Micah 5:2
1 Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel — One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.
3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of His brothers will return to the children of Israel.
4 He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD His God. And they will dwell securely, for then His greatness will extend to the ends of the earth.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel — One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.
- KJV
- But 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.
- WEB
- But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me who is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times.
- ASV
- But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.
- DARBY
- (And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall he come forth unto me [who is] to be Ruler in Israel: whose goings forth are from of old, from the days of eternity.)
- BLB
- And you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the thousands of Judah: From you will come forth unto Me One to be Ruler in Israel, and his goings forth [are] of old, from everlasting.
- ÅB
- Men du, Betlehem Efrata,
liten til å være blant Judas tusener![^1]
Av deg skal det gå ut for meg
en som skal være hersker over Israel.
Hans opphav er fra gammel tid,
fra evige dager. - OTB
- "Og du, Betlehem, i Juda land,
er slett ikke den minste blant Judas herskere;
for fra deg skal det komme en hersker som skal vokte mitt folk Israel.
Hans tider for å komme frem er fra lenge siden,
Fra evighetens dager." - B1930
- Men du Betlehem, Efrata, som er liten til å være med blandt Judas tusener! Av dig skal det utgå for mig en som skal være hersker over Israel, og hans utgang er fra fordum, fra evighets dager. / < større avdelinger av stammene.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Matthew 2:6
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”
Read in contextJohn 7:42
Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
Read in contextLuke 1:31–33
Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
Read in contextIsaiah 9:6–7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Read in contextPsalms 90:2
Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.
Read in contextGenesis 49:10
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.
Read in contextIsaiah 11:1
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.
Read in contextZechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Read in context