Micah 4:6

KJV

In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;

KJV (with Strong's)

In that day {H3117}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}, will I assemble {H622} her that halteth {H6760}, and I will gather {H6908} her that is driven out {H5080}, and her that I have afflicted {H7489};

Complete Jewish Bible

"When that day comes," says ADONAI, "I will assemble the lame and gather those who were dispersed, along with those I afflicted.

Berean Standard Bible

“On that day,” declares the LORD, “I will gather the lame; I will assemble the outcast, even those whom I have afflicted.

American Standard Version

In that day, saith Jehovah, will I assemble that which is lame, and I will gather that which is driven away, and that which I have afflicted;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Micah 4:6 declares a profound divine promise of restoration for God's people, shifting from earlier pronouncements of judgment to a vibrant message of future hope and healing. The Lord, in His sovereign grace, pledges to actively gather and reassemble those who are weak, scattered, and suffering—specifically identifying them as "her that halteth," "her that is driven out," and "her that I have afflicted"—demonstrating His compassionate intent to redeem and restore His covenant community in a future, glorious "day."

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Micah 4:6 is strategically positioned within the prophetic book of Micah, specifically at the beginning of a significant shift in tone from judgment to restoration. Chapters 1-3 primarily detail God's indictments against Israel and Judah for their sins, culminating in prophecies of their destruction and exile. However, Micah 4:1-5 abruptly transitions to a glorious vision of Zion's future exaltation, where Jerusalem will be the center of universal peace and divine instruction. Verse 6 then initiates the Lord's direct declaration of *how* this restoration will occur, focusing on His personal intervention to gather the dispersed and afflicted remnant, thereby laying the groundwork for the Messianic prophecies that follow in chapter 5.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Micah prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (circa 750-700 BC), a tumultuous period for both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Assyria was the dominant world power, threatening and eventually conquering Israel (722 BC) and besieging Judah. The people faced internal corruption, social injustice, and idolatry, leading to divine judgment. The imagery of "halteth" and "driven out" directly reflects the physical and spiritual lameness caused by sin and the impending or ongoing exiles and dispersions. The promise of gathering speaks to the deep longing for return and security in a land often ravaged by foreign powers and internal strife, a common theme for a people whose identity was tied to their land and covenant with Yahweh.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Micah and broader biblical theology. First, it highlights **Divine Restoration**, emphasizing God's active role in reversing the consequences of sin and judgment, a theme beautifully articulated in [Jeremiah 31:10-14](/jeremiah/31-10-14 "Jeremiah 31:10-14 - God's Promise to Gather and Restore Israel"). Second, it underscores God's **Compassion for the Vulnerable**, as He specifically targets those who are weak, dispersed, and suffering, demonstrating a shepherd-like care for the marginalized within His flock, echoing the tender care for His people found in [Ezekiel 34:11-16](/ezekiel/34-11-16 "Ezekiel 34:11-16 - The Lord as the Good Shepherd"). Finally, the phrase "her that I have afflicted" points to God's **Sovereignty in Discipline and Deliverance**. It acknowledges that the suffering was not random but part of God's disciplinary hand, yet this affliction is not the final word; it precedes a promised, glorious restoration, affirming God's ultimate control over both judgment and mercy, as seen in [Lamentations 3:31-33](/lamentations/3-31-33 "Lamentations 3:31-33 - God's Compassion Endures").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **halteth (Hebrew, _tsâlaʻ'_):** From H6760, meaning "to limp (as if one-sided)." This term vividly portrays physical weakness or injury, but in a prophetic context, it extends to spiritual or national infirmity. It describes a people unable to walk uprightly, stumbling due to sin, oppression, or internal brokenness. It suggests a state of vulnerability and impairment, perhaps even a metaphor for a nation crippled by its own choices or external forces.
* **driven out (Hebrew, _nâdach'_):** From H5080, "to push off; to expel, mislead, strike, inflict, etc." This word denotes forced expulsion, banishment, or scattering. It precisely describes the experience of exile and dispersion that the Israelites endured under Assyrian and Babylonian conquests, highlighting their involuntary displacement and the loss of their homeland and communal identity.
* **afflicted (Hebrew, _râʻaʻ'_):** From H7489, "to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally); afflict." This term signifies suffering, trouble, or harm, and notably, it is presented in the first person: "her that *I* have afflicted." This directly attributes the suffering to God's sovereign hand, indicating that their trials were not accidental but part of His disciplinary plan, intended to bring about repentance and purification.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"In that day, saith the LORD":** This opening clause sets the eschatological stage for the prophecy. "In that day" (H3117, _yôwm_) is a common prophetic idiom referring to a future, decisive time of divine intervention, often associated with the Messianic age or the end times, when God's purposes will be fully realized. "Saith the LORD" (H5002, _nᵉʼum_ from H3068, _Yᵉhôvâh_) functions as a divine oracle, emphasizing that this is a direct, authoritative declaration from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, guaranteeing the certainty and power of the ensuing promise.
* **"will I assemble her that halteth":** The Lord declares His active intention to "assemble" (H622, _ʼâçaph_), meaning to gather for any purpose, including restoration. The object of this gathering is "her that halteth," referring to the spiritually and physically weak, those who are crippled or stumbling. This signifies God's compassionate focus on the most vulnerable and broken among His people, promising to bring them together from their dispersed and impaired state.
* **"and I will gather her that is driven out":** This clause parallels the previous one, reinforcing the divine promise of restoration. "Gather" (H6908, _qâbats_) echoes the meaning of "assemble," emphasizing the collection of scattered individuals. "Her that is driven out" (H5080, _nâdach_) specifically refers to those who have been exiled, banished, or forcibly dispersed from their homeland. God promises to reverse their forced displacement, bringing them back into unity and security.
* **"and her that I have afflicted":** This final clause completes the description of the people God intends to restore, adding a crucial theological dimension. "Her that I have afflicted" (H7489, _râʻaʻ_) explicitly states that their suffering was not merely a consequence of external forces or their own sin, but a direct act of divine discipline. Yet, the same God who afflicted them now promises to gather them, underscoring His sovereign control over both judgment and mercy, and His ultimate purpose to redeem and heal.

