Micah 5:8

Translation
King James Version
And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
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KJV (with Strong's)
And the remnant H7611 of Jacob H3290 shall be among the Gentiles H1471 in the midst H7130 of many H7227 people H5971 as a lion H738 among the beasts H929 of the forest H3293, as a young lion H3715 among the flocks H5739 of sheep H6629: who, if he go through H5674, both treadeth down H7429, and teareth in pieces H2963, and none can deliver H5337.
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Complete Jewish Bible
The remnant of Ya'akov among the nations, surrounded by many peoples, will be like a lion among forest animals, like a young lion among flocks of sheep - if it passes through, tramples and tears to pieces, there is no one to rescue them.
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Berean Standard Bible
Then the remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which tramples and tears as it passes through, with no one to rescue them.
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American Standard Version
And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep; who, if he go through, treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and there is none to deliver.
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World English Bible Messianic
The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the animals of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep; who, if he goes through, treads down and tears in pieces, and there is no one to deliver.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
And the remnant of Iaakob shalbe among the Gentiles in the middes of many people, as the lyon among the beastes of the forest, and as the lyons whelpe among the flockes of sheepe, who when he goeth thorow, treadeth downe and teareth in pieces, and none can deliuer.
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Young's Literal Translation
Yea, the remnant of Jacob hath been among nations, In the midst of many peoples, As a lion among beasts of a forest, As a young lion among ranks of a flock, Which if it hath passed through, Hath both trodden down and hath torn, And there is no deliverer.
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See also
Zechariah 10:5Micah 4:13Zechariah 9:15Psalms 50:22Obadiah 1:18Obadiah 1:19Zechariah 12:3
In the KJVVerse 22,642 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Micah 5:8 presents a vivid prophetic image of the future role of the "remnant of Jacob" among the nations. It depicts this preserved portion of Israel as a powerful, dominant, and irresistible force, likened to a lion among both wild beasts and domestic flocks. This imagery underscores their divinely appointed authority and the decisive impact they will have, capable of overcoming all opposition with none able to deliver those who stand against them, signifying a dramatic reversal of their historical subjugation.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Micah 5:8 concludes a significant prophetic section (Micah 5:7-9) that immediately follows the glorious prophecy of the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). While Micah 5:2-6 focuses on the Messiah as the ultimate deliverer and shepherd, Micah 5:7 introduces the "remnant of Jacob" as a source of blessing ("dew from the Lord") among the nations. Verse 8 then shifts from this benevolent image to one of formidable power and judgment, indicating that the remnant's influence will not always be benign, but will also involve decisive action against those who oppose God's purposes. This dual portrayal highlights the multifaceted nature of God's people in the eschatological age.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The book of Micah was prophesied during a turbulent period in Israel's history, specifically during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah (late 8th century BC). This era was marked by the looming threat of the Assyrian Empire, which ultimately conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel (722 BC) and besieged Judah. The people of Judah were often oppressed, exiled, or forced into subservience by stronger empires. The imagery of a lion was well-understood in the ancient Near East as a symbol of royal power, strength, and destructive capability, often associated with kings and conquering armies. By portraying the "remnant of Jacob" as a lion, Micah is subverting the typical power dynamics of his day, promising a future where God's people, though currently weak and scattered, will wield divine authority over the very nations that once oppressed them.
  • Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes prevalent in Micah and broader prophetic literature. The concept of the "remnant" is central, emphasizing God's faithfulness to preserve a core of His people even through severe judgment and exile, as seen in Isaiah 10:20-22. It highlights God's sovereignty and ultimate triumph, demonstrating His ability to reverse the fortunes of His people and establish their preeminence. The imagery of the lion conveys irresistible power and divine judgment, a theme also found in Hosea 13:7-8 where God Himself is described as a lion. This verse also speaks to the eschatological hope of a future age when God's kingdom will be fully established, and His people will play a crucial role in its manifestation, contrasting with the present suffering and scattering described in earlier chapters like Micah 1.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • remnant (Hebrew, shᵉʼêrîyth', H7611): This term refers to a remainder or residual portion, specifically those who have survived or been preserved. In prophetic literature, it often denotes a faithful core of Israel whom God has set apart and will ultimately restore, highlighting His enduring covenant faithfulness despite national apostasy and judgment.
  • Gentiles (Hebrew, gôwy', H1471): This word, often translated as "nation" or "people," specifically refers to foreign nations or non-Israelite peoples. The verse places the "remnant of Jacob" directly "among" these Gentiles, emphasizing their interaction and influence within the broader world, not in isolation.
  • tear in pieces (Hebrew, ṭâraph', H2963): This primitive root signifies to pluck off or pull to pieces, often in a violent, destructive manner, as an animal rending its prey. It powerfully conveys the irresistible and devastating impact of the remnant's actions, leaving no possibility of escape or recovery for those targeted.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people": This opening clause establishes the setting for the remnant's future activity. After a period of scattering and judgment, the preserved portion of Israel will find themselves not isolated, but actively present and influential "among" and "in the midst of" the surrounding nations. This implies a significant interaction and a position of prominence, rather than subjugation.
  • "as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep": This is the core of the powerful imagery. Two distinct similes are used: first, a mature lion dominating other wild animals in its natural habitat, symbolizing overwhelming strength and authority; second, a young lion (perhaps even more ferocious due to its hunger and agility) preying upon defenseless sheep, emphasizing the ease and totality of its destructive power against vulnerable targets. Both similes underscore the irresistible and unchallenged might of the remnant.
  • "who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver": This concluding phrase elaborates on the lion's (and thus the remnant's) destructive capability. The actions "treadeth down" (trampling underfoot) and "teareth in pieces" (rending apart) vividly portray a complete and utter dismantling of opposition. The final declaration, "and none can deliver," is crucial, emphasizing the absolute lack of resistance or rescue for those who face the remnant's divinely empowered force. It signifies an unstoppable, decisive victory.

