Micah 7:11

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Micah 7:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “A day for building thy walls! in that day shall the decree be far removed.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

A day for building thy walls! in that day shall the decree be far removed.
Micah 7:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Micah 7

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11A day for building thy walls! in that day shall the decree be far removed.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“[In] the day that thy walls are to be built, etc.] These words are not spoken to the enemy, as some think; either the Chaldeans, the walls of whose city, Babylon, being demolished by the Persians, it would be a long day or time before they were rebuilt and when their power of sending their decrees abroad among the nations would be far off: or to the enemy that should think to build up their walls with the spoils of Israel, in the time of Gog and Magog, and when their decree determined over the nations and Israel would also be far off; but they are the words of the prophet to the church and people of God, comforting them with observing, that there would be a day when the walls of Jerusalem,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“thy walls . . . be built--under Cyrus, after the seventy years' captivity; and again, hereafter, when the Jews shall be restored (Amo 9:11; Zac 12:6). shall the decree be far removed--namely, thy tyrannical decree or rule of Babylon shall be put away from thee, "the statutes that were not good" (Eze 20:25) [CALVIN]. Psa 102:13-16; Isa 9:4. The Hebrew is against MAURER'S translation, "the boundary of the city shall be far extended," so as to contain the people flocking into it from all nations (Mic 7:12; Isa 49:20; Isa 54:2).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“On this confession of unworthiness and trust the message of joy bursts in, with the abruptness and conciseness of Hosea or Nahum: A day to build thy fences; (that is, cometh;) That day, far shall be the degree; That day, and he shall come quite to thee; And there follows, in a longer but still remarkably measured and interrupted cadence, the statement of the length and breadth from which the people shall come to her; Up to and from Assyria and the cities of strong-land (Egypt;) Up to and from strong-land and even to river (the Euphrates;) And sea from sea, and mountain to mountain. It is not human might or strength which God promises to restore. He had before predicted, that the kingdom of…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thy walls - O Jerusalem. The decree - Of Artaxerxes, which forbad the re - building of the temple. Removed - Abolished. Micah 7:12”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“7:11-12 That day includes (1) 538 BC, when Israel began to return from exile in Babylon (see Ezra 1–2); and (2) the final restoration of God’s people (see Amos 9:11-15). As the nations flow to a renewed Israel, God’s purposes through Abraham will be fulfilled (Gen 12:3).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the day: Neh 2:17, 3:1-16, Neh 4:3, Neh 4:6; Dan 9:25; Amo 9:11-15 shall: Ezr 4:12-24; Neh 2:8 Micah 7:12”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The confident expectation rises in Mic 7:11 ff. into an assurance of the promise; the words of the prophet in the name of the church rising into an address to Zion, confirm its hope by the promise of the restoration of Zion, and the entrance of crowds of people into the city of God. Mic 7:11. "A day to build thy walls (cometh); in that day will the ordinance be far away. Mic 7:12. In that day will they come to thee from Asshur and the cities of Egypt, and from Egypt to the river, and (to) sea from sea, and (from) mountain to mountain. Mic 7:13. And the earth will become a desert because of its inhabitants, for the fruit of their doings." Mic 7:11 consists of two clauses; for we may easily…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification