Micah 5 · Verse 1

Micah 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.
Micah 5:1, King James Version

Micah 5:1 in other translations

BSBNow, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.
WEBNow you shall gather yourself in troops, daughter of troops. He has laid siege against us. They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.
ASVNow shalt thou 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.
YLTNow gather thyself together, O daughter of troops, A siege he hath laid against us, With a rod they smite on the cheek the judge of Israel.
DARBYNow 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.
BBENow you will give yourselves deep wounds for grief; they will put up a wall round us: they will give the judge of Israel a blow on the face with a rod.
WebsterNow 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.

What does Micah 5:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Mi 5:1-15. The Calamities Which Precede Messiah's Advent. His Kingdom, Conquest of Jacob's Foes, and Blessing upon His People.

1. gather thyself in troops--that is, thou shalt do so, to resist the enemy. Lest the faithful should fall into carnal security because of the previous promises, he reminds them of the calamities which are to precede the prosperity. daughter of troops--Jerusalem is so called on account of her numerous troops. he hath laid siege--the enemy hath. they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek--the greatest of insults to an Oriental. Zedekiah, the judge (or king, Am 2:3) of Israel, was loaded with insults by the Chaldeans; so also the other princes and judges (La 3:30). Hengstenberg thinks the expression, "the judge," marks a time when no king of the house of David reigned. The smiting on the cheek of other judges of Israel was a type of the same indignity offered to Him who nevertheless is the Judge, not only of Israel, but also of the world, and who is "from everlasting" (Mi 5:2; Is 50:6; Mt 26:67; 27:30).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

This chapter begins, according to the opinion of some commentators, with a prophecy concerning the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, and the great indignities which Zedekiah should suffer from the Babylonians, Mic 5:1. We have next a most famous prediction concerning the birthplace of the Messiah, "whose goings forth have been from of old, from Everlasting, Mic 5:2. See Mat 2:6. The Jews obstinately persisting in their opposition to the Messiah, God will therefore give them up into the hands of their enemies till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled: and then all the posterity of Jacob, both Israel and Judah, shall be converted to the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, and, along with the Gentiles, be brought into the large and peaceful pastures of this Great Shepherd of the sheep, Mic 5:3, Mic 5:4. After this illustrious prophecy, the prophet goes on to foretell the downfall of the Assyrians, by whom are meant the enemies of the Church in general, the type being probably put for the antitype; the miraculous discomfiture of the great Assyrian army in the reign of Sennacherib strongly shadowing forth the glorious and no less miraculous triumphs of Christianity in the latter times, Mic 5:5, Mic 5:6. See Isa 11:16. Some understand this prophecy of Antiochus and the seven famous Maccabees, with their eight royal successors, from Aristobulus to Antigonus; and it is not impossible that these people may be also intended, for we have often had occasion to remark that a prophecy of the Old Testament Scriptures has frequently more than one aspect. The seventh verse was fulfilled by the Jews spreading the knowledge of the true God during their captivity, and so paving the way for the gospel; but will be more signally fulfilled after their conversion and restoration. See Rom 11:12-15. The remaining verses contain a prophecy of the final overthrow of all the enemies of pure and undefiled religion, and of the thorough purification of the Church of God from the corruptions of Antichrist, Mic 5:9-15. Verse 1 O daughter of troops - The Chaldeans, whose armies were composed of troops from various nations. He (Nebuchadnezzar) hath laid siege against us; (Jerusalem ); they shall smite the judge of Israel (Zedekiah) with a rod upon the cheek - They shall offer him the greatest indignity. They slew his sons before his face; and then put out his eyes, loaded him with chains, and carried him captive to Babylon.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Micah 5:1-6
Having showed how low the house of David would be brought, a prediction of the Messiah and his kingdom is added to encourage the faith of God's people. His existence from eternity as God, and his office as Mediator, are noticed. Here is foretold that Bethlehem should be his birthplace. Hence it was universally known among the Jews, Mt 2:5. Christ's government shall be very happy for his subjects; they shall be safe and easy. Under the shadow of protection from the Assyrians, is a promise of protection to the gospel church and all believers, from the designs and attempts of the powers of darkness. Christ is our Peace as a Priest, making atonement for sin, and reconciling us to God; and he is our Peace as a King, conquering our enemies: hence our souls may dwell at ease in him. Christ will find instruments to protect and deliver. Those that threaten ruin to the church of God, soon bring ruin on themselves. This may include the past powerful effects of the preached gospel, its future spread, and the ruin of all antichristian powers. This is, perhaps, the most important single prophecy in the Old Testament: it respects the personal character of the Messiah, and the discoveries of himself to the world. It distinguishes his human birth from his existing from eternity; it foretells the rejection of the Israelites and Jews for a season, their final restoration, and the universal peace to prevail through the whole earth in the latter days. In the mean time let us trust our Shepherd's care and power. If he permits the assault of our enemies, he will supply helpers and assistance for us.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Micah 5:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

