As noted before, the phrase In that day is typical of prophetic writing, referring to a general time in the future (see the comments on 2.11). However, although it refers to a future event here, most versions take it as a specific reference to the time when Moab will be destroyed (25.10-12; see 25.9 for a similar example). When that moment arrives, the people of Judah will sing in celebration. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version, however, take the expression to have its usual, undefined future reference.

This song will be sung in the land of Judah: This passive expression may be rendered as an active one by saying “people throughout Judah will sing this song” (similarly Good News Translation).

Many versions (Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) place the words of the song, verses 1b-6, between quotation marks. Some languages may have other devices to indicate the actual words of the song.

We have a strong city: The Hebrew adjective translated strong has been used earlier, for example, in 19.4 (“fierce king”) and in 25.3 (“strong peoples”). Here it is used to describe Jerusalem as a well-defended city.

He sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks is literally “salvation he sets up walls and bulwarks.” God’s saving acts protect the city of Jerusalem. This contrasts with what he will do to the Moabite cities (see 25.12). Good News Translation and New International Version make explicit that the pronoun he refers to “God.” The specific meaning of the Hebrew word for salvation in the present context is difficult to determine. It is rendered “safety” in New Jerusalem Bible and Revised English Bible, and “victory” in New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh. Bible en français courant and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch speak of “protection” (similarly Good News Translation). In the Old Testament salvation usually has the sense of “rescue” (see 25.9). So here it probably refers to God protecting his people in the same way as walls and bulwarks offer protection and security to a city. For city walls see 2.15. Bulwarks (also called ramparts) are fortifications of the walls. They are often steep banks that protect the lower part of the walls. For walls and bulwarks, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh suggests “inner and outer wall,” and Bible en français courant has “walls and pre-walls.” These are good models, but for translators who have difficulty finding terms to make such distinctions, they may simply say “walls,” as in Good News Translation. For this whole line Good News Translation has “God himself defends its walls.” Its rendering does not understand the walls and bulwarks as metaphors for God’s protection, but as the actual walls of Jerusalem. This is a valid option.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• At that time this song will be sung throughout Judah:
“Our city is strong,
Yahweh has set its inner and outer walls for our protection.

• At that time people will sing this song in Judah:
“We have a strong city;
God protects us like walls and ramparts.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .