So when he restored the money to his mother renders an independent clause in Hebrew, which is literally “And he returned the silver to his mother.” See verse 17.3. The Hebrew verb rendered restored (shuv) is repeated once again. Though Good News Translation and some other versions give the impression that Micah handed the money back to his mother once again, it seems more likely that this is a linking clause that repeats what just occurred in the previous verse. So we might say “Once he had returned the silver to his mother” or “After he had given the coins back to his mother.” Though some versions omit this clause, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives it an {A} rating.

His mother took two hundred pieces of silver: In 17.3 Micah’s mother dedicates all 1,100 silver coins to God. However, here she goes back on her promise by spending only two hundred of the coins to have the idol fabricated. This clause begins with the Hebrew waw conjunction, which Revised Standard Version omits since it renders the previous clause as a dependent one. If two independent clauses are maintained, this conjunction may be rendered “and.” For example, New International Version begins this verse with “So he returned the silver to his mother, and she took two hundred….” The phrase his mother also occurs in the previous clause, so here it may be rendered simply “she” (New International Version, Revised English Bible). Two hundred pieces of silver is a precise sum. Almost all scholars agree that Micah’s mother is breaking her vow to God. Evidently she kept the remaining 900 coins for herself or for some other purpose. Two hundred pieces of silver was about 2.3 kilograms (5 pounds) of silver (see verse 17.2), in itself a hefty sum.

And gave it to the silversmith: Micah’s mother gave the 200 silver coins to a silversmith to make the idol. The pronoun it refers to the 200 silver coins. The Hebrew word for silversmith is literally “smelter” or “refiner.” It refers to someone who works with metal, including silver. Many languages will have a technical name for silversmith, but if not, we can speak of a “metalworker” (Good News Translation) or “person who makes idols.” Like the barber in the Delilah story (verse 16.19), here the word silversmith is preceded by the definite article in Hebrew. The silversmith is part of the “idol-making frame” known to both the narrator and the audience. However, translators can use either a definite or indefinite form, according to the constraints in their language.

Who made it into a graven image and a molten image renders an independent clause in Hebrew, literally “and he made it into….” See verse 17.3.

And it was in the house of Micah: This clause, which seems to serve as a conclusion to this unit, tells what happened after the idol was completed. The singular pronoun it makes it clear there was only one idol. The Hebrew phrase rendered the house of Micah could refer to Micah’s family, but here it refers to the place where Micah and his family lived and probably more precisely to the shrine he had set up for the idol (see also verse 17.12). In Hebrew the longer form of the name of Micah is used, signaling the conclusion of this unit (see verse 17.1). NET Bible thinks the mother set up the idol, while others think it was Micah. It is better to keep a neutral reading here, such as “Then it was placed in Micah’s house/compound.”

A translation model for this verse is:

• Once he had given back the money to his mother, she took 200 coins and gave it to the metalworker, and he made the idol. When it was finished, it was placed in Micah’s compound.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .