complete verse (Isaiah 7:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 7:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “he may eat enough sour milk, because milk is in plenty. Any person who remains (alive), shall drink milk and eat honey.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “In this way there will be much milk and curds from them. So all the ones who had been abandoned and left behind in the land will have the chance to eat all the curds and honey.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “which is their only source of their milk. Milk and honey will-be the food of all who will-be-left in Juda.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “However, those animals will give plenty of milk, with the result that the farmer will have curds/yogurt to eat. And because there will not be many people left in the land, all the people who remain there will have plenty of milk and honey.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 7:21 - 7:22

Verses 21-22 speak of an abundance of what seems like good food (milk and honey) for the few survivors in the land. The interpretation of these verses is disputed. Which land is in view, and is the situation described good or bad? Given the general context in which these verses occur, there seems little doubt that the land is Judah, but translators should not make this explicit. Commentators are divided about whether these words describe a situation that is favorable or unfavorable. First of all, one cow and two sheep or goats is a very small herd. The reason they give so much milk is not mentioned. Is it because they have no young or because there is a lot of grass for them to eat? In addition to the abundant supply of milk, there seems to be plenty of honey from beehives. Finally, curds and honey may be the simple food that nomads eat, not the varied diet of a people settled on the land. A negative sense for these verses fits well with the general context of judgment and devastation that we find in chapter 7. No version seems to make this negative sense explicit, except perhaps Good News Translation, which hints at it by saying “the few survivors left in the land.” Commentators who give a positive sense to these verses link them to the blessing that comes to Judah from the defeat of the Syrian and Israelite armies, even if that is only temporary (see verse 16). Translators should render these verses without elaboration or comment. They may add a footnote. The footnote should point out that the interpretation of these verses is difficult, and it may hint at the fact that the abundance of milk and honey is not necessarily a sign of blessing.

In that day: See the comments on verse 18.

A man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep: The number of animals a farmer manages to keep alive will be very small. If the context is the invasion of the land by the Assyrian soldiers, then keeping a few cattle alive is probably a great achievement. A man in this context is a generic expression for any person. The Hebrew term rendered young cow usually refers to a heifer, but here it must refer to a cow since it can produce milk. Sheep translates the Hebrew term for small grazing animals, which include both sheep and goats. This term occurs here for the first time in Isaiah. Instead of sheep, Good News Translation, New International Version, Bible en français courant, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch have “goats.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “animals of the flock.” The specific kind of animal is not in focus here, but its ability to give milk. Translators may use either “sheep” or “goats” here. They should choose the one that is known best for giving milk.

And because of the abundance of milk which they give, he will eat curds: These few animals produce a lot of milk. As a result, the farmer is able to make curds. The curds can be seen either as a delicacy or as the simple food of nomads (see the comments on verse 15). For curds Good News Translation has “milk” and Contemporary English Version “yogurt,” as in verse 15. The clause he will eat curds is not in the Septuagint, but there is no other textual evidence for deleting it, so it should be kept. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project does not mention any textual problem here.

For every one that is left in the land will eat curds and honey: The Hebrew particle ki rendered for is probably an emphatic marker here, so Good News Translation translates it “Yes” (also Nouvelle Bible Segond). However, most translations omit it. The phrase will eat curds and honey links this passage with verse 15. As in verse 15, it is not clear whether curds and honey refers to a rich diet or to the simple diet of nomads. It will be the diet of those that are left in the land, that is, the refugees who are not taken into Assyrian exile.

Two translation examples for verses 21-22 are:

• 21 At that time no one will have more than one young cow and two sheep, 22 but those who do will have a lot of milk to make curds. Yes, everyone left in the land will enjoy a diet of curds and honey.

• 21 At that time anyone who manages to keep a young cow and two goats alive 22 will have a great deal of milk to make curds. Everyone left behind in the land will eat curds and honey.

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 .