#### Literary Devices
Micah 4:6 is rich in **Parallelism**, a hallmark of Hebrew poetry, particularly evident in the repetition of divine action ("will I assemble," "I will gather") and the description of the people ("her that halteth," "her that is driven out," "her that I have afflicted"). This reinforces the certainty and comprehensiveness of God's restorative work. The phrase "saith the LORD" serves as a **Divine Oracle**, lending absolute authority and solemnity to the prophecy. The description of the people employs vivid **Imagery**, portraying them as physically and spiritually broken ("halteth," "driven out," "afflicted"), which evokes empathy and highlights the depth of God's compassion for their plight. Furthermore, the use of "her" to refer to the nation of Israel or Judah is a form of **Personification**, treating the collective as a single, vulnerable entity, emphasizing the intimate, personal nature of God's relationship with His people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Micah 4:6 stands as a powerful testament to God's unwavering covenant faithfulness and His ultimate purpose to redeem His people. It reveals a God who is not only just in judgment but also infinitely merciful in restoration. The "day" of gathering signifies the culmination of His redemptive plan, where the broken and scattered remnant will be brought back into a renewed relationship with Him, experiencing healing and security under His sovereign care. This promise underscores the biblical truth that God's discipline is always purposeful, aiming not for destruction but for purification and eventual restoration, demonstrating His steadfast love even in affliction.

