Micah 5:1-4

Birth of the King in Bethlehem

1 "Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops; They have laid siege against us; With a rod they will ¹smite the judge of Israel on the cheek.

2 "But as for ²you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From ³you One will go forth for Me to be ⁴ruler in Israel. His goings forth are ⁵from long ago, From the days of eternity."

3 Therefore He will ⁶give them up until the time When she ⁷who is in labor has borne a child. Then the ⁸remainder of His brethren Will return to the sons of Israel.

4 And He will arise and ⁹shepherd His flock In the strength of the LORD, In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ¹⁰ends of the earth.

Micah 5:1-4 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Kings 22:24; Job 16:10; Lamentations 3:30
• 2. Genesis 35:19; Genesis 48:7; Ruth 4:11; Matthew 2:6
• 3. Isaiah 11:1; Luke 2:4; John 7:42
• 4. Jeremiah 30:21; Zechariah 9:9
• 5. Psalms 102:25; Proverbs 8:22, 23
• 6. Hosea 11:8; Micah 4:10; Micah 7:13
• 7. Micah 4:9, 10
• 8. Isaiah 10:20-22; Micah 5:7, 8
• 9. Isaiah 40:11; Isaiah 49:9; Ezek 34:13-15, 23, 24; Micah 7:14
• 10. Isaiah 45:22; Isaiah 52:10

Footnotes

• [a]. Ch 4:14 in Heb
• [b]. Lit "He has"
• [c]. Ch 5:1 in Heb
• [d]. Or "His appearances are from long ago, from days of old"
• [e]. Or "live" in safety
• [f]. Lit "now"