Micah 5

King James Version

Full text for Micah Chapter 5

1¶ Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.

2But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting.

3Therefore will he give them up, until the time [that] she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

4And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.

5And this [man] shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.

6And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver [us] from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.

7¶ And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.

8And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

9Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.

10And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:

11And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:

12And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no [more] soothsayers:

13Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.

14And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.

15And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Micah 5 begins with Israel facing siege and humiliation, yet prophesies the emergence of a divine ruler from Bethlehem Ephratah, whose origins are from everlasting. This ruler will bring peace, deliver Israel from the Assyrian, and shepherd his people in the Lord's strength. The remnant of Jacob will be both a blessing and a terror among nations, while the Lord will purge Israel of its idolatry and military might, executing vengeance upon the heathen.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with a depiction of Israel, the "daughter of troops," under siege, with its judge smitten in humiliation. However, a prophecy declares that a ruler, whose goings forth are "from of old, from everlasting," will come forth from Bethlehem Ephratah to shepherd Israel. The Lord will allow a period of distress until this ruler is born, after which the remnant of his brethren shall return. This ruler will stand and feed his people in the strength and majesty of the Lord, bringing peace and raising up leaders to defeat the Assyrian invader. The remnant of Jacob will be like a refreshing dew to many peoples, yet also like a formidable lion among the Gentiles. Finally, the Lord promises to remove Israel's military strength, destroy its fortified cities, and purge all forms of witchcraft, idolatry, and false worship from its midst, while executing fierce vengeance upon the heathen nations.

Long Summary

Micah 5 commences with a stark image of Israel, addressed as the "daughter of troops," gathered for siege, facing the profound humiliation of its judge being smitten with a rod upon the cheek. Amidst this impending distress, a pivotal prophecy is delivered: a ruler for Israel shall come forth from Bethlehem Ephratah, a seemingly insignificant town. This promised ruler is described with profound theological depth, as his "goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting," highlighting his eternal and divine nature. The Lord will allow a period of abandonment for His people until the time of this ruler's birth, after which the remnant of his brethren will return to the children of Israel. This future ruler will stand and feed his flock in the strength and majesty of the Lord, and his greatness will extend "unto the ends of the earth." He is identified as the source of peace, particularly in the face of the Assyrian invasion, when Israel will raise up seven shepherds and eight principal men to defeat the enemy and lay waste to the lands of Assyria and Nimrod. The remnant of Jacob is then portrayed with a dual nature: first, as a life-giving "dew from the LORD" and "showers upon the grass" among many peoples, independent of human effort. Second, this remnant will be like a formidable "lion among the beasts of the forest" to the Gentiles, capable of treading down and tearing apart without resistance. The Lord further promises to empower Israel against its adversaries, ensuring their enemies are cut off. A significant portion of the chapter details the Lord's future actions within Israel itself: He will dismantle their military strength by cutting off horses and chariots, and destroy their fortified cities and strongholds. Furthermore, He will purge the land of all forms of idolatry, including witchcrafts, soothsayers, graven images, standing images, and groves, ensuring Israel no longer worships the work of its own hands. The chapter concludes with the Lord's declaration to execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen nations, a judgment of unprecedented severity.

Core Concepts

  • The Bethlehem RulerThe chapter prophesies the emergence of a ruler for Israel from Bethlehem Ephratah, a seemingly small town. This ruler's origins are described as being "from of old, from everlasting," indicating his eternal and divine nature.
  • Divine DeliveranceDespite initial humiliation and siege, the Lord promises deliverance from the Assyrian through the coming ruler and the raising of strong leaders. This deliverance will involve the defeat and wasting of the enemy's land.
  • The Remnant of JacobThe remnant of Jacob is depicted with a dual role among nations: as a refreshing and life-giving dew, and as a powerful and destructive lion. They will be both a blessing and a formidable force.
  • Purging Idolatry and Military MightThe Lord declares His intention to remove all forms of idolatry, witchcraft, and soothsaying from Israel. He will also destroy their military strength (horses, chariots) and fortified cities, ensuring reliance solely on Him.
  • Eternal Origins of the RulerA key theological point is the description of the Bethlehem ruler's "goings forth" as being "from of old, from everlasting." This emphasizes his pre-existence and divine nature, transcending human lineage.
  • Vengeance on the HeathenThe chapter concludes with a strong declaration of the Lord's intent to execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen nations. This judgment will be of a severity previously unheard of.