Micah – Chapter 4

Old Testament13 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 4 of Micah begins: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared in the top of the mountains, and…" Jacob stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 13 verses, two threads run through the text: God's kingdom and kingship and family and covenant relationships. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared in the top of the mountains, and high above the hills: and people shall flow to it.

2And many nations shall come in haste, and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob: and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth out of Sion, and the word of the Lord out of Jerusalem.

3And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into spades: nation shall not take sword against nation: neither shall they learn war anymore.

4And every man shall sit under his vine, and under his fig tree, and there shall be none to make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken.

5For all people will walk every one in the name of his god: but we will walk in the name of the Lord, our God, for ever and ever.

6In that day, saith the Lord, I will gather up her that halteth: and her that I had cast out, I will gather up: and her whom I had afflicted.

7And I will make her that halted, a remnant: and her that had been afflicted, a mighty nation: and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Sion, from this time now and forever.

8And thou, O cloudy tower of the flock, of the daughter of Sion, unto thee shall it come: yea the first power shall come, the kingdom to the daughter of Jerusalem.

9Now, why art thou drawn together with grief? Hast thou no king in thee, or is thy counselor perished, because sorrow hath taken thee as a woman in labour.

10Be in pain and labour, O daughter of Sion, as a woman that bringeth forth: for now shalt thou go out of the city, and shalt dwell in the country, and shalt come even to Babylon, there thou shalt be delivered: there the Lord will redeem thee out of the hand of thy enemies.

11And now many nations are gathered together against thee, and they say: Let her be stoned: and let our eye look upon Sion.

12But they have not known the thoughts of the Lord, and have not understood his counsel: because he hath gathered them together as the hay of the floor.

13Arise, and tread, O daughter of Sion: for I will make thy horn iron, and thy hoofs I will make brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many peoples, and shalt immolate the spoils of them to the Lord, and their strength to the Lord of the whole earth.

Important Verses in Micah 4

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared in the top of the mountains, and high above the hills: and people shall flow to it.

Micah 4:1

For all people will walk every one in the name of his god: but we will walk in the name of the Lord, our God, for ever and ever.

Micah 4:5

And thou, O cloudy tower of the flock, of the daughter of Sion, unto thee shall it come: yea the first power shall come, the kingdom to the daughter of Jerusalem.

Micah 4:8

But they have not known the thoughts of the Lord, and have not understood his counsel: because he hath gathered them together as the hay of the floor.

Micah 4:12

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Micah was written with israel and Judah, told what the Lord requires: justice, mercy, and humility in view. Chapter 4 of 7 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a legal and cultic instruction given to Israel regarding worship, holiness, and daily life with 13 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Jacob, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. The passage starts with these words: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared in the top of…" The final verse reads: "Arise, and tread, O daughter of Sion: for I will make thy horn iron, and thy hoofs I will make brass: and thou shalt…" The wider setting of Micah is this: A contemporary of Isaiah from a small country town, Micah denounced land-grabbing elites, corrupt judges, and prophets for hire in both kingdoms. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: About 740-700 BC.

Who Wrote It

The prophet Micah of Moresheth

When It Was Written

About 740-700 BC

Catholic Commentary

This chapter presents divine statutes and cultic norms that shaped Israel's worship and moral life. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared in the top of the mountains, and high above the hills:…" The passage repeatedly touches on God's kingdom and kingship.

Catholic exegesis reads Micah 4 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Micah's prophecy of Bethlehem is fulfilled in Christ (CIC 437). St. Leo the Great and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 26).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that What does the Lord require? Justice, mercy, humility. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Micah 4 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.
  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • Suffering, united to Christ, becomes a path of purification and deeper trust in God.

People in This Chapter

Jacob1 mention

Reflection for Today

Catholic exegesis approaches Micah Chapter 4 with reverence, seeking both the literal sense and the spiritual meaning ordered to Christ.

Catholic theology recognizes that judgment, hope, and the coming ruler from Bethlehem is not an abstract idea but a reality encountered in prayer, sacraments, and charity. This chapter contributes to that vision by stressing participation in Christ's priestly office through Baptism.

May your reading of Micah Chapter 4 become true lectio divina: read the words, meditate on their meaning, respond in prayer, and rest in God's presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to show how What does the Lord require? Justice, mercy, humility applies to your life today.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Micah Chapter 4 about?

Micah 4 contains 13 verses. It opens with "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared in the top of…" and closes with "Arise, and tread, O daughter of Sion: for I will make thy horn iron, and thy hoofs I will make brass: and thou shalt…". The book as a whole is prophetic oracles.

What is a key verse in Micah 4?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared in the top of the mountains, and high above the hills: and people shall…" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Micah Chapter 4?

This chapter mentions Jacob.

Who wrote Micah and when?

The prophet Micah of Moresheth. About 740-700 BC.

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