Micah 5:5-8

Context

5:5 He will give us peace.¹

Should the Assyrians try to invade our land

and attempt to set foot in our fortresses,²

we will send³ against them seven⁴ shepherd-rulers,⁵

make that eight commanders.⁶

5:6 They will rule⁷ the land of Assyria with the sword,

the land of Nimrod⁸ with a drawn sword.⁹

Our king¹⁰ will rescue us from the Assyrians

should they attempt to invade our land

and try to set foot in our territory.

5:7 Those survivors from¹¹ Jacob will live¹²

in the midst of many nations.¹³

They will be like the dew the Lord sends,

like the rain on the grass,

that does not hope for men to come

or wait around for humans to arrive.¹⁴

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 prey¹⁵ and there is no one to stop it.¹⁶

[5:5] ¹tn Heb “and this one will be peace”; ASV “and this man shall be our peace” (cf. Eph 2:14).

[5:5] ²tc Some prefer to read “in our land,” emending the text to בְּאַדְמָתֵנוּ (bÿ’admatenu).

[5:5] ³tn Heb “raise up.”

[5:5] ⁴sn 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] ⁵tn Heb “shepherds.”

[5:5] ⁶tn Heb “and eight leaders of men.”

[5:6] ⁷tn Or perhaps “break”; or “defeat.”

[5:6] ⁸sn According to Gen 10:8-12, Nimrod, who was famous as a warrior and hunter, founded Assyria.

[5:6] ⁹tc The MT reads “in her gates,” but the text should be emended to בַּפְּתִיחָה (baptikhah, “with a drawn sword”).

[5:6] ¹⁰tn Heb “he”; the referent (the coming king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:7] ¹¹tn Heb “the remnant of” (also in v. 8).

[5:7] ¹²tn Heb “will be.”

[5:7] ¹³tn This could mean “(scattered) among the nations” (cf. CEV, NLT) or “surrounded by many nations” (cf. NRSV).

[5:7] ¹⁴tn Heb “that does not hope for man, and does not wait for the sons of men.”

[5:8] ¹⁵tn The words “its prey” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[5:8] ¹⁶tn Heb “and there is no deliverer.”