* [Jeremiah 23:3](/jeremiah/23-3 "Jeremiah 23:3 - God Gathers the Remnant")
* [Zephaniah 3:19](/zephaniah/3-19 "Zephaniah 3:19 - God Deals with Oppressors and Gathers the Lame")
* [Isaiah 40:11](/isaiah/40-11 "Isaiah 40:11 - The Shepherd's Care")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Micah 4:6 offers profound comfort and enduring hope for believers navigating personal and collective struggles. It reminds us that our weaknesses, our feelings of being scattered or abandoned, and even the afflictions we experience, are not outside of God's sovereign knowledge and loving purpose. Just as He promised to gather the halt, the driven out, and the afflicted of ancient Israel, so too does He promise to care for us in our brokenness. This verse encourages us to trust in God's active presence and power to bring healing and restoration, even when circumstances seem bleak. It calls us to recognize His hand in our trials, not as a sign of abandonment, but as a potential means of discipline and purification leading to a greater, more complete gathering into His presence. Our hope is anchored in His faithfulness to His promises, knowing that He is meticulously working to bring all things to their glorious fulfillment in His kingdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do you identify with "her that halteth," "her that is driven out," or "her that I have afflicted" in your own life or in the current state of the church?**
* **How does understanding God's active role in both affliction and restoration (as implied by "her that I have afflicted" and "will I assemble") shape your perspective on suffering?**
* **What practical steps can you take to trust God more fully with your areas of weakness, brokenness, or feelings of being scattered?**

### FAQ

**Who is "her" that the Lord refers to in Micah 4:6?**

Answer: In Micah 4:6, "her" refers to the nation of Israel, specifically the remnant of God's people. This collective pronoun personifies the covenant community, encompassing both the northern kingdom of Israel (which had already experienced exile) and the southern kingdom of Judah (which faced impending exile). The descriptions "halteth," "driven out," and "afflicted" vividly portray the vulnerable, scattered, and suffering condition of the Israelites due to their sins and the subsequent divine judgment and foreign oppression. The Lord's promise is to gather this specific, chosen people back to Himself and to their land, restoring them to a place of strength and security, as part of His ultimate plan for [His covenant people](/jeremiah/31-31-34 "Jeremiah 31:31-34 - The New Covenant").

**What does "In that day" signify in this prophetic context?**

Answer: "In that day" (Hebrew: _yôwm_) is a significant prophetic idiom frequently used throughout the Old Testament. It does not refer to a literal 24-hour period but rather to a future, decisive period of divine intervention. In Micah 4:6, and in much of prophetic literature, "that day" points to the eschatological era—the time of God's ultimate fulfillment of His promises, often associated with the Messianic age or the end times. It signifies a period when God will fully establish His kingdom, bring about ultimate justice, and complete the redemption and restoration of His people, as foretold in passages like [Isaiah 2:2-4](/isaiah/2-2-4 "Isaiah 2:2-4 - The Mountain of the Lord"). It implies a dramatic shift from the current state of judgment and suffering to a glorious era of peace and divine presence.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Micah 4:6, with its promise of God gathering the halt, the driven out, and the afflicted, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the Good Shepherd who came precisely to "seek and to save the lost" ([Luke 19:10](/luke/19-10 "Luke 19:10 - Jesus Came to Seek the Lost")), gathering those who were spiritually lame, scattered by sin, and afflicted by the consequences of a fallen world. Jesus Himself embodies the compassion of God, healing the physically lame and outcast ([Matthew 11:5](/matthew/11-5 "Matthew 11:5 - The Blind See, the Lame Walk")), and more significantly, offering spiritual healing and restoration to those burdened by sin and brokenness ([Matthew 9:12](/matthew/9-12 "Matthew 9:12 - Jesus Came for Sinners")). The "gathering" promised by Micah is realized in Christ's establishment of His church, where people from every nation, once alienated and dispersed, are brought together into one body through His atoning sacrifice ([Ephesians 2:13-16](/ephesians/2-13-16 "Ephesians 2:13-16 - Christ Our Peace")). Ultimately, the "day" of complete restoration points to Christ's return, when all His redeemed will be finally assembled, with every tear wiped away and all affliction redeemed in the new heavens and new earth ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears or Pain")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Zephaniah 3:19

Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.

Ezekiel 34:12

As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep [that are] scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

Ezekiel 34:17

¶ And [as for] you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.

Psalms 147:2

The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

Isaiah 56:8

The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather [others] to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

John 10:16

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.

Isaiah 35:3

Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.