Micah 4:4

4 ¹but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, ²and no one shall make them afraid, ³for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.

Micah 4:4 Meaning and Commentary

Micah 4:4

But they shall sit every man under his vine, and under his fig
tree
A proverbial phrase, expressive of the greatest tranquillity, security, and enjoyment of property; see ( 1 Kings 4:25 ) ; when persons need not keep within their walled towns and cities, and lack themselves up in their houses, but may sit down in their gardens, fields, and vineyards, and enjoy the fruit thereof; as the Targum interprets it,

``under the fruit of his vine, and under, the fruit of his fig tree.''

It was usual for persons in the eastern countries to sit under vines and fig trees to read, meditate, pray, or converse together, where they grow very large, as were their vines; and even with us they are frequently raised and carried over supporters, so as to be sat under; and of fig trees, we frequently read in Jewish writings of their being very large, and of their going up to them, and praying on the top of them; and of sitting under them, and studying in the law there. So one of the Rabbins says ^F16, he went up into his mustard tree, as one goes up to the top of a fig tree; and it is said ^F17, he that prays on the top of an olive tree, or on the top of a fig tree must come down, and pray below; and again ^F18, R. Jacob and his companions were fasting, studying in the law, under a certain fig tree; and sometimes they speak of all these together, of sitting under olives, and under vines, and under fig trees, and studying in the words of the law ^F19; see ( John 1:48 ) . This is to be understood, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi explain it, of all men; not of the Israelites only, but of all nations, since there will be no more war any where; hence it follows: and none shall make [them] afraid;
the enemies of God's people will be no more, neither Turk nor pope, eastern or western antichrist, beast or, false prophet; wherefore, in those days of the Messiah, Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely, even all the spiritual Israel of God, Jews and Gentiles; there shall be none to hurt in the holy mountain of the Lord, or any violence and oppression, wasting and destruction, anywhere; see ( Jeremiah 23:5 ) ( Isaiah 11:9 ) ( 60:18 ) ; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken [it];
who speaks nothing but truth, and who is able and faithful to perform what he has spoken; and therefore all this may be depended on.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 T. Hieros. Peah, c. 7. fol. 20. 2.
F17 T. Hieros. Beracot, c. 2. fol. 5. 1.
F18 Ib. col. 3.
F19 Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 16. 4.

Micah 4:4 In-Context

2 and many nations shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

3 He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore;

4 but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.

5 For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.

6 In that day, declares the LORD, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted;

Cross References

• 1. See 1 Kings 4:25
• 2. Isaiah 17:2
• 3. See Isaiah 1:20