Micah 5

The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem

1 ^[a] Now muster your troops, O daughter^[b] of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod ¹they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.

2 ^[c]2But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of ³Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ⁴ruler in Israel, ⁵whose coming forth is ⁶from of old, from ancient days.

3 Therefore he shall give them up ⁷until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then ⁸the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.

4 And he shall stand ⁹and shepherd his flock ¹⁰in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now ¹¹he shall be great to the ends of the earth.

5 And he shall be ¹²their peace.¹³When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven ¹⁴shepherds and eight princes of men;

6 they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of ¹⁵Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian ¹⁶when he comes into our land and treads within our border.

A Remnant Shall Be Delivered

7 Then ¹⁷the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which delay not for a man nor wait for the children of man.

8 And ¹⁸the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, ¹⁹which, when it goes through, treads down and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver.

9 Your hand shall ²⁰be lifted up over your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off.

10 And ²¹in that day, declares the LORD, ²²I will cut off your horses from among you and will destroy your chariots;

11 ²³and I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds;

12 and I will cut off ²⁴sorceries from your hand, and ²⁵you shall have no more tellers of fortunes;

13 and ²⁶I will cut off your carved images and ²⁷your pillars from among you, ²⁸and you shall bow down no more to the work of your hands;

14 and I will root out your ²⁹Asherah images from among you ³⁰and destroy your cities.

15 And in anger and wrath ³¹I will execute vengeance on the nations that did not obey.

Micah 5 Commentary

Chapter 5

The birth of Christ and conversion of the Gentiles. (1-6) The triumphs of Israel. (7-15)

Verses 1-6 Having showed how low the house of David would be brought, a prediction of the Messiah and his kingdom is added to encourage the faith of God's people. His existence from eternity as God, and his office as Mediator, are noticed. Here is foretold that Bethlehem should be his birthplace. Hence it was universally known among the Jews, ( Matthew 2:5 ) . Christ's government shall be very happy for his subjects; they shall be safe and easy. Under the shadow of protection from the Assyrians, is a promise of protection to the gospel church and all believers, from the designs and attempts of the powers of darkness. Christ is our Peace as a Priest, making atonement for sin, and reconciling us to God; and he is our Peace as a King, conquering our enemies: hence our souls may dwell at ease in him. Christ will find instruments to protect and deliver. Those that threaten ruin to the church of God, soon bring ruin on themselves. This may include the past powerful effects of the preached gospel, its future spread, and the ruin of all antichristian powers. This is, perhaps, the most important single prophecy in the Old Testament: it respects the personal character of the Messiah, and the discoveries of himself to the world. It distinguishes his human birth from his existing from eternity; it foretells the rejection of the Israelites and Jews for a season, their final restoration, and the universal peace to prevail through the whole earth in the latter days. In the mean time let us trust our Shepherd's care and power. If he permits the assault of our enemies, he will supply helpers and assistance for us.

Verses 7-15 The remnant of Israel, converted to Christ in the primitive times, were among many nations as the drops of dew, and were made instruments in calling a large increase of spiritual worshippers. But to those who neglected or opposed this salvation, they would, as lions, cause terror, their doctrine condemning them. The Lord also declares that he would cause not only the reformation of the Jews, but the purification of the Christian church. In like manner shall we be assured of victory in our personal conflicts, as we simply depend upon the Lord our salvation, worship him, and serve him with diligence.

Cross References

• 1. See 1 Kings 22:24
• 2. Cited Matthew 2:6; [John 7:42]
• 3. [Hebrews 7:14]
• 4. [Genesis 49:10; Isaiah 9:6, 7; Jeremiah 30:21; Zechariah 9:9]
• 5. Hosea 6:3
• 6. Psalms 90:2; [Proverbs 8:22, 23; John 1:1]
• 7. [Micah 4:9, 10]
• 8. [Micah 4:7]
• 9. Isaiah 40:11; [Micah 7:14]
• 10. See Isaiah 11:3-5
• 11. Psalms 72:8; Isaiah 52:13; Luke 1:32
• 12. [Isaiah 9:6; Zechariah 9:10; Ephesians 2:14]
• 13. [2 Kings 18:13]
• 14. [Isaiah 3:2, 3]
• 15. Gen. 10:8, 10, 11
• 16. [See ver. 5 above]
• 17. [See ver. 3 above]
• 18. [See ver. 3 above]
• 19. [Hosea 5:14]
• 20. Isaiah 26:11
• 21. [Micah 4:1, 6]
• 22. Zechariah 9:10; [Isaiah 2:7; Haggai 2:22]
• 23. ver. 14; Isaiah 17:9; Isaiah 27:10; [Hosea 8:14; Zechariah 2:4]
• 24. [2 Kings 9:22]
• 25. Deuteronomy 18:10; [Isaiah 2:6]
• 26. Zechariah 13:2
• 27. Hosea 3:4
• 28. [Isaiah 17:8]
• 29. Exodus 34:13; See Deuteronomy 16:21
• 30. [See ver. 11 above]
• 31. [ver. 8; Psalms 149:7; 2 Thessalonians 1:8]

Footnotes

• [a]. Ch 4:14 in Hebrew
• [b]. That is, city
• [c]. Ch 5:1 in Hebrew

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO MICAH 5

This chapter begins with a prophecy of the siege of Jerusalem, Mic 5:1; and then follows another concerning the place of the Messiah's birth, Mic 5:2; and of the case of the Jews, either before or after it, Mic 5:3; and of Christ's office as a shepherd, and of his grandeur in the world, Mic 5:4; and of his being a peacemaker, and protector of his people from their enemies, Mic 5:5,6; and of his people, the great increase of them, and their usefulness, and also of their courage, strength, and prowess, Mic 5:7-9; likewise that the Lord will remove from them their vain confidence, and all occasion of it, and whatsoever illicit arts and practices were found among them; and all idolatry, and the instruments of it, Mic 5:10-14; and the chapter is concluded with a threatening of vengeance to the Heathens, Mic 5:15.