4:7 I will transform the lame into the nucleus of a new nation, 1
and those far off 2 into a mighty nation.
The Lord will reign over them on Mount Zion,
from that day forward and forevermore.” 3
4:8 As for you, watchtower for the flock, 4
fortress of Daughter Zion 5 –
your former dominion will be restored, 6
the sovereignty that belongs to Daughter Jerusalem.
1 tn Heb “make the lame into a remnant.”
2 tn The precise meaning of this difficult form is uncertain. The present translation assumes the form is a Niphal participle of an otherwise unattested denominative verb הָלָא (hala’, “to be far off”; see BDB 229 s.v.), but attractive emendations include הַנַּחֲלָה (hannakhalah, “the sick one[s]”) from חָלָה (khalah) and הַנִּלְאָה (hannil’ah, “the weary one[s]”) from לָאָה (la’ah).
3 tn Heb “from now until forever.”
4 tn Heb “Migdal-eder.” Some English versions transliterate this phrase, apparently because they view it as a place name (cf. NAB).
5 sn The city of David, located within Jerusalem, is addressed as Daughter Zion. As the home of the Davidic king, who was Israel’s shepherd (Ps 78:70-72), the royal citadel could be viewed metaphorically as the watchtower of the flock.
6 tn Heb “to you it will come, the former dominion will arrive.”