Literary Devices

Micah 5:8 is rich in Simile, comparing the "remnant of Jacob" to a "lion among the beasts of the forest" and a "young lion among the flocks of sheep." This dual comparison intensifies the imagery, portraying the remnant as overwhelmingly powerful in any context—whether among strong adversaries (beasts of the forest) or weak, defenseless ones (flocks of sheep). The use of Hyperbole in describing the lion's actions ("treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver") emphasizes the absolute and irresistible nature of the remnant's future impact, suggesting a force that cannot be opposed or escaped. This serves to underscore the dramatic Reversal of Fortunes for Israel, from being scattered and oppressed to becoming a dominant, divinely empowered force.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Micah 5:8 is a profound statement about God's eschatological plan for His people, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His covenant promises. It reveals that the "remnant" is not merely preserved but empowered to execute God's righteous judgment and establish His kingdom. This imagery, while initially startling in its ferocity, speaks to the ultimate vindication of God's people and the decisive defeat of all forces that oppose His will. It highlights the principle that God often uses seemingly weak or oppressed instruments to accomplish His mighty purposes, turning the world's power structures upside down. The power described is not for selfish gain, but for the outworking of divine justice and the establishment of God's righteous reign on earth.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Micah 5:8 offers a powerful reminder that God's purposes for His people will ultimately prevail, regardless of present circumstances. For believers today, this verse provides immense encouragement, assuring us that even when we feel like a small "remnant" in a hostile world, God's power can transform our weakness into an unstoppable force for His kingdom. It challenges us to consider our role in God's grand narrative: are we living as a "remnant" faithful to His call, prepared to be instruments of His blessing and, when necessary, His righteous judgment in a world that desperately needs both? This passage calls us to trust in God's sovereign power, knowing that He is capable of turning the tide and establishing His will, even through those who seem insignificant. It also serves as a sober warning to those who oppose God's people and His truth, reminding them that ultimate deliverance will not be found outside of Him.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does the imagery of the "remnant of Jacob" as a lion challenge your perceptions of God's people in the world today?
  • In what ways might God be calling you, as part of His spiritual remnant, to exert influence or bring about change in your sphere of influence?
  • What comfort or challenge do you find in the declaration that "none can deliver" those who oppose God's ultimate plan?

FAQ

Does Micah 5:8 advocate for violence by God's people?

