Micah 5

1 Now, O daughter [gather yourself together, assemble your troops] of troops, mobilize [gather, assemble] your troops; for a siege [a wall, a barrier] is laid against us! With a rod [a staff] they will strike [smite, hit] the cheek [the face, the presence] of the judge [the ruler, the leader] of Israel [God’s chosen people, the descendants of Jacob]. word study 2 But you, Bethlehem [a small town] Ephrathah, who are small [little among the thousands] among the clans [families or tribes] of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One [a ruler, a leader] to be ruler [to govern or lead] over Israel [the people of God]— One whose origins [goings forth, existence] are of old [from the beginning, from everlasting], from the days [time, eternity] of eternity [time without end]. word study 3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned [given up, left desolate] until she who is in labor [travailing, giving birth] has given birth [brought forth, delivered]; then the rest [remnant, residue] of His brothers will return [come back, dwell again] to the children of Israel [the people of God, the Israelites]. word study 4 He will stand [rise up, take his position] and shepherd [care for, tend to] His flock [people, congregation] in the strength [power, might] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], in the majestic [excellent, glorious] name [reputation, character] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] His God [the one true God, Creator]. And they will dwell [live, reside] securely [safely, in peace], for then His greatness [importance, majesty] will extend [reach, stretch] to the ends [furthest points, boundaries] of the earth [land, world]. word study 5 And He will be our peace [the source of our tranquility, our refuge] when Assyria [the enemy, a powerful nation] invades our land [our country, our territory] and tramples our citadels [our strongholds, our fortified cities]. We will raise against it seven shepherds [leaders, guardians], even eight leaders of men [principal men, chiefs]. word study 6 And they will rule [waste, destroy] the land of Assyria [a powerful and oppressive nation] with the sword, and the land of Nimrod [founded by the great hunter] with the blade drawn [in readiness for battle]. So He will deliver [rescue, save] us when Assyria [the Assyrian army] invades [comes into, attacks] our land and marches [treads, walks] into our borders [the boundaries of our territory]. word study 7 Then the remnant [surviving group, what is left] of Jacob [Israel, the people of God] will be in the midst [center, among] of many [numerous, several] peoples [nations, Gentiles] like dew [moisture, refreshing] from the LORD [Yehovah, the sovereign God], like showers [rain, abundant blessing] on the grass [herbage, vegetation], which do not wait [tarry, depend] for man [human beings, mankind] or linger [wait, expect] for mankind [humanity, the sons of men]. word study 8 Then the remnant [those who remain, the survivors] of Jacob will be among the nations [Gentiles, many peoples], in the midst [center, among] of many peoples [nations, people-groups], like a lion [a fierce beast] among the beasts [wild animals, creatures] of the forest, like a young lion [a lion’s whelp, a cub] among flocks [herds, groups] of sheep, which tramples [treads down, crushes] and tears [rips apart, destroys] as it passes through, with no one [none, no deliverer] to rescue [deliver, save] them. word study 9 Your hand [lifted up in triumph] will be lifted over your foes [adversaries, enemies], and all your enemies [those who hate you] will be cut off [destroyed, completely eliminated]. word study 10 “In that day [of reckoning, of judgment],” declares the LORD [the Supreme Ruler], “I will remove [cut off, destroy] your horses [warhorses, cavalry] from among you and wreck [overthrow, destroy] your chariots [vehicles of war, military might]. word study 11 I will remove [cut off, destroy] the cities [towns, fortified cities] of your land and tear down [throw down, demolish] all your strongholds [fortresses, strong holds]. word study 12 I will cut [destroy, remove completely] the sorceries [witchcrafts, secret arts] from your hand [power, strength], and you will have no [not any, none] fortune-tellers [soothsayers, observers of clouds]. word study 13 I will also cut off [destroy, uproot] the carved images [idols, Asherah poles] and sacred pillars [stone pillars, images] from among you, so that you will no longer bow down [worship, give reverence] to the work [creation, handiwork] of your own hands [skill, craftsmanship]. word study 14 I will root out [pluck up, utterly destroy] the Asherah poles [idols, groves] from your midst [center, among you] and demolish [destroy, tear down] your cities [towns, strongholds]. word study 15 I will take vengeance [execute judgment, inflict punishment] in anger [fury, wrath] and wrath [indignation, fierce anger] upon the nations [heathen, peoples] that have not obeyed [hearkened to, listened to] Me.” word study