Micah 5
Expanded Bible
5 So, ·strong city [L daughter of troops], ·gather [marshal; muster] your ·soldiers [troops] together,
because we are ·surrounded and attacked [besieged].
They will ·hit [strike] the ·leader [ruler; judge] of Israel
·in the face [on the cheek] with a ·club [rod; or scepter].
The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are ·too small to be [or small; insignificant] among the ·army groups from [clans of] Judah,
from you will come one who will rule Israel for me [C the Messiah; Is. 9:1–7; 11:1–16; Matt. 2:6].
·He comes [His origins are; L His goings out are] from ·very old [ancient] times,
from days long ago.”
3 The Lord will ·give up [abandon] his people
until the one who is ·having a baby [in labor] gives birth;
then the rest of his ·relatives [brothers] will return
to the people of Israel.
4 At that time ·the ruler of Israel [L he] will stand
and ·take care of his people [L shepherd his flock]
with the Lord’s strength
and with the ·power [majesty] of the name of the Lord his God.
·The Israelites [L They] will live in safety,
because his greatness will reach ·all over [L to the ends of] the earth.
Rescue and Punishment
5 He will ·bring [L be] peace.
·Assyria will surely [or When the Assyrians…; or If the Assyrians should…] come into our ·country [land]
and ·walk over [march through] our ·large buildings [fortresses].
We will ·set up [raise against them] seven shepherds [C symbolic of completeness],
eight ·leaders [princes] of the people.
6 They will ·destroy [or rule; shepherd] the Assyrians with their swords;
they will ·conquer [or rule; shepherd] the land of ·Assyria [L Nimrod; C a famous hunter, said to have founded Assyria; Gen. 10:8–9] ·with their swords drawn [or at its gates].
They will rescue us from the Assyrians when they come into our land,
when they ·walk [march] over our borders.
7 Then the ·people of Jacob who are left alive [remnant of Jacob]
will be ·to other [L in the midst of many] people
like dew from the Lord
or ·rain [showers] on the grass—
it does not wait for human beings;
it does not pause for ·any person [L the sons/children of man/Adam].
8 ·Those of Jacob’s people who are left alive [The remnant of Jacob]
will be scattered among many nations and [L in the midst of many] peoples.
They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,
like a young lion in a flock of sheep:
As it goes, it jumps on them
and tears them to pieces,
and no one can ·save [rescue] them.
9 So ·you will raise your fist in victory [L your hand will be lifted] over your ·enemies [adversaries],
and all your enemies will be ·destroyed [L cut off].
10 The Lord says, “·At that time [L In that day],
I will ·take [L cut off; destroy] your horses from you
and destroy your chariots.
11 I will destroy the cities in your ·country [land]
and tear down all your ·defenses [strongholds; fortresses].
12 I will ·take away [destroy] ·the magic charms you use [your sorcery/witchcraft]
so you will have no more fortune-tellers.
13 I will destroy your ·statues of gods [carved images]
and the stone pillars you worship
so that you will no longer ·worship [bow down to]
what your hands have made.
14 I will ·tear down [uproot your] ·Asherah idols [L Asherahs; C sacred trees or poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah] from you
and destroy your cities.
15 In my anger and ·rage [wrath],
I will ·pay back [seek vengeance on] the nations that have not ·listened [obeyed].”
Micah 5
New American Standard Bible
Birth of the King in Bethlehem
5 “[a]Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops;
[b]They have laid siege against us;
With a rod they will (A)strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.
2 [c]But as for (B)you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From (C)you One will come forth for Me to be (D)ruler in Israel.
His times of coming forth are (E)from long ago,
From the days of eternity.”
3 Therefore He will (F)give them up until the time
When she (G)who is in labor has given birth.
Then the (H)remainder of His kinsmen
Will return to the sons of Israel.
4 And He will arise and (I)shepherd His flock
In the strength of the Lord,
In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.
And they will [d]remain,
Because [e]at that time He will be great
To the (J)ends of the earth.
5 This One (K)will be our peace.
When the (L)Assyrian invades our land,
When he tramples on our [f]citadels,
Then we will raise against him
Seven shepherds and eight leaders of people.
6 They will (M)shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,
The land of (N)Nimrod at its entrances;
And He will (O)rescue us from the Assyrian
When he invades our land,
And when he tramples our territory.
7 Then the (P)remnant of Jacob
Will be among many peoples
Like (Q)dew from the Lord,
Like (R)showers on vegetation
That do not wait for man,
Or delay for [g]mankind.
8 The remnant of Jacob
Will be among the nations,
Among many peoples
(S)Like a lion among the animals of the forest,
Like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
Which, if he passes through,
(T)Tramples and (U)tears,
And there is (V)no one who can rescue.
9 Your hand will be (W)lifted up against your adversaries,
And all your enemies will be eliminated.
10 “And it will be on that day,” declares the Lord,
“(X)That I will eliminate your (Y)horses from among you,
And destroy your chariots.
11 I will also eliminate the (Z)cities of your land,
And tear down all your (AA)fortifications.
12 I will eliminate (AB)sorceries from your hand,
And you will have no fortune-tellers.
13 (AC)I will eliminate your carved images
And your memorial stones from among you,
So that you will no longer bow down
To the work of your hands.
14 I will uproot your [h](AD)Asherim from among you,
And destroy your cities.
15 And I will (AE)execute vengeance in anger and wrath
On the nations which have not obeyed.”
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
