Micah 7:4

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

טוֹבָ֣ם כְּחֵ֔דֶק יָשָׁ֖ר מִמְּסוּכָ֑ה י֤וֹם מְצַפֶּ֙יךָ֙ פְּקֻדָּתְךָ֣ בָ֔אָה עַתָּ֥ה תִהְיֶ֖ה מְבוּכָתָֽם׃

Transliteration

Their ṭôb like ḥēdeq, yāšār like məsûkāh; yôm your məṣappêkā your pəquddātəkā bāʾāh, now tihyeh their məbûkātām.

Grammar Details

*ṭôbām*: masculine singular adjective with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - their best/good one
*kə*: preposition - like/as
*ḥēdeq*: masculine singular noun - brier/thorn
*yāšār*: masculine singular adjective/noun - upright person/straight one
*min*: preposition - from/than/out of
*məsûkāh*: feminine singular noun - hedge/thorn hedge
*yôm*: masculine singular construct noun - day of
*məṣappêkā*: Piel participle, masculine plural with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your watchmen/lookouts
*pəquddātəkā*: feminine singular noun with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your punishment/visitation
*bāʾāh*: Qal perfect, 3rd person feminine singular - has come
*ʿattāh*: adverb - now
*tihyeh*: Qal imperfect, 3rd person feminine singular - will be
*məbûkātām*: feminine singular noun with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - their confusion/bewilderment

Word Meanings

*ṭôb*: good/best/most upright
*ḥēdeq*: brier/thorn/bramble
*yāšār*: upright person/straight one/honest person
*məsûkāh*: hedge/thorn hedge/barrier
*məṣappêkā*: your watchmen/lookouts/guards
*pəquddātəkā*: your punishment/visitation/judgment day
*məbûkātām*: their confusion/bewilderment/consternation

ℹ️

About this Translation

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: King James VersionBest for: Original-language word studies

🎯 Translation Approach

Classic King James Version text presented with Strong's numbering to link English words to their underlying Hebrew and Greek terms. Prioritizes literal/formal correspondence while enabling original-language word study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Each English term is keyed to a Strong's number, enabling direct lookup of the underlying Hebrew or Greek word.
KJV text basis: Employs the classic King James Version wording known for formal equivalence and literary style.
Study-focused layout: Optimized for research and analysis, prioritizing lexical access over uninterrupted readability.
Concordance compatibility: Strong's numbers map to widely available concordances and lexicons for deeper study.

✅ Strengths

Strong linkage to original Hebrew/Greek via Strong's numbers
High concordance with source wording
Well-suited for in-depth word studies and exegesis
Widely recognized and referenced KJV text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language can be difficult for modern readers
Reference numbers can disrupt continuous reading
Less suitable for public or devotional reading compared to modern translations

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Students of biblical languages
Pastors and teachers
Serious Bible students
Researchers needing lexical linkage
Readers preferring KJV tradition

Consider alternatives for

New believers
Casual devotional reading
Children and young readers
English language learners

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Isa 22:5 : 5 For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.
Ezek 2:6 : 6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
2 Sam 23:6-7 : 6 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands: 7 But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.
Isa 10:3 : 3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?
Ezek 12:23-24 : 23 Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision. 24 For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.
Hos 9:7-8 : 7 The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred. 8 The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.
Amos 8:2 : 2 And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.
Nah 1:10 : 10 For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
Luke 21:25 : 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Heb 6:8 : 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Isa 55:13 : 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Jer 8:12 : 12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
Jer 10:15 : 15 They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

Similar Verses (AI)

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