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Micah 5

World English Bible

WEB

1Now you shall gather yourself in troops, daughter of troops. He has laid siege against us. They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek. 2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me who is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times. 3Therefore he will abandon them until the time that she who is in labor gives birth. Then the rest of his brothers will return to the children of Israel. 4He shall stand, and shall shepherd in the strength of Yahweh, in the majesty of the name of Yahweh his God. They will live, for then he will be great to the ends of the earth. 5He will be our peace when Assyria invades our land and when he marches through our fortresses, then we will raise against him seven shepherds, and eight leaders of men. 6They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in its gates. He will deliver us from the Assyrian, when he invades our land, and when he marches within our border. 7The remnant of Jacob will be among many peoples like dew from Yahweh, like showers on the grass, that don’t wait for man nor wait for the sons of men. 8The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, among many peoples, like a lion among the animals of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep; who, if he goes through, treads down and tears in pieces, and there is no one to deliver. 9Let your hand be lifted up above your adversaries, and let all of your enemies be cut off. 10“It will happen in that day”, says Yahweh, “that I will cut off your horses from among you and will destroy your chariots. 11I will cut off the cities of your land and will tear down all your strongholds. 12I will destroy witchcraft from your hand. You shall have no soothsayers. 13I will cut off your engraved images and your pillars from among you; and you shall no more worship the work of your hands. 14I will uproot your Asherah poles from among you; and I will destroy your cities. 15I will execute vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations that didn’t listen.”

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Micah Chapter 5 presents a powerful prophecy concerning the coming Messiah, emphasizing his humble origins and divine authority. The chapter begins with a call to the people of #Israel, highlighting the siege of #Bethlehem, the birthplace of the future ruler. Despite being small among the clans of #Judah, Bethlehem is chosen by God to bring forth a leader who will shepherd His people. This prophecy is significant as it points to the fulfillment of God's promise to send a savior, as later confirmed in the New Testament with the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (Luke 2:4-7). The mention of Bethlehem connects the Messiah to the lineage of #David, reinforcing the covenantal promise made to him (2 Samuel 7:12-16).

The chapter continues to describe the characteristics of this ruler, stating that he will come forth for God’s people and will be a source of peace. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, demonstrating both authority and care. The prophecy also indicates that this ruler will be a beacon of hope, bringing security and restoration to Israel, which had been under threat from surrounding nations. The imagery of a shepherd resonates deeply within the biblical narrative, as it reflects God’s intimate relationship with His people and His commitment to their well-being. Ultimately, Micah 5 assures the faithful that God’s plan for redemption is unfolding, and the coming of the Messiah will bring about a new era of peace and security for His people. This chapter serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness to His promises and the hope that is found in Christ, the true shepherd of our souls.

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Referenced by

  1. Genesis 10:8-9v6Genesis 10:8-9 introduces Nimrod as a mighty hunter, which is later referenced in Micah 5:6 in the context of Assyria, a nation associated with Nimrod's legacy.
  2. Matthew 2:6v2Matthew 2:6 cites Micah 5:2 to show that the prophecy of the Messiah being born in Bethlehem is fulfilled in Jesus.
  3. John 7:40-42v2In John 7:40-42, the crowd debates whether Jesus is the Christ, questioning His origin. Micah 5:2 prophesies that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, which is a point of contention in the crowd's discussion.

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