Micah 5:5-6

5:5 He will give us peace.

Should the Assyrians try to invade our land

and attempt to set foot in our fortresses,

we will send against them seven shepherd-rulers,

make that eight commanders.

5:6 They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword,

the land of Nimrod with a drawn sword.

Our king 10  will rescue us from the Assyrians

should they attempt to invade our land

and try to set foot in our territory.

Micah 5:8-9

5:8 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 11  and there is no one to stop it. 12 

5:9 Lift your hand triumphantly against your adversaries; 13 

may all your enemies be destroyed! 14 


tn Heb “and this one will be peace”; ASV “and this man shall be our peace” (cf. Eph 2:14).

tc Some prefer to read “in our land,” emending the text to בְּאַדְמָתֵנוּ (bÿadmatenu).

tn Heb “raise up.”

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.

tn Heb “shepherds.”

tn Heb “and eight leaders of men.”

tn Or perhaps “break”; or “defeat.”

sn According to Gen 10:8-12, Nimrod, who was famous as a warrior and hunter, founded Assyria.

tc The MT reads “in her gates,” but the text should be emended to בַּפְּתִיחָה (baptikhah, “with a drawn sword”).

10 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the coming king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

11 tn The words “its prey” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

12 tn Heb “and there is no deliverer.”

13 tn Heb “let your hand be lifted against your adversaries.”

14 tn Heb “be cut off.”