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Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Micah 5:2

Thousands] or, families: cp. Numbers 1:16; Numbers 10:14; Joshua 22:14; Joshua 22:21. Several such families made up a tribe. Unto me] or, 'for me,' i.e. to fulfil my will. The true ruler represents God's will in Israel. Since God's will has been the same from everlasting and must be manifested, the goings forth of one who lives to manifest it are equally from everlasting. When Israel's rulers fail Him, He raises up another. Bethlehem] cp. Joshua 1:15; Joshua 4:10. When Saul failed Him, God chose David from following the sheep, and set him to shepherd Israel. When the rulers of Jerusalem have failed Him, God will raise up even an obscure villager to represent His ideal of righteous government.

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See also Micah 5:2 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Micah 5:2. _BUT THOU, BETH-LEHEM EPHRATAH_] I have considered this subject in great detail in _Clarke's notes on "_Matthew 2:6_"_, to which the reader will be pleased to refer. This verse should...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    BUT - (And) thou, Bethlehem Ephratah With us, the chequered events of time stand in strong contrast, painful or gladdening. Good seems to efface evil, or evil blots out the memory of the good. God ord...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 5 _ 1. The siege and the smitten judge (Micah 5:1) _ 2. The smitten judge: Who he is (Micah 5:2) 3. The events of the future: (Micah 5:3) 4. The Rejected One, the Shepherd of Israel ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    MESSIANIC ANTICIPATIONS. This paragraph, like the last, seems to consist of several separate prophecies, viz. Micah 5:2, describing the emergence of a triumphant Davidic ruler; Micah 5:5 f., deliveran...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    BUT THOU. This marks out the Structure. Compare Micah 4:8 with Micah 5:2. Quoted in Matthew 2:5; Matthew 2:6;...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _PROMISES CONCERNING THE MESSIAH -- MICAH 5:1-4:_ Zedekiah was the last king of the separate kingdom of Judah. He had been placed on the throne by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar had even ch...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1208 THE MESSIAH TO BE BORN AT BETHLEHEM Micah 5:2. _Thou, Bethlehem, Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Jutdah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me, that is to...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    BUT THOU, BETH-LEHEM EPHRATAH— _Ephratah_ was another name for Beth-lehem in the tribe of Judah, and both names are joined together to distinguish it from another Beth-lehem in the tribe of Zebulun. I...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    FOCUS ON THE MESSIAH. Micah 5:2-6 RV. But thou, Bethlehem 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...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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,...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    5:2 (e-0) In the Hebrew, ch.5 begins here. be (f-7) Or 'though thou be small.'...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    The message now goes on from one period to another period. The word ‘but’ connects the two periods. When Micah referred to the first period (verse 1), he mainly described the situation in Jerusalem. T...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    MICAH SPEAKS A MESSAGE FROM GOD TO ALL THE NATIONS MICAH _LES PAINTER_ CHAPTER 5 5:1-6 THE *MESSIAH’S BIRTH AND HIS FUTURE GREATNESS The main subject of Micah’s message now changes. He has spoke...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    BUT THOU, BETH-LEHEM EPHRATAH. — This is a passage of immense significance, through the interpretation given to it by the chief priests and scribes in the Gospel of St. Matthew. Beth-lehem Ephratah: t...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _[Micah 5:1]_ וְ אַתָּ֞ה בֵּֽית־לֶ֣חֶם אֶפְרָ֗תָה צָעִיר֙...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE KING TO COME Micah 4:8 - Micah 5:1 WHEN a people has to be purged of long injustice, when some high aim of liberty or of order has to be won, it is remarkable how often the drama of revolution pa...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE DELIVERER FROM BETHLEHEM Micah 5:1-15 This name for Bethlehem recalls Genesis 48:7. Though insignificant in size she would outshine her compeers, because of Messiah's birth, Matthew 2:6. As man,...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Having thus described the coming deliverance, Micah utters the wonderful prophecy concerning the Deliverer and the deliverance under His administration. The Person of the Deliverer is first described...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be (b) little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose (c) goings forth [have been...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Ephrata. This was the ancient name (Haydock) of Bethlehem, (Genesis xxxv. 16.) though some think that it was so called after Caleb's wife, 1 Paralipomenon ii. 19. --- Art, or "art thou?" &c., which ma...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Every word in this blessed verse is important; and therefore let us regard every word in it. Bethlehem means the house of bread! how suited this to him, and his birth, who is the bread of life. Ephrat...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Lectures on the Minor Prophets. W. Kelly. The prophecy of Micah, like all the rest, has its own distinctive properties, though falling into the general current of testimony to Israel, and so far with...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _‘LOVED WITH EVERLASTING LOVE!’_ ‘Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.’ Micah 5:2 This is the passage which the doctors of the law quoted when Herod asked of them where the C...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    _Thou Bethlehem Ephratah, art small, that thou shouldest be among the thousands of Judah _As Matthew quotes this passage differently, some think that it ought to be read as a question, And thou, Bethl...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    But there was something more definite still to be declared; the principal enemy of the last days was to be pointed out, and this in special connection with another and fatal sin of Jerusalem and her p...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    BUT THOU, BETHLEHEM EPHRATAH,.... But though Jerusalem should be besieged and taken, and the land of Judea laid waste, yet, before all this should be, the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem, of which...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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 o...

