The big picture
Micah 5 opens in verse 1 with “Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 8 with “And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a…”, and closes in verse 15 with “And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not…” Repeated or prominent terms include land, midst, LORD, Israel, remnant. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Micah · King James Version · 15Micah 5:1-8
1–8: Gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege…
Micah 5:1–8 opens with “Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall…” and reaches “And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Little Bethlehem and the promised ruler who shepherds in strength while oppressive powers are brought down, with particular weight carried by land, Israel, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD , as the showers upon the grass…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Micah 5:1-8
King James Version1Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
2But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
3Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
4And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD , in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
5And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.
6And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.
7And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD , as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.
8And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
Micah 5:9-15
9–15: Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine…
Micah 5:9–15 opens with “Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.” and reaches “And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Little Bethlehem and the promised ruler who shepherds in strength while oppressive powers are brought down, with particular weight carried by midst, cities, destroy.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD , that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Micah 5:9-15
King James Version9Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.
10And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD , that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:
11And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:
12And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:
13Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.
14And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.
15And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Micah 5:1 begins with “Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.”
Where the chapter turns
Micah 5:3 forms a natural hinge: “Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the…”
The final note
Micah 5:15 leaves the reader with “And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words land, midst, LORD, Israel, remnant, Assyrian help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does the repeated ending make readers feel?
Death becomes the chapter's persistent refrain, even as generation follows generation.
What two interruptions offer hope?
Enoch's walk with God and Lamech's hope attached to Noah.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.