Micah 5:1-4

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] 2}But 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.

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. 5:1 See 1 Kgs. 22:24
• 2. 5:2 Cited Matt. 2:6; [John 7:42]
• 3. 5:2 [Heb. 7:14]
• 4. 5:2 [Gen. 49:10; Isa. 9:6, 7; Jer. 30:21; Zech. 9:9]
• 5. 5:2 Hos. 6:3
• 6. 5:2 Ps. 90:2; [Prov. 8:22, 23; John 1:1]
• 7. 5:3 [ch. 4:9, 10]
• 8. 5:3 [ch. 4:7]
• 9. 5:4 Isa. 40:11; [ch. 7:14]
• 10. 5:4 See Isa. 11:3-5
• 11. 5:4 Ps. 72:8; Isa. 52:13; Luke 1:32

Footnotes

• [a] 5:1 Ch 4:14 in Hebrew
• [b] 5:1 That is, city
• [c] 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Hebrew