complete verse (Micah 7:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Micah 7:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “Oh, Jerusalem,
    a day will arrive
    when your walls shall be rebuilt
    and your land expanded.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “O Israel, the day of your rebuilding walls will come,
    the day for extending your borders will come.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Micas said to those from-Jerusalem, ‘The time will-come that you (plur.) will-cause-to-stand again your (plur.) stone-walls and at that time your (plur.) territory will-be-widened more.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Micah 7:11

This verse begins the second paragraph of the section, in which the prophet addresses the people to encourage them in their hope in the Lord. Again the people are addressed as collective singular, and again this is translated with English plural forms in Good News Translation. Good News Translation has added the words People of Jerusalem in order to make clear to whom this is addressed. The promise is that the time to rebuild the city walls is coming. This actually took place under Nehemiah, probably beginning about 445 B.C. In areas where walled cities are unknown, it may be sufficient to say “the defenses of your city.”

Not only will the city itself be restored, but also At that time the territory held by the Lord’s people will be enlarged. Perhaps this means that they will be given back all the lands ruled by King Solomon when the monarchy was at the height of its power. In languages with no passive forms, this may be restructured to “the territory you hold will be much greater than it is now.”

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. et al. A Handbook on Micah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1978, 1982, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Micah 7:11

Paragraph 7:11–13

In this paragraph, Micah gives a prophecy about the restoration of Jerusalem. The prophecy may also have a secondary reference to the future salvation of individuals from all the peoples of earth.

Some versions place a heading here. For example:

A Prophecy of Restoration (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
A Bright Future (Contemporary English Version)

7:11a

The day for rebuilding your walls will come: In this clause, Micah tells the city of Jerusalem that a time will come when she will build her walls.

The day: In Hebrew, the word day means “day” or “time.” There are two main interpretations of the day or time indicated in this clause:

(1) The day for building walls is left implied. It may or may not be the same day as the downfall of the enemy in 7:10. For example:

The time will come when your walls will be built again (New Century Version)

(2) The day for building walls is the same day as the downfall of the enemy in 7:10. For example:

That will be the day for rebuilding your walls! (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of English versions. In Hebrew, the specific day is not made explicit here. It is best to leave it implied.

rebuilding: In Hebrew, this word can mean either “build” or “rebuild.” Here the word may be used in a general way that refers to either action. Either translation is acceptable. For example:

It is the day for building your walls (New American Bible)
-or-
It will be a day for rebuilding your walls (NET Bible)

your walls: In Hebrew, this phrase has a collective singular pronoun your (sing). This form suggests that the city of Jerusalem is the addressee. However, the addressee, “city of Jerusalem,” actually refers to the people of Jerusalem. Some versions make this information explicit. For example:

People of Jerusalem, the time to rebuild… (Good News Translation)

In some languages, it may be unnatural for a person to address a city. In those languages, this (Good News Translation) translation example may be a good option to follow.

walls: In Hebrew, the word walls means a “wall,” “fence,” “wall made of loose stones from the field without mortar.” The word usually refers to a stone wall around a vineyard or other property. Some scholars propose that the word refers here to the walls that surround the city of Jerusalem. However, it is possible that more than one kind of wall is meant. For that reason, it is recommended that you leave the specific referent implied in your translation. Some examples are the Berean Standard Bible and the two examples under the previous note on “rebuilding.”

7:11b

the day for extending your boundary: There are three main interpretations of this clause:

(1) On that day the city of Jerusalem will become larger in size. For example:

At that time your territory will be enlarged. (Good News Translation)

(2) On that day a law will be rescinded/removed. For example:

In that day shall the decree be far removed (King James Version)

(3) That day is far in the future. For example:

That is a far-off day. (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with the majority of versions.

the day: In Hebrew, there is a pronoun “that” in this phrase makes explicit that it refers to the same day as in 7:11a.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

On that day (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
At that time (Good News Translation)

for extending your boundary: In Hebrew, the word boundary means “prescribed limit,” “boundary.” In Hebrew, the word extending means “be/become far,” “distant.” In this clause part these words refer to the territory being enlarged.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause part:

expanding your frontiers! (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
your borders will be extended (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
your boundaries enlarged (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 7:11a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder these lines. For example:

The day for rebuilding your walls and extending your borders is coming. (God’s Word)

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