  • Jonathan Edwards' Notes On The Scriptures

    Mic. 5:2. "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He _come forth _ unto me, who is to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah_ Here we have evidently the beginning of another subject, quite different from any thing that the first verse can relate to, and with which it seems to have no connectio...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE PERSON AND THE RULE OF MESSIAH. Having described the conditions and circumstances under which the period of Messianic glory would be established, the prophet now turns to the direct prediction co...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, the little city of Judah south of Jerusalem being addressed with impressive solemnity, THOUGH THOU BE LITTLE AMONG THE THOUSANDS OF JUDAH, among the districts of the coun...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    FROM EVERLASTING: _ Heb._ the days of eternity...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-6 Having showed how low the house of David would be brought, a prediction of the Messiah and his kingdom is added to encourage the faith of God's people. His existence from eternity as God, and his...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    BUT, Heb. AND. BETH-LEHEM; not in the tribe of Zebulun JOSHUA 19:15, but in the tribe of Judah, styled therefore Beth-lehem of Judah, Matt. it. 1, 6. EPHRATAH; so called, say some, from Caleb's wife;...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Micah 5:2 Bethlehem H1035 Ephrathah H672 little H6810 thousands H505 Judah H3063 forth H3318 (H8799) Ruler H4910 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE OF ONE WHO WILL RISE FROM A HUMBLE SMALL TOWN WHO WILL DELIVER HIS PEOPLE AND WILL BECOME GREAT TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH (MICAH 5:2). The promise is now made that from the sma...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    EVERLASTING Compare (Isaiah 7:13); (Isaiah 7:14); (Isaiah 9:6); (Isaiah 9:7). The "child" was born in Bethlehem, but the "Son" was "from e

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The birth and rejection of Christ foretold. His ultimate eternal kingdom after His rejection. CHARACTERS: God, Christ. CONCLUSION: Christ, who existed from eternity as Son of God, was to b...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Micah 5:1. _Oh daughter of troops._ Of thieves, that is, the Chaldeans, who having robbed all the nations of Asia, came to Jerusalem, and robbed the whole land, smote Zedekiah with the severe rod of c...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah _ BETHLEHEM AND ITS BABE The Jews regarded this text as a prophecy of Messiah’s birthplace. Micah, though a prophet...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    MICAH—NOTE ON MICAH 5:1 A new hope for Israel, and for the whole world, comes by means of a new David. His deeds are praised (vv. Micah 5:1) and the influence of the Israelite remnant among the nation...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    MICAH—NOTE ON MICAH 5:2 BUT YOU. Both here and in Micah 4:8, these words signal renewed kingship. BETHLEHEM, where David was born ...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES. THOU] invading army (not Judah). US] The prophet identifies himself with the nation. SMITE] The greatest insult (Lamentations 3:30; Matthew 5:39; Matthew 27:30). JUDGE] or king ...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION MICAH 5:1 _§ _8_. After Zion_'_s degradation Messiah shall be born, and shall bring the world into subjection._ MICAH 5:1 This verse is joined to the preceding chapter in the Hebrew. Jer...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now in chapter 5 Micah leaves that scene of the future and he comes back to an intermediate scene. Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: and they shall sm...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 2:50; 1 Chronicles 2:51; 1 Chronicles 2:54; 1 Chronicles 4:4;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Bethlehem — Bethlehem of Judah was called Ephratah, from the fruitfulness of the land where it stood: the word whence it is derived importing fruitfulness. Art thou little — If thou art the least in o...

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    How can we explain Matthew’s apparent misquotation of Micah 5:2? PROBLEM: Matthew 2:6 quotes Micah 5:2. However, the words Matthew uses are different than those used by Micah. SOLUTION: Although Matt...

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