Answer: While the imagery of a lion "treading down" and "tearing in pieces" is undeniably violent, it's crucial to interpret this verse within its prophetic and theological context. It is not a call for physical violence by individual believers or even the nation of Israel in their own strength. Instead, it is a highly symbolic depiction of divine judgment and the irresistible power that God bestows upon His chosen instruments in the eschatological age. This power is ultimately exercised under the authority of the Messiah, the true "Lion of the tribe of Judah" (Revelation 5:5). The "remnant's" role is to be an instrument of God's will, which includes both blessing (Micah 5:7) and decisive, unyielding judgment against those who oppose His kingdom. It speaks to the ultimate triumph of God's righteous rule, not a mandate for human aggression.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Micah 5:8 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the true "remnant" and the embodiment of God's saving and judging power. While the immediate prophecy concerns the preserved people of Israel, the New Testament reveals that the spiritual "remnant" is found in those who believe in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, forming the Church, His body (Romans 9:27). Jesus Himself is identified as the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" in Revelation 5:5, signifying His absolute sovereignty, power, and authority to execute God's judgment and deliver His people. Through Christ, believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be instruments of God's truth and justice in the world, not through worldly might, but through the authority of the Gospel. The "treading down" and "tearing in pieces" ultimately point to Christ's final victory over sin, death, and all opposing powers at His second coming, when He will "tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty" (Revelation 19:15). Thus, the formidable power described in Micah 5:8 is perfectly embodied in Christ, and extended to His Church as they participate in His mission, ultimately culminating in His glorious and decisive reign.

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Commentary on Micah 5 verses 7–15

Glorious things are here spoken of the remnant of Jacob, that remnant which was raised of her that halted (Mic 4:7), and it seems to be that remnant which the Lord our God shall call (Joe 2:32), on whom the Spirit shall be poured out, the remnant that shall be saved, Rom 9:27. Note, God's people are but a remnant, a small number in comparison with the many that are left to perish, a little flock; but they are the remnant of Jacob, a people in covenant with God, and in his favour. Now concerning this remnant it is here promised,

I. That they shall be as a dew in the midst of the nations, Mic 5:7. God's church is dispersed all the world over; it is in the midst of many people, as gold in the ore, wheat in the heap. Israel according to the flesh dwelt alone, and was not numbered among the nations; but the spiritual Israel lies scattered in the midst of many people, as the salt of the earth, or as seed sown in the ground, here a grain and there a grain, Hos 2:23. Now this remnant shall be as dew from the Lord. 1. They shall be of a heavenly extraction; as dew from the Lord, who is the Father of the rain, and has begotten the drops of the dew, Job 38:28. They are born from above, and are not of the earth, savouring the things of the earth. 2. They shall be numerous as the drops of dew in a summer's morning. Psa 110:3, Thou hast the dew of thy youth. 3. They shall be pure and clear, not muddy and corrupt, but crystal drops, as the water of life. 4. They shall be produced silently and without noise, as the dew that distils insensibly, we know not how; such is the way of the Spirit. 5. They shall live in a continual dependence upon God, and be still deriving from him, as the dew, which tarries not for man, not waits for the sons of men; they shall not rely upon human aids and powers, but on divine grace, for they are, and own that they are, no more than what the free grace of God makes them every day. 6. They shall be great blessings to those among whom they live, as the dew and the showers are to the grass, to make it grow without the help of man, or the sons of men. Their doctrine, example, and prayers, shall make them as dew, to soften and moisten others, and make them fruitful. Their speech shall distil as the dew (Deu 32:2), and all about them shall wait for them as for the rain, Job 29:23. The people among whom they live shall be as the grass, which flourishes only by the blessing of God, and not by the art and care of man; they shall be beneficial to those about them by drawing down God's blessings on them, as Jacob on Laban's house, and by cooling and mitigating God's wrath, which otherwise would burn them up, as the dew preserves the grass from being scorched by the sun; so Dr. Pocock; they shall be mild and gentle in their behaviour, like their Master, who comes down like rain upon the new-mown grass, Psa 72:6.

