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]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.

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. 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

Footnotes

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