Want, desire; be pleased with someone, delight in.
- חֶסֶדchesed· loyal love
"Chesed": love that stays faithful to a commitment. It is kindness that does not remain a feeling: it acts in favor of the other and does not abandon him. The Bible says it above all of God's love for his people.
- יָשׁוּבyashuv· return, turn back
Turn back, return. Also turn away; in the causative form, bring back, give back, answer. Figuratively, turn back to God (change course). Often adverbial: "again".
- יְרַחֲמֵyerachame· have compassion
Have compassion: feel tenderness for someone, as a mother for her child, and treat him with mercy.
- יִכְבֹּשׁyichbosh· subdue
Subdue, bring under one's control and authority: of the earth, master it; of peoples, subjugate them; also force, bring into bondage.
- תַשְׁלִיךְtashlich· throw
Throw, cast, cast away.
- מְצֻלוֹתmetsulot· depths
The depths of the sea; also deep mire.
- יָםyam· sea, west
Sea, or any great body of water (also a lake). Since the Mediterranean lies west of Israel, the word also means "west".
- חַטֹּאותָchatovta· sin, sin offering
Sin: missing the mark of what God asks; also the guilt and the punishment. In the laws the same word also names the sacrifice offered for sin.