What does Micah 5:5 mean?
"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 5:5
Micah 5:5 in the King James Version of the Bible reads, "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."
This verse is part of a prophecy given by the prophet Micah, who ministered during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. The book of Micah primarily addresses issues of social justice and the consequences of sin, but it also contains prophecies about the future and the coming of the Messiah.
In Micah 5:5, the "man" mentioned is a reference to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. It is a prophetic declaration that the Messiah will bring peace, even in the face of invasion and turmoil. The Assyrians were a constant threat to the people of Israel, and they are used here as a symbol of any enemy or threat that may come against God's people. The promise of peace in the midst of conflict is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, and it finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, Jesus is referred to as the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6), and his coming brought a message of peace and reconciliation with God.
The mention of "seven shepherds, and eight principal men" is a symbolic expression signifying completeness and abundance. In ancient Israel, shepherds were highly respected figures who cared for and protected their flocks. The image of the shepherds and principal men rising against the Assyrian invasion conveys the idea that God will raise up leaders and defenders to protect His people in their time of need. This verse assures the Israelites that, even in the face of overwhelming odds, God will provide the necessary resources and support to ensure their safety and security.
The broader context of this verse includes the preceding verses in Micah 5, which speak of the birth of the coming ruler in Bethlehem, a prophecy that was ultimately fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ. In verse 2, Micah foretells, "But thou, Bethlehem 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." The connection to the town of Bethlehem ties this prophecy directly to the lineage of King David, as it was the city of David and his ancestors. This further solidifies the link between this prophecy and the coming of the Messiah, who was to be a descendant of David.
The imagery of a shepherd and the theme of peace are also echoed in the New Testament, particularly in the teachings of Jesus. In John 10:11, Jesus declares, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." This statement underlines the role of Jesus as the ultimate protector and provider of peace for his followers. Additionally, Jesus' message of peace and his ultimate sacrifice on the cross for the sins of humanity fulfill the prophetic promise of peace and redemption found in Micah 5:5.
Overall, Micah 5:5 is a powerful and comforting prophecy that points to the coming of Jesus Christ as the ultimate source of peace and protection for God's people. It serves as a reminder that, no matter the challenges and threats we may face, we can find refuge and security in the grace and sovereignty of God. This verse also encourages believers to put their trust in God's provision and to look to Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of all of God's promises. It is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and care for his people throughout history, and it continues to be a source of hope and encouragement for Christians today.
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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."
"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 5:5
Micah 5:2-5
1 Chronicles 5:5 - "Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son,"
Micah 5:15 - "And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard."
"Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son," - 1 Chronicles 5:5
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 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 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 5:7 - "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 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 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."
Micah 5:1 - "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."
Micah 5:13 - "Thy 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."
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."
"And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard." - Micah 5:15
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."
"Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD." - Micah 2:5
Micah 6:5 - "O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD."
"And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:" - Micah 5:11
"And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:" - Micah 5:12
Micah 5:6 - "And 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."
Micah 5:8 - "¶ And 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 5:2 - "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."