עַתָּה֙'a.TahnowH6258
תִּתְגֹּדְדִ֣יtit.go.de.Diyou will cut yourselfH1413
בַת\־vat-O daughter ofH1323
גְּד֔וּדge.Dudtroop[s]H1416
מָצ֖וֹרma.Tzora siegeH4692
שָׂ֣םsamsomeone has setH7760
עָלֵ֑ינוּ'a.Lei.nuon usH5921
בַּשֵּׁ֙בֶט֙ba.She.vetwith <the> rodH7626
יַכּ֣וּya.Kuthey will strikeH5221
עַֽל\־'al-onH5921
הַלְּחִ֔יha.le.Chithe cheekH3895
אֵ֖ת'et<obj.>H853
שֹׁפֵ֥טsho.Fet[the] judge ofH8199
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל\׃\ \סYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Micah 5:1

  • Lamentations 3:30

    He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.

  • Job 16:10

    They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

  • Matthew 26:67

    Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

  • John 19:3

    And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

  • Isaiah 33:22

    For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.

  • John 18:22

    And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?

  • Deuteronomy 28:49

    The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

  • 2 Corinthians 11:20

    For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

  • Acts 23:2

    And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

  • 2 Kings 25:1-3

    And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about. And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

  • 1 Samuel 8:5-6

    And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.

  • Luke 19:43-44

    For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The birth of Christ.
4 His kingdom.
8 His conquest.

gather.
De 28:49; 2Ki 24:2; Isa 8:9; 10:6; Jer 4:7; 25:9; Joe 3:9; Hab 1:6
Hab 3:16
he hath.
De 28:51-57; 2Ki 25:1-3; Eze 21:21,22; 24:2; Lu 19:43,44
they.
Job 16:10; La 3:30; Mt 5:39; 26:67; 27:30; Joh 18:22; 19:3; Ac 23:2
2Co 11:20
judge.
1Sa 8:5,6; Isa 33:22; Am 2:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Micah 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.

  • Micah 5:2

    But thou, Beth–lehem 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.

Read all of Micah 5

Micah 5:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		REÚNETE ahora en bandas, oh hija de bandas: nos han sitiado: con vara herirán sobre la quijada al juez de Israel.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		(Et toi, Bethléhem Éphrata, bien que tu sois petite entre les milliers de Juda, de toi sortira pour moi celui qui doit dominer en Israël, et duquel les origines ont été d’ancienneté, dès les jours d’éternité.)
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und du, Bethlehem, Ephrata, zu klein, um unter den Tausenden von Juda zu sein, aus dir wird mir hervorkommen, der Herrscher über Israel sein soll; und seine Ausgänge sind von der Urzeit, von den Tagen der Ewigkeit her.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nunc vastaberis, filia latronis. Obsidionem posuerunt super nos: in virga percutient maxillam judicis Israël.