Micah 5:4-5

5:4 He will assume his post ¹  and shepherd the people ²  by the Lord’s strength,

by the sovereign authority of the Lord his God. ³ 

They will live securely, ⁴  for at that time he will be honored ⁵ 

even in the distant regions of ⁶  the earth.

5:5 He will give us peace. ⁷ 

Should the Assyrians try to invade our land

and attempt to set foot in our fortresses, ⁸ 

we will send ⁹  against them seven ¹⁰  shepherd-rulers, ¹¹ 

make that eight commanders. ¹² 

[5:4]  ¹ tn Heb “stand up”; NAB “stand firm”; NASB “will arise.”

[5:4]  ² tn The words “the people” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[5:4]  ³ tn Heb “by the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.”

[5:4]  ⁴ tn The words “in peace” are supplied in the translation for clarification. Perhaps וְיָשָׁבוּ (vÿyashavu, “and they will live”) should be emended to וְשָׁבוּ (vÿshavu, “and they will return”).

[5:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “be great.”

[5:4]  ⁶ tn Or “to the ends of.”

[5:5]  ⁷ tn Heb “and this one will be peace”; ASV “and this man shall be our peace” (cf. Eph 2:14).

[5:5]  ⁸ tc Some prefer to read “in our land,” emending the text to בְּאַדְמָתֵנוּ (bÿ’admatenu).

[5:5]  ⁹ tn Heb “raise up.”

[5:5]  ¹⁰ 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.

[5:5]  ¹¹ tn Heb “shepherds.”

[5:5]  ¹² tn Heb “and eight leaders of men.”