Lexical Summary hala: Here, behold, lo Original Word: הָלָא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cast far off Probably denominatively from halah; to remove or be remote -- cast far off. see HEBREW halah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindenominative verb from haleah Definition to be removed far off NASB Translation outcasts (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [הָלָא] verb denominative only Niph`al participle feminine Micah 4:7 הַנַּהֲלָאָה (of sheep) removed far off. **We proposes הַנַּחֲלָה (√ חלה) her that is diseased (note "" הַצֹּלֵעָה, and compare Ezekiel 34:21), so Now; Gr הַנִּלְּאָה her that is exhausted; Marti allows either of these. Topical Lexicon Overview The single use of הָלָא in Scripture (Micah 4:7) describes people who are “far-off,” marginalised by distance, dispersion, or alienation. The word marks them as outside the centre of covenant life, yet still within the reach of God’s restoring purpose. Occurrence and Immediate Context Micah 4:7: “I will make the lame into a remnant, and the far-off into a strong nation. Then the LORD will reign over them on Mount Zion from that day and forever.” Here the “far-off” stand beside the “lame.” Both groups embody weakness, exclusion, and apparent hopelessness under the ravages of Assyrian aggression (Micah 4:1-6). The prophet foretells that the same God who permits scattering will gather, strengthen, and enthrone His people under His eternal kingship. Theological Themes 1. Divine Initiative toward the Scattered God’s redemptive plan consistently moves toward those pushed away by exile or sin. 2. Reversal of Human Helplessness Those identified by הָלָא possess no inherent power to return; the Lord Himself makes them “a strong nation.” Compare Ezekiel 37:21-22, where scattered bones become “one nation” by divine breath. 3. Covenant Faithfulness and Kingship Micah links the recovery of the far-off with the establishment of Yahweh’s royal rule on Zion. The regathering is not an end in itself but serves the larger purpose of manifesting God’s righteous reign (Psalm 99:2). 4. Inclusion of the Nations While primarily aimed at exiled Israel, the motif widens to incorporate Gentiles. Isaiah 11:10-12 and Zechariah 2:11 anticipate nations joining Israel in worship. Acts 2:39 applies the promise “to all who are far off” to every believer in Messiah. Historical Significance During Micah’s ministry (eighth century BC), northern Israelites were already deported by Assyria (2 Kings 15:29). The term הָלָא therefore evoked real families displaced to distant provinces like Halah and Gozan (2 Kings 17:6). Micah’s oracle assured such captives that distance could not annul covenant grace. Messianic and Eschatological Dimensions The prophecy flows into the New Testament where Jesus Christ, the Son of David, gathers the dispersed (John 11:52). Paul testifies that in Christ “you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). Revelation 7:9 pictures the ultimate fulfilment: a “great multitude” from every nation standing before the throne—formerly far, now forever near. Ministry Applications • Hope for the Marginalised: Churches mirror God’s heart when they seek out the overlooked—refugees, the disabled, the spiritually distant—confident that He transforms outcasts into pillars of His community. Conclusion הָלָא appears only once, yet it encapsulates a sweeping biblical narrative: the God who reigns on Zion delights to bring the remotest and weakest into His everlasting kingdom. Forms and Transliterations וְהַנַּהֲלָאָ֖ה והנהלאה vehannahalaAh wə·han·na·hă·lā·’āh wəhannahălā’āhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Micah 4:7 HEB: הַצֹּֽלֵעָה֙ לִשְׁאֵרִ֔ית וְהַנַּהֲלָאָ֖ה לְג֣וֹי עָצ֑וּם NAS: a remnant And the outcasts a strong KJV: a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong INT: the lame A remnant and the outcasts nation A strong 1 Occurrence |
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