Micah 5 · Verse 7

Micah 5:7

And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.
Micah 5:7, King James Version

Micah 5:7 in other translations

BSBThen the remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger for mankind.
WEBThe remnant of Jacob will be among many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, that don’t wait for man nor wait for the sons of men.
ASVAnd the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples as dew from Jehovah, as showers upon the grass, that tarry not for man, nor wait for the sons of men.
YLTAnd the remnant of Jacob hath been in the midst of many peoples, As dew from Jehovah--as showers on the herb, That waiteth not for man, nor stayeth for the sons of men.
DARBYAnd the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples as dew from Jehovah, as showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, neither waiteth for the sons of men.
BBEAnd the rest of Jacob will be among the mass of peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which may not be kept back by man, or be waiting for the sons of men.
WebsterAnd the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.

What does Micah 5:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. remnant of Jacob--already mentioned in Mi 5:3. It in comparative smallness stands in antithesis to the "many people." Though Israel be but a remnant amidst many nations after her restoration, yet she shall exercise the same blessed influence in quickening them spiritually that the small imperceptible dew exercises in refreshing the grass (De 32:2; Psa 72:6; 110:3). The influence of the Jews restored from Babylon in making many Gentile proselytes is an earnest of a larger similar effect hereafter (Is 66:19; Zec 8:13). from the Lord--Israel's restoration and the consequent conversion of the Gentiles are solely of grace. tarrieth not for man--entirely God's work, as independent of human contrivance as the dew and rains that fertilize the soil.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 The remnant of Jacob - From the reign of Darius Hystaspes (Ahasuerus, husband of Esther) the Jews were greatly favored. Those who continued in Persia and Chaldea were greatly honored under the protection of Mordecai and Esther. - Calmet. But others consider this as applying to the Maccabees. As a dew from the Lord - Even during their captivity many of the Jews were the means of spreading the knowledge of the one true God; see Dan 2:47; Dan 3:29; Dan 4:34; Dan 6:26. This may be the dew from the Lord mentioned here. When the Messiah appeared, the Gospel was preached by them; and it shall again be propagated by their future glorious restoration, Rom 11:12, Rom 11:25. The grass, that tarrieth not for man - Which grass springs up without the attention and culture of man; לאיש leish, even the best and most skillful of men. Nor waiteth for the sons of men - לבני אדם libney adam, for the sons of Adam, the first transgressor. The dew and the showers descend on the earth and water it, in order to render it fruitful; and the grass springs up independently either of the worth or wickedness of man. All comes through God's bounty, who causes his sun to shine on the just and the unjust, and his rain to descend on the evil and the good.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Micah 5:7-15
The remnant of Israel, converted to Christ in the primitive times, were among many nations as the drops of dew, and were made instruments in calling a large increase of spiritual worshippers. But to those who neglected or opposed this salvation, they would, as lions, cause terror, their doctrine condemning them. The Lord also declares that he would cause not only the reformation of the Jews, but the purification of the Christian church. In like manner shall we be assured of victory in our personal conflicts, as we simply depend upon the Lord our salvation, worship him, and serve him with diligence.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Micah 5:7 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.

וְהָיָ֣ה\׀ve.ha.Yahand it will beH1961
שְׁאֵרִ֣יתshe.'e.Rit[the] remnant ofH7611
יַעֲקֹ֗בya.'a.KoJacobH3290
בְּקֶ֙רֶב֙be.Ke.revin [the] midst ofH7130
עַמִּ֣ים'a.MimpeoplesH5971
רַבִּ֔יםra.BimmanyH7227
כְּטַל֙ke.Tallike dewH2919
מֵאֵ֣תme.'Etfrom withH854
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
כִּרְבִיבִ֖יםkir.vi.Vimlike copious showersH7241
עֲלֵי\־'a.lei-onH5921
עֵ֑שֶׂב'E.sevvegetationH6212
אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherwhichH834
לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
יְקַוֶּה֙ye.ka.Vehit waitsH6960
לְאִ֔ישׁle.'Ishfor anyoneH376
וְלֹ֥אve.Lo'and notH3808
יְיַחֵ֖לye.ya.Chelit waitsH3176
לִבְנֵ֥יliv.Neifor [the] children ofH1121
אָדָֽם\׃'a.DamhumankindH120

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

Cross references for Micah 5:7

  • Psalms 72:6

    He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

  • Micah 5:3

    Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

  • Isaiah 44:3

    For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

  • Deuteronomy 32:2

    My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

  • Hosea 14:5

    I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

  • Psalms 110:3

    Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

  • Romans 10:20

    But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

  • Hosea 6:3

    Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

  • Zechariah 14:8

    And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.

  • Jeremiah 14:22

    Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O Lord our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.

  • Romans 15:19-20

    Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:

  • Acts 13:46

    Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the remnant.
3,8; Eze 14:22; Joe 2:32; Am 5:15; Zep 3:13; Ro 11:5,6
as a dew.
De 32:2; Jud 6:36; Ps 72:6; 110:3; Isa 32:15; 44:3; 66:19; Eze 47:1
Ho 6:3; 14:5; Zec 14:8; Mt 28:19; Ac 9:15; 11:15; 13:46
Ro 11:12; 15:19,20; 1Co 3:6
tarrieth.
Isa 55:10; Jer 14:22; Ac 16:9; Ro 9:30; 10:20

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

Context

  • Micah 5:6

    And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.

  • Micah 5:7

    And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.

  • Micah 5:8

    And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

Read all of Micah 5

Micah 5:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y será el residuo de Jacob en medio de muchos pueblos, como el rocío de Jehová, como las lluvias sobre la hierba, las cuales no esperan varón, ni aguardan á hijos de hombres.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le résidu de Jacob sera, parmi les nations, au milieu de beaucoup de peuples, comme un lion parmi les bêtes de la forêt, comme un jeune lion parmi les troupeaux de menu bétail, qui, s’il passe, foule et déchire, et il n’y a personne qui délivre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und der Überrest Jakobs wird unter den Nationen, inmitten vieler Völker, sein wie ein Löwe unter den Tieren des Waldes, wie ein junger Löwe unter den Schafherden, der, wenn er hindurchgeht, zertritt und zerreißt, und niemand errettet. -
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et erunt reliquiæ Jacob in medio populorum multorum quasi ros a Domino, et quasi stillæ super herbam, quæ non exspectat virum, et non præstolatur filios hominum.