Micah 5:5-9
New English Translation
5 He will give us peace.[a]
Should the Assyrians try to invade our land
and attempt to set foot in our fortresses,[b]
we will send[c] against them seven[d] shepherd-rulers,[e]
make that eight commanders.[f]
6 They will rule[g] the land of Assyria with the sword,
the land of Nimrod[h] with a drawn sword.[i]
Our king[j] will rescue us from the Assyrians
should they attempt to invade our land
and try to set foot in our territory.
7 Those survivors from[k] Jacob will live[l]
in the midst of many nations.[m]
They will be like the dew the Lord sends,
like the rain on the grass,
that does not hope for men to come
or wait around for humans to arrive.[n]
8 Those survivors from Jacob will live among the nations,
in the midst of many peoples.
They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,
like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,
which attacks when it passes through.
It rips its prey[o] and there is no one to stop it.[p]
9 Lift your hand triumphantly against your adversaries;[q]
may all your enemies be destroyed![r]
Footnotes
- Micah 5:5 tn Heb “and this one will be peace”; ASV “and this man shall be our peace” (cf. Eph 2:14).
- Micah 5:5 tc Some prefer to read “in our land,” emending the text to בְּאַדְמָתֵנוּ (beʾadmatenu).
- Micah 5:5 tn Heb “raise up.”
- Micah 5:5 sn The numbers seven and eight here symbolize completeness and emphasize that Israel will have more than enough military leadership and strength to withstand the Assyrian advance.
- Micah 5:5 tn Heb “shepherds.”
- Micah 5:5 tn Heb “and eight leaders of men.”
- Micah 5:6 tn Or perhaps “break”; or “defeat.”
- Micah 5:6 sn According to Gen 10:8-12, Nimrod, who was famous as a warrior and hunter, founded Assyria.
- Micah 5:6 tc The MT reads בִּפְתָחֶיהָ (biftakheha) “in her gates,” but the text should be emended to בַּפְּתִיחָה (bappetikhah) “with a drawn sword.”
- Micah 5:6 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the coming king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Micah 5:7 tn Heb “the remnant of” (also in v. 8).
- Micah 5:7 tn Heb “will be.”
- Micah 5:7 tn This could mean “(scattered) among the nations” (cf. CEV, NLT) or “surrounded by many nations” (cf. NRSV).
- Micah 5:7 tn Heb “that does not hope for man, and does not wait for the sons of men.”sn Men wait eagerly for the dew and the rain, not vice versa. Just as the dew and rain are subject to the Lord, not men, so the remnant of Israel will succeed by the supernatural power of God and not need the support of other nations. There may even be a military metaphor here. Israel will overwhelm their enemies, just as the dew completely covers the grass (see 2 Sam 17:12). This interpretation would be consistent with the image of v. 7.
- Micah 5:8 tn The words “its prey” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
- Micah 5:8 tn Heb “and there is no deliverer.”
- Micah 5:9 tn Heb “let your hand be lifted against your adversaries.”
- Micah 5:9 tn Heb “be cut off.”
Micah 5:5-9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
5 and he shall be the one of peace.
If the Assyrians come into our land
and tread upon our soil,[a]
we will raise against them seven shepherds
and eight rulers.(A)
6 They shall rule the land of Assyria with the sword
and the land of Nimrod with the drawn sword;[b]
they[c] shall rescue us from the Assyrians
if they come into our land
or tread within our border.(B)
The Future Role of the Remnant
7 Then the remnant of Jacob,
surrounded by many peoples,
shall be like dew from the Lord,
like showers on the grass,
which do not depend upon people
or wait for any mortal.(C)
8 And among the nations the remnant of Jacob,
surrounded by many peoples,
shall be like a lion among the animals of the forest,
like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,
which, when it goes through, treads down
and tears in pieces, with no one to deliver.(D)
9 Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries,
and all your enemies shall be cut off.(E)
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