7:10
This verse talks about the result of the LORD’s action of saving his people. The enemy had previously taunted the people. But after the LORD saves them, the enemy will be shamed and disgraced. Throughout this verse, the New International Version and some versions use singular pronouns and nouns, such as “my enemy.” Other versions, such as the Revised English Bible, use plural forms such as “my enemies” (7:10a). In some languages, it may be confusing to use singular forms when the topic is the inhabitants and “the enemy” is a group of soldiers. If that is the case in your language, you should use plural forms.
7:10a
Then my enemy will see: This line refers back to the LORD’s vindication in 7:9. In Hebrew, the word see is used once in 7:9 and twice in this verse, with both literal and figurative meanings. Here the enemy will literally see with her own eyes that the LORD saves his people. The enemy will also see figuratively. She will “know” that the LORD is able to save his people, contrary to her taunt.
Then: This time word introduces the next event after the LORD’s vindication in 7:9e.
Here is another way to translate this word:
When my enemies see it (Revised English Bible)
my enemy: See the note on “my enemy” in 7:8a. That information and translation advice applies here also.
7:10b
and will be covered with shame: This line describes the reaction of the enemy to the LORD’s vindication of his people. The phrase covered with shame means that the enemy will be overwhelmed with feelings of confusion, embarrassment and dismay.
Here are some other ways to translate this line:
Now each of you will be disgraced and put to shame (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
and they will be ashamed (New Century Version)
she who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?”: This line indicates the reason why the enemy was covered with shame. It was because she had taunted the people of Jerusalem with these words. But afterwards, the LORD will prove that her taunt was mistaken when he vindicates his people.
The words she who refers back to “my enemy” in 7:10a. The phrase who said to me introduces the words that the enemy spoke to Jerusalem. In some languages it may be unnatural or confusing to use a relative pronoun here. Some of the examples at the end of this note show other translation options.
The question, “Where is the LORD your God?” is rhetorical. The expected answer of the question is “Nowhere.” The rhetorical question implied either that the LORD was not real or that he had no power to save them. The purpose of the question was to taunt or mock the LORD and the people of Jerusalem.
Here are some other ways to translate this line:
• Make explicit the referent of the relative pronoun, who. For example:
—the same enemies who taunted us by asking, “Where is the Lord your God?” (Good News Translation)
• Use a conjunction to introduce this line as a reason for the enemy’s shame. For example:
…because they asked me, ‘Where is the Lord your God?’ (God’s Word)
• Make this line a separate sentence. Allow the following lines, 7:10c–e, to make clear the reason for the enemy’s shame. For example:
They say to me, “Where is the Lord your God? (NET Bible)
-or-
You, my enemies, said, “The Lord God is helpless.” (Contemporary English Version)
7:10c–e
Notice that these three lines have the same topic:
10c My eyes will see her;
10d at that time she will be trampled
10e
like mud in the streets.
These lines describe what would happen to the enemy after she taunted the people of the LORD. The enemy would be defeated, and the people of the LORD would see it happen.
7:10c
My eyes will see her: This line is more literally “my eyes they will see her.” There are two main interpretations of this verse part:
(1) It means that the people of Jerusalem will witness the downfall of the enemy. For example:
With my own eyes I will see their downfall (New Living Translation (2004))
(2) It means that the people of Jerusalem will take pleasure in the downfall of the enemy. For example:
I will gloat over them. (NET Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most English versions. In Hebrew, the attitude of the people of Jerusalem is not made explicit here. It is best to leave it implied.
My eyes: This phrase may refer to literal eyes. However, the phrase is also a Hebrew expression for “I,” the one who sees. Some versions translate it as “I.” Either translation is acceptable. For example:
I shall be watching (New Jerusalem Bible)
The word “downfall” is supplied by several versions to make explicit what Jerusalem will see. The phrase “be trampled” means “defeat” or a change from a high to a low status. This kind of misfortune is indicated by the description in 10d–e.
Here are some ways to translate 7:10c:
• Translate literally. Leave implied what the eyes will see. For example:
My eyes will look on her (New American Standard Bible)
• Supply the word downfall or another word with a similar meaning. For example:
My eyes will see her downfall (New International Version)
-or-
We will see them defeated (Good News Translation)
7:10d–e
at that time she will be trampled like mud in the streets: This verse part describes the defeat of the enemy by her own enemies. It is a simile that compares the enemy to mud that people walk on. The simile implies total humiliation and weakness.
at that time: In Hebrew, this time word indicates the immediate future.
Here are some ways to translate this word:
• Use a word that means “immediately” or “in the near future.” For example:
now (English Standard Version)
-or-
very soon
• Translate as a future event. Leave implied how soon it will occur. For example:
They will get walked on (New Century Version)
-or-
as she is trampled (New Jerusalem Bible)
she will be trampled: In Hebrew, these words are more literally “she will become a trampling place.” This describes a location where people walk or step. In this simile that location is a street.
Here are some other ways to translate these words:
she will be trampled underfoot (New International Version)
-or-
she shall be for trampling (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
They will get walked on (New Century Version)
like mud in the streets: This part of the simile compares the “trampling place” to mud in the streets as on the streets of ancient towns. At that time streets of mud were filthy places where people dumped garbage and excrement. This comparison to mire was a very vivid way to depict how humiliating the defeat of the enemy was.
Here are some ways to translate 7:10d–e. If possible, keep this figure of speech in your translation, as in the first two bulleted options below:
• Keep the simile. For example:
even now she will be trampled underfoot like mire in the streets (New International Version)
• Change the simile into a metaphor. For example:
Now she will be brought low, no more than (or Now she will become) a street of mud under the feet of (or a street of mud stepped on by the feet of) those who will defeat her.
• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
Soon she will be completely humiliated by those who defeat her.
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