What does Micah 5:3 mean?
"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 children of Israel." - Micah 5:3
Micah 5:3 in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible reads, "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 children of Israel." This verse is part of a prophecy delivered by the prophet Micah. To understand the full meaning and context of this verse, it is important to examine the surrounding verses and historical context in which it was written.
Micah was a prophet who delivered his messages to the people of Judah during a time of great political and social upheaval. The book of Micah addresses issues of social injustice, idolatry, and the consequences of turning away from God. The specific passage of Micah 5:2-5 focuses on the birth of a ruler in Bethlehem who will bring peace and security to the people of Israel.
In verse 3, the prophet speaks of the divine abandonment of the people of Israel until the time of the birth of this promised ruler. The imagery of a woman in labor is used to convey the metaphor of the pain and struggle the nation will face before the fulfillment of this prophecy. The "remnant of his brethren" refers to the Israelites who will return to their homeland after a period of exile and separation.
The overall theme of Micah 5:3 is one of hope and restoration. Despite the judgment and temporary abandonment of the people, the promise of a future deliverer and the eventual return of the Israelites to their land brings a message of hope and redemption. This verse underscores the overarching message of the book of Micah, which points to the faithfulness of God and his ultimate plan for the restoration of his people.
The symbolism of the woman in labor in this verse is significant. In biblical literature, birth and labor are often used as symbols of new beginnings, pain, and struggle. The imagery of labor also conveys the idea of the process of bringing forth something new, which in this case refers to the birth of the promised ruler who will bring peace and security to the people. This symbolic imagery serves to drive home the message of hope and renewal found in this prophecy.
The historical context of Micah 5:3 is important to consider as well. The prophecy was delivered during a time of political instability and uncertainty for the people of Judah. The nation was experiencing the threat of invasion and the oppression of powerful empires. The promise of a future ruler who would bring peace and security would have been a source of great comfort and hope for the people who were living in such troubled times.
In conclusion, Micah 5:3 in the KJV of the Bible is a powerful prophecy that speaks to the hope of restoration and redemption for the people of Israel. The imagery of a woman in labor and the promise of a future ruler who will bring peace and security highlights the themes of hope, renewal, and divine intervention that are central to the message of the book of Micah. This verse serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and his ultimate plan for the restoration of his people, even in the midst of struggle and adversity.
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Micah 5:3 - "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 children of Israel."
"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 children of Israel." - Micah 5:3
Micah 5:2-5
Micah 3:5 - "¶ Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him."
1 Chronicles 5:5 - "Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son,"
Micah 3:10 - "They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity."
Micah 5:15 - "And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard."
Micah 2:5 - "Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD."
Micah 5:11 - "And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:"
Micah 5:12 - "And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:"
Micah 3:7 - "Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God."
Micah 5:14 - "And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities."
Micah 5:9 - "Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off."
"Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son," - 1 Chronicles 5:5
"They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity." - Micah 3:10
Micah 1:3 - "For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth."
Micah 1:5 - "For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem?"
Micah 4:5 - "For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever."
Micah 7:5 - "¶ Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom."
Judges 17:5 - "And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest."
Micah 5:5 - "And 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."
Micah 3:12 - "Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest."
Micah 3:1 - "And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?"
Micah 3:9 - "Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity."
Micah 5:7 - "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, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men."
Micah 3:8 - "¶ But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin."
Micah 5:10 - "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 will destroy thy chariots:"
Micah 6:3 - "O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me."
Micah 5:4 - "¶ And 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."
"¶ Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him." - Micah 3:5