Bible Gateway passage: Micah 5 - New International Version (2024)

A Promised Ruler From Bethlehem

5^[a]Marshal your troops now, city of troops,
for a siege is laid against us.
They will strike Israel’s ruler
on the cheek^(A) with a rod.

²“But you, Bethlehem^(B) Ephrathah,^(C)
though you are small among the clans^[b] of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler^(D) over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,^(E)
from ancient times.”^(F)

³Therefore Israel will be abandoned^(G)
until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.

⁴He will stand and shepherd his flock^(H)
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness^(I)
will reach to the ends of the earth.

⁵And he will be our peace^(J)
when the Assyrians invade^(K) our land
and march through our fortresses.
We will raise against them seven shepherds,
even eight commanders,^(L)
6who will rule^[c] the land of Assyria with the sword,
the land of Nimrod^(M) with drawn sword.^[d](N)
He will deliver us from the Assyrians
when they invade our land
and march across our borders.^(O)

⁷The remnant^(P) of Jacob will be
in the midst of many peoples
like dew^(Q) from the Lord,
like showers on the grass,^(R)
which do not wait for anyone
or depend on man.
⁸The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,
in the midst of many peoples,
like a lion among the beasts of the forest,^(S)
like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
which mauls and mangles^(T) as it goes,
and no one can rescue.^(U)
9Your hand will be lifted up^(V) in triumph over your enemies,
and all your foes will be destroyed.

¹⁰“In that day,” declares the Lord,

“I will destroy your horses from among you
and demolish your chariots.^(W)
11I will destroy the cities^(X) of your land
and tear down all your strongholds.^(Y)
12I will destroy your witchcraft
and you will no longer cast spells.^(Z)
13I will destroy your idols^(AA)
and your sacred stones from among you;^(AB)
you will no longer bow down
to the work of your hands.^(AC)
14I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles^[e](AD)
when I demolish your cities.
¹⁵I will take vengeance^(AE) in anger and wrath
on the nations that have not obeyed me.”

Footnotes

1. Micah 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1 is numbered 4:14, and 5:2-15 is numbered 5:1-14.
2. Micah 5:2 Or rulers
3. Micah 5:6 Or crush
4. Micah 5:6 Or Nimrod in its gates
5. Micah 5:14 That is, wooden symbols of the goddess Asherah

Cross references

1. Micah 5:1 : La 3:30
2. Micah 5:2 : S Jn 7:42
3. Micah 5:2 : S Ge 35:16; S 48:7
4. Micah 5:2 : S Nu 24:19; S 1Sa 13:14; S 2Sa 6:21; S 2Ch 7:18
5. Micah 5:2 : Ps 102:25
6. Micah 5:2 : Mt 2:6*
7. Micah 5:3 : S Jer 7:29
8. Micah 5:4 : Isa 40:11; 49:9; S Eze 34:11-15, 23; Mic 7:14
9. Micah 5:4 : Isa 52:13; Lk 1:32
10. Micah 5:5 : S Isa 9:6; S Lk 2:14; Col 1:19-20
11. Micah 5:5 : Isa 8:7
12. Micah 5:5 : Isa 10:24-27
13. Micah 5:6 : Ge 10:8
14. Micah 5:6 : Zep 2:13
15. Micah 5:6 : Na 2:11-13
16. Micah 5:7 : S Am 5:15; S Mic 2:12
17. Micah 5:7 : S Ps 133:3
18. Micah 5:7 : Isa 44:4
19. Micah 5:8 : S Ge 49:9
20. Micah 5:8 : Mic 4:13; Zec 10:5
21. Micah 5:8 : S Ps 50:22; S Isa 5:29; S Hos 5:14
22. Micah 5:9 : S Ps 10:12
23. Micah 5:10 : Ex 15:4, 19; S Hos 14:3; Hag 2:22; Zec 9:10
24. Micah 5:11 : S Dt 29:23; Isa 6:11
25. Micah 5:11 : S La 2:2; S Hos 10:14; Am 5:9
26. Micah 5:12 : Dt 18:10-12; Isa 2:6; 8:19
27. Micah 5:13 : Na 1:14
28. Micah 5:13 : Hos 10:2
29. Micah 5:13 : S Isa 2:18; S Eze 6:9; Zec 13:2
30. Micah 5:14 : S Ex 34:13; S Jdg 3:7; S 2Ki 17:10
31. Micah 5:15 : S Isa 65:12