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.Some versions regard the addressee here to be “Israel” (NLT) or “Judah” (CEV). These versions may base their translations on a more metaphorical understanding of the clause, which has a wider reference beyond the city. This could be correct as a prophetic, secondary application of the meaning to a future time. However, it is recommended that the plain meaning of the Hebrew text be translated here.

The day: In Hebrew, the word day means “day” or “time.”BDB #3117 (page 399). 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 (NCV) (CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, KJV, NCV, NIV, NJPS, NRSV, BSB)

2. The day for building walls is the same day as the downfall of the enemy in 7:10.Waltke 2007 (page 437) suggests that the time in view is specified by the Hebrew word for “now” in 7:10. For example:

   That will be the day for rebuilding your walls! (NJB) (NAB, NASB, NET, NJB, NLT, REB)

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 (NAB)

It will be a day for rebuilding your walls (NET)

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.UBS (pages 253–254). Some versions make this information explicit. For example:

People of Jerusalem, the time to rebuild… (GNT)

In some languages, it may be unnatural for a person to address a city. In those languages, this (GNT) 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.”Mounce (page 912). The word usually refers to a stone wall around a vineyard or other property.This meaning is favored by A&F, KD, TOTC, and Pusey. Some scholars propose that the word refers here to the walls that surround the city of Jerusalem.NAC (page 129) and NICOT (pages 396–397) propose that the reference here is to the city walls of Jerusalem. NAC bases this proposal on the word pointing to a metaphorical use, to refer to restoration of the Jews to Judah and 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 BSB and the two examples under the previous note on “rebuilding.”

7:11a–b

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.This interpretation is favored by Waltke 2007, A&F, and UBS. For example:

   At that time your territory will be enlarged. (GNT) (CEV, ESV, BSB, GNT, GW, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NLT, NRSV, REB)

2. On that day a law will be rescinded/removed.Commentators propose various options for the referent of “law” here. Pusey (page 96) says it could be “the decree either of God or of the enemy.” JFB (page 695) says it is the “tyrannical decree or rule of Babylon.” KD (page 344) says it is “apparently used here for the ordinance or limit which God has appointed to separate Israel from the nations.” For example:

   In that day shall the decree be far removed (KJV) (KJV, NABThe NAB has, “on that day the boundary shall be taken away.” It may fit under this interpretation since the boundary is taken away rather than extended.)

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

   That is a far-off day. (NJPS) (NJPS)

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 (NASB)

At that time (GNT)

for extending your boundary: In Hebrew, the word boundary means “prescribed limit,” “boundary.”BDB #2706 (page 349) and Waltke 2007 (pages 437–438). In Hebrew, the word extending means “be/become far,” “distant.” In this clause part these words refer to the territory being enlarged.BDB #7368 (pages 934–935), UBS (pages 253–254), Waltke 2007 (page 438).

Here are some other ways to translate this clause part:

expanding your frontiers! (NJB)

your borders will be extended (NLT)

your boundaries enlarged (CEV)