complete verse (Micah 5:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Micah 5:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “I shall destroy the cities in your land.
    I shall overthrow your cities that are guarded.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “I will destroy the cities of your country
    and your fortresses will be torn down.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “I will-destroy your (plur.) cities including the stone-walls surrounding it.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “I will tear down your city walls
    and destroy all your fortified cities.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Micah 5:11

Verse 11 continues on the same theme, with a further threat to destroy the cities in your land and tear down all your defenses. It may be that this verse is really using a double expression to speak of a single object: cities and defenses together may simply mean “fortified cities.” The word translated defenses means any place that has been fortified or strengthened to make it easy to defend against an enemy army. It can refer both to places in the mountains that have been fortified, and to fortified cities.

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 .