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
Amplified Bible
Birth of the King in Bethlehem
5 “Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops;
A state of siege has been placed against us.
They shall strike the ruler of Israel on the cheek with a rod (scepter).
2
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah;
From you One shall come forth for Me [who is] to be Ruler in Israel,
His goings forth (appearances) are from long ago,
From [a]ancient days.”(A)
3
Therefore, He will give them up until the time
When she who is in labor has given birth to a child.
Then what is left of His kinsmen
Shall return to the children of Israel.
4
And He shall stand and shepherd and guide His flock
In the strength of the Lord,
In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God;
And they shall dwell [secure in undisturbed peace],
Because at that time He shall be great [extending His authority]
[Even] to the ends of the earth.(B)
5
This One [the Messiah] shall be our peace.
When the Assyrian invades our land
And tramples on our citadels and in our palaces,
Then shall we raise against him
Seven shepherds and eight princes [an overpowering force] among men.(C)
6
They shall devastate the land of Assyria with the sword and
The land of Nimrod within her [own] gates.
And He (the Messiah) shall rescue us from the Assyrian (all enemy nations)
When he attacks our land
And when he tramples our territory.
7
Then the remnant of Jacob
Shall be among many peoples
Like dew from the Lord,
Like showers on the grass [a source of blessing]
Which [come suddenly and] do not wait for man
Nor delay for the sons of men.(D)
8
The remnant of Jacob
Shall be among the nations,
In the midst of many peoples
Like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
Like a young lion [suddenly appearing] among the flocks of sheep
Which, if he passes through,
Tramples down and tears into pieces [the nations in judgment],
And there is no one to rescue.
9
Your hand will be lifted up against your adversaries,
And all your enemies shall be cut off and destroyed.
10
“And in that day,” says the Lord,
“I will cut off your horses from among you
And destroy your chariots [on which you depend].(E)
11
“I will cut off the cities of your land
And tear down all your fortifications.
12
“I will cut off witchcrafts and sorceries from your hand,
And you shall have no more fortune-tellers.
13
“I will also cut off your carved images
And your sacred pillars from among you,
So that you will no longer worship and bow down
To the work of your hands.
14
“I will root out your Asherim (symbols of the goddess Asherah) from among you
And destroy your cities [which are the centers of pagan worship].(F)
15
“And in anger and wrath I shall execute vengeance
On the nations which have not obeyed [such vengeance as they have not known before].”
Footnotes
- Micah 5:2 Lit the days of eternity.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