II. That they shall be as a lion among the beasts of the forest, that treads down and tears in pieces, Mic 5:8. As they shall be silent, and gentle, and communicative of all good, to those that receive the truth in the love of it, so they shall be bold as a lion in witnessing against the corruptions of the times and places they live in, and strong as a lion, in the strength of God, to resist and overcome their spiritual enemies. The weapons of their warfare are mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strongholds, Co2 10:4, Co2 10:5. They shall have courage which all their adversaries shall not be able to resist (Luk 21:15), as when the lion tears none can deliver. When infidelity is silenced, and all iniquity made to stop her mouth, when sinners are convinced and converted by the power of the gospel, in the doctrine of its ministers and the conversation of its professors, then the remnant of Jacob is like a lion. This is explained, Mic 5:9, Thy hand shall be lifted up upon thy adversaries; the church shall have the upper hand at last of all that oppose her. Her enemies shall be cut off; they shall cease to be enemies; their enmity shall be cut off. Christ's arrows of conviction shall be sharp in their hearts, so that they shall fall under him; they shall yield themselves subjects to him (Psa 45:5) and be happily conquered and subdued, Psa 110:2.

III. That they shall be brought off from all carnal confidences, which they have relied on, that by the providence of God they shall enjoy such a security that they shall not need them, and by the grace of God they shall be brought to see the folly of them and come off from them. It was the sin of Israel that they furnished themselves extravagantly with horses and chariots, and were soothsayers and idolaters; see Isa 2:6-8. But here it is promised that they shall not regard them any more. The tranquillity of the kingdom of Christ is intended in that promise, which explains this, Zac 9:10, I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem. Note, It is a great mercy to be deprived of those things in which we have reposed a confidence in competition with God, which we have made our arm, and after which we have gone a whoring from God. Let us observe the particulars: - 1. They had trusted in chariots and horses, and multiplied them (Psa 20:7); but now God will cut off their horses, and destroy their chariots (Mic 5:10), as David houghed the chariot-horses, Sa2 8:4. They shall not have them, lest they should be tempted to trust in them. 2. They depended upon their strongholds, and fortified cities, for their security; but God will take care that they be demolished (Mic 5:11): I will cut off the cities of thy land; I will throw down thy strongholds. They shall have them for habitations, but not for garrisons, for God will be their only place of defence, their high tower, and their deliverer. 3. Many of them depended much upon the conduct and advice of their conjurors, diviners, and fortune-tellers; and those God will cut off, not only as weak things, and insufficient to relieve them, but as wicked things, and sufficient to ruin them (Mic 5:12): "I will cut off witchcrafts out of thy hand, that thou shalt no more take hold of them, and stay thyself upon them, and thou shalt have no more soothsayers, for thou shalt be convinced that all their pretensions are a cheat." The justice of the nation shall cut them off according to law, Lev 20:27. the preaching of the gospel brought men off from using curious arts, Act 19:19. 4. Many of them had said to the work of their hands, You are our gods; but now idolatry shall be abolished and abandoned (Mic 5:13): "Thy graven images will I cut off, and thy standing images, both those that were movable and those that were fixed; they shall be destroyed by the power of the law of Moses and deserted by the power of the gospel of Christ, so that thou shalt no more worship the work of thy hands, but be ashamed that ever thou hast been so deluded. Among other monuments of idolatry, I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee," Mic 5:14. These were planted and preserved in honour of their idols, and used in the worship of them; these they were ordered to burn (Deu 12:2, Deu 12:3), and, if they do not, God will, so that they shall not have them to trust to. And so will I destroy their cities, meaning the cities that were dedicated to the idols, to some dunghill-deity or other, which they confided in for their protection.

IV. That those who stand it out against the gospel of Christ, and continue in league with their idolatries and witchcrafts, shall fall under the wrath of God, and be consumed by it (Mic 5:15): I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen (that is, upon heathenism), such as they have not heard; idolatries shall be done away, and idolaters put to shame. I will execute vengeance upon the heathen who have not heard (so some read it), or who would not hear and receive the doctrine of Christ. God will give his Son either the hearts or the necks of his enemies, and make them either his friends or his footstool.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 7–15. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Micah
(Verse 7 onwards) And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples, like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or delay for the sons of men. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if it goes through, treads down and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver. Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots: And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strongholds: And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers: Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands. And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities. And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard. LXX: And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, in the midst of many people, as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, in the midst of many people, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off. And it shall be in that day, says the Lord, I will kill your horses from your midst, and I will destroy your chariots, and I will overthrow the cities of your land: and I will take away all your fortresses. And I will take away your sorceries from your hand, and those who speak, they shall not be in you: and I will destroy your carved images, and your statues from your midst, and you shall no longer worship the works of your hands. And I will cut down your groves from your midst, and I will demolish your cities, and I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the nations, because they did not listen. When Assyria comes upon