Micah 4:4

4 And a man shall sit under his vineyard, and under his fig tree; and there shall not be that shall make afeared (and there shall be no one and nothing that shall make him afraid), for the mouth of the Lord of hosts spake.

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 peoples shall hasten, and shall say, Come ye, ascend we to the hill of the Lord, and to the house of God of Jacob; and he shall teach us of his ways, and we shall go in his paths. For the law shall go out from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem; (yea, many people shall hasten there, and shall say, Come ye, go we up to the hill of the Lord, and to the House of the God of Jacob/Come ye, let us go up the hill of the Lord, to the House of the God of Jacob; and he shall teach us his ways, and we shall go on his paths. For the Law shall go out from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem;)

3 and he shall deem betwixt many peoples, and shall chastise strong folks till into far. And they shall beat together their swords into shares1, and their spears into pickaxes; folk shall not take sword against folk, and they shall no more learn to fight. (and he shall judge between many peoples, and shall chastise, or shall discipline, strong nations afar off. And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pickaxes; yea, nation shall not take up sword against nation, and they shall no more prepare for battle.)

4 And a man shall sit under his vineyard, and under his fig tree; and there shall not be that shall make afeared (and there shall be no one and nothing that shall make him afraid), for the mouth of the Lord of hosts spake.

5 For all peoples shall go, each man in the name of his Lord God; but we shall walk in the name of our Lord God into the world, and over. (For all peoples go forth, each person in the name of their god; but we shall walk in the name of the Lord our God, forever and ever.)

6 In that day, saith the Lord, I shall gather the halting, and I shall gather her that I casted away, and whom I tormented I shall strengthen. (On that day, saith the Lord, I shall gather together the halt, or the lame, and those whom I have cast away, and I shall strengthen those whom I tormented.)