Micah 4

1 In the last [latter, final] days the mountain [hill] of the house [dwelling place, temple] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] will be established [set up, appointed] as the chief [head, leader] of the mountains; it will be raised [lifted, exalted] above the hills [small hills], and the peoples [nations, people groups] will stream [flow, assemble] to it. word study 2 And many [numerous, a large multitude] nations [Gentile, non-Hebrew peoples] will come and say: “Come, let us go up [ascend, rise] to the mountain [hill] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], to the house [dwelling place, temple] of the God [Elohim, the supreme Deity] of Jacob [the patriarch, father of the Israelites]. He will teach [show, guide] us His ways [paths, manner of life], so that we may walk [follow, live] in His paths [ways, spiritual journey].” For the law [instruction, Torah] will go forth [come out, emanate] from Zion [the city of God, Jerusalem] and the word [thing, matter] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] from Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital of Israel]. word study 3 Then He will judge [decide, vindicate] between many peoples [nations, Gentiles] and arbitrate [rebuke, correct] for strong [mighty, powerful] nations [Gentile nations, distant lands] far and wide. Then they will beat their swords [cutting instruments] into plowshares [farming tools, mattocks] and their spears [lances, thrusting instruments] into pruning hooks [pruning knives, cutting tools]. Nation will no longer [never again] take up the sword [weapon, instrument of war] against nation, nor will they train [learn, instruct] anymore for war [battle, conflict]. word study 4 And each man [every individual, male and female] will sit [dwell, remain, abide] under his own vine [a grapevine] and under his own fig tree [a common food source], with no one [none, nothing] to frighten [make afraid, tremble with fear] him. For the mouth [lip, edge, expression] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel] of Hosts [army, large group, campaign] has spoken [communicated, declared, promised]. word study 5 Though each of the peoples [nations, ethnic groups] may walk [follow, live] in the name [identity, character] of his god [idol, deity], yet we [as a community, collectively] will walk [follow, obey] in the name [reputation, honor] of the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God] our God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] forever [always, eternally] and ever [perpetually, without end]. word study 6 “On that day [in the future, at the appointed time],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], “I will gather [assemble, bring together] the lame [those who limp, the halting one]; I will assemble [collect, gather] the outcast [those who are driven away, banished], even those whom I have afflicted [caused to suffer, shattered]. word study 7 And I will make the lame [those who are crippled, halting] into a remnant [a small surviving group, leftovers], and the outcast [those cast far off, driven away] into a strong nation [a mighty, powerful people]. Then the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] will rule [reign, have dominion] over them in Mount Zion [the mountain of God’s presence, the city of God] from that day [now, from this time] and forever [always, eternally]. word study 8 And you, O watchtower [tower of the flock, strong hold] of the flock, O stronghold [hill, fortress] of the Daughter [female child, woman] of Zion— the former [first, primary] dominion [control, power] will be restored [returned, given back] to you; sovereignty [kingdom, rule] will come to the Daughter [woman, city] of Jerusalem [city of peace].” word study 9 Why do you now [at this time, in this moment] cry aloud [shout, scream, wail]? Is there no king [ruler, leader] among you? Has your counselor [wise advisor, guide] perished [died, been lost] so that anguish [intense pain, agony] grips you like a woman [a female] in labor [childbirth, travail]? word study 10 Writhe in agony [be in pain, labor to bring forth], O Daughter [female child, woman] of Zion [the mountain, the city of God], like a woman [a female, a mother] in labor [travail, childbirth]. For now [at this time, currently] you will leave [go out, depart from] the city [town, urban area] and camp [dwell, live] in the open fields [the countryside, the wilderness]. You will go [come, travel] to Babylon [the city of confusion, the empire]; there [in that place, at that time] you will be rescued [delivered, saved]; there [in that place, at that time] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] will redeem [buy back, set free] you from the hand [power, control] of your enemies [those who hate, oppose you]! word study 11 But now [at this time, in this moment] many [a large multitude, numerous] nations [Gentile, non-Hebrew peoples] have assembled [gathered, come together] against you, saying [speaking, proclaiming], “Let her be defiled [polluted, profaned], and let us feast [gloat, look with satisfaction] our eyes [our gaze, our sight] on Zion [the city of God, the mountain of Jerusalem].” word study 12 But they do not know [are unaware of, have no understanding] the thoughts [plans, intentions] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] or understand [discern, comprehend] His plan [counsel, purpose], for He has gathered [assembled, collected] them like sheaves [bundles of grain] to the threshing floor [a place of judgment, separation]. word study 13 Rise [arise, stand up] and thresh [tread, trample], O Daughter [female child, city] of Zion [Jerusalem, God’s holy city], for I will give you horns [a horn; a hill or peak] of iron [strong metal] and hooves [claws, feet] of bronze [copper, strength] to break [crush, pulverize] to pieces many [numerous, abundant] peoples [nations, groups]. Then you will devote [consecrate, set apart] their gain [unjust profit, wealth] to the LORD [Yehovah, God Almighty], their wealth [substance, riches] to the Lord [Master, Ruler] of all [everything, the whole] the earth [land, world]. word study