Micah 5

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.

5 This One ¹¹will be our peace. When the ¹²Assyrian invades our land, When he tramples on our citadels, Then we will raise against him Seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.

6 They will ¹³shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, The land of ¹⁴Nimrod at its entrances; And He will ¹⁵deliver us from the Assyrian When he attacks our land And when he tramples our territory.

7 Then the ¹⁶remnant of Jacob Will be among many peoples Like ¹⁷dew from the LORD, Like ¹⁸showers on vegetation Which do not wait for man Or delay for the sons of men.

8 The remnant of Jacob Will be among the nations, Among many peoples ¹⁹Like a lion among the beasts of the forest, Like a young lion among flocks of sheep, Which, if he passes through, ²⁰Tramples down and ²¹tears, And there is ²²none to rescue.

9 Your hand will be ²³lifted up against your adversaries, And all your enemies will be cut off.

10 "It will be in that day," declares the LORD, "²⁴That I will cut off your ²⁵horses from among you And destroy your chariots.

11 "I will also cut off the ²⁶cities of your land And tear down all your ²⁷fortifications.

12 "I will cut off ²⁸sorceries from your hand, And you will have fortune-tellers no more.

13 "²⁹I will cut off your carved images And your sacred pillars from among you, So that you will no longer bow down To the work of your hands.

14 "I will root out your ³⁰Asherim from among you And destroy your cities.

15 "And I will ³¹execute vengeance in anger and wrath On the nations which have not obeyed."

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. 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
• 11. Isaiah 9:6; Luke 2:14; Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 1:20
• 12. Isaiah 8:7, 8; Isaiah 10:24-27
• 13. Nahum 2:11-13; Zephaniah 2:13
• 14. Genesis 10:8-11
• 15. Isaiah 14:25; Isaiah 37:36, 37
• 16. Micah 2:12; Micah 4:7; Micah 5:3; Micah 7:18
• 17. Deuteronomy 32:2; Psalms 110:3; Hosea 14:5
• 18. Psalms 72:6; Isaiah 44:3
• 19. Genesis 49:9; Numbers 24:9
• 20. Psalms 44:5; Isaiah 41:15, 16; Micah 4:13; Zechariah 10:5
• 21. Hosea 5:14
• 22. Psalms 50:22
• 23. Psalms 10:12; Psalms 21:8; Isaiah 26:11
• 24. Zechariah 9:10
• 25. Deuteronomy 17:16; Isaiah 2:7; Hosea 14:3
• 26. Isaiah 1:7; Isaiah 6:11
• 27. Isaiah 2:12-17; Hosea 10:14; Amos 5:9
• 28. Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Isaiah 2:6; Isaiah 8:19
• 29. Isaiah 2:18; Isaiah 17:8; Ezekiel 6:9
• 30. Exodus 34:13; Isaiah 17:8; Isaiah 27:9
• 31. Isaiah 1:24; Isaiah 65:12

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"
• [g]. Or "palaces"
• [h]. I.e. wooden symbols of a female deity

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.