TRV
Micah 5:1
Bible Versions
¶ 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.
Now gather yourself in troops, you who are accustomed to being in troops; they have laid siege to us. They are striking the judge of Isra'el on the cheek with a stick.
Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.
Now shalt thou 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.
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Lamentations 3:30
He giveth [his] cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. -
Job 16:10
They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. -
Acts 23:2
And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. -
John 19:3
And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. -
John 18:22
And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? -
Matthew 26:67
Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote [him] with the palms of their hands, -
2 Kings 25:1
¶ And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth [day] of the month, [that] Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.
Micah 5:1 KJV presents a stark and somber image of national distress and profound humiliation for Judah, serving as a dramatic prelude to the glorious messianic prophecy that immediately follows in the next verse. This verse captures a moment of intense crisis, illustrating the vulnerability of God's people in the face of their enemies.
Context and Historical Background
Prophet Micah delivered his messages during a turbulent period in Israelite history, specifically the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (approximately 735-700 BC). This era was marked by the growing threat and eventual conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrian Empire, and significant pressure on the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The phrase "Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops" (or "daughter of bands") likely refers to Jerusalem or the nation of Judah, depicted as preparing for a desperate defense or perhaps as being divided into military units by the invading force. The declaration "he hath laid siege against us" vividly describes the immediate military peril, a common experience for ancient cities facing powerful empires.
The most striking and painful image is "they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek." The "judge of Israel" here refers to the king or a prominent leader of Judah. To be "smitten with a rod upon the cheek" was an act of extreme public humiliation, a grave insult signifying contempt, degradation, and a complete lack of respect for authority. This prophecy likely pointed to a specific historical event, perhaps the humiliation of King Hezekiah or another Judean king during an Assyrian siege, or it could be a more generalized depiction of the suffering and dishonor that would befall Judah's leadership before the coming of the Messiah.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew phrase "daughter of troops" (bat gedudim) can be understood as a city or nation that is itself warlike, or one that will be divided into troops, perhaps for battle or even for captivity. The act of being "smitten with a rod upon the cheek" (al halleḥi baššēḇeṭ) is not merely a physical blow but a symbolic act of ultimate degradation and contempt. This imagery reappears in other prophetic texts to describe severe suffering and humiliation, notably in passages that foreshadow the suffering of the Messiah, who would indeed endure similar indignities (see Isaiah 50:6 and Lamentations 3:30).
Practical Application
Micah 5:1 reminds us that God's people are not exempt from suffering, humiliation, or periods of intense trial. Nations and leaders can face severe challenges and degradation. However, the placement of this verse, immediately before the promise of the Messiah, offers a profound theological insight: even in moments of deepest despair and national shame, God's redemptive plan is at work. It teaches us that periods of darkness can precede the dawn of God's greatest blessings. For believers today, it encourages perseverance through trials, trusting that God's ultimate purpose, often revealed through the saving work of Christ, will prevail over all forms of human oppression and suffering. It highlights the often-painful path that can lead to divine intervention and the fulfillment of God's promises.