Micah – Chapter 5

Old Testament14 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 5 of Micah begins: "Now shalt thou be laid waste, O daughter of the robber: they have laid siege against us, with a rod shall they strike the cheek of the…" Jacob stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 14 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and sin and divine judgment. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1Now shalt thou be laid waste, O daughter of the robber: they have laid siege against us, with a rod shall they strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.

2And thou Bethlehem Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands of Juda, out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the ruler in Israel: and his going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity.

3Therefore will he give them up even till the time wherein she that travaileth shall bring forth: and the remnant of his brethren shall be converted to the children of Israel.

4And he shall stand, and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the height of the name of the Lord, his God: and they shall be converted, for now shall he be magnified even to the ends of the earth.

5And this man shall be our peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land, and when he shall set his foot in our houses: and we shall raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.

6And they shall feed the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nemrod with the spears thereof: and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he shall come into our land, and when he shall tread in our borders.

7And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples, as a dew from the Lord, and as drops upon the grass, which waiteth not for man, nor tarrieth for the children of men.

8And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, in the midst of many peoples, as a lion among the beasts of the forests, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, when he shall go through, and tread down, and take there is none to deliver.

9Thy hand shall be lifted up over thy enemies, and all thy enemies shall be cut off.

10And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that I will take away thy horses out of the midst of thee, and will destroy thy chariots.

11And I will destroy the cities of thy land, and will throw down all thy strong holds, and I will take away sorceries out of thy hand, and there shall be no divinations in thee.

12And I will destroy thy graven things, and thy statues, out of the midst of thee: and thou shalt no more adore the works of thy hands.

13And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: and will crush thy cities.

14And I will execute vengeance in wrath, and in indignation, among all the nations that have not given ear.

Important Verses in Micah 5

Now shalt thou be laid waste, O daughter of the robber: they have laid siege against us, with a rod shall they strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.

Micah 5:1

And he shall stand, and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the height of the name of the Lord, his God: and they shall be converted, for now shall he be magnified even to the ends of the earth.

Micah 5:4

And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples, as a dew from the Lord, and as drops upon the grass, which waiteth not for man, nor tarrieth for the children of men.

Micah 5:7

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that I will take away thy horses out of the midst of thee, and will destroy thy chariots.

Micah 5:10

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 5 of 7 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 14 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Jacob, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. It opens with the line: "Now shalt thou be laid waste, O daughter of the robber: they have laid siege against us, with a rod shall they strike…" The chapter ends with: "And I will execute vengeance in wrath, and in indignation, among all the nations that have not given ear. " Read against its original backdrop, A contemporary of Isaiah from a small country town, Micah denounced land-grabbing elites, corrupt judges, and prophets for hire in both kingdoms. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Micah around About 740-700 BC.

Who Wrote It

The prophet Micah of Moresheth

When It Was Written

About 740-700 BC

Catholic Commentary

The literal sense of Micah 5 presents a concrete episode in the history of judgment, hope, and the coming ruler from Bethlehem. A pivotal line is verse 1: "Now shalt thou be laid waste, O daughter of the robber: they have laid siege against us, with a rod shall they strike the cheek of the judge of Israel." The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 1604). Here, Micah's prophecy of Bethlehem is fulfilled in Christ (CIC 437). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize family and covenant relationships as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.
  • The Lord is a refuge and deliverer for all who call upon Him in trouble.

People in This Chapter

Jacob2 mentions

Reflection for Today

Micah Chapter 5, containing 14 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation, offers a distinct passage for prayer and meditation.

The Magisterium teaches that every biblical passage must be read in light of Christ, the center of Scripture (CIC 385). Here the emphasis falls on hope in the resurrection, which shapes how the Church understands judgment, hope, and the coming ruler from Bethlehem.

As you continue through Micah, carry this chapter's lesson into your family, parish, and work. Catholic faith is always ecclesial—God speaks to us as members of Christ's Body, not as isolated individuals.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Micah Chapter 5 about?

Micah 5 contains 14 verses. It opens with "Now shalt thou be laid waste, O daughter of the robber: they have laid siege against us, with a rod shall they strike…" and closes with "And I will execute vengeance in wrath, and in indignation, among all the nations that have not given ear. ". The book as a whole is prophetic oracles.

What is a key verse in Micah 5?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "Now shalt thou be laid waste, O daughter of the robber: they have laid siege against us, with a rod shall they strike the cheek of the judge of Israel." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Micah Chapter 5?

This chapter mentions Jacob.

Who wrote Micah and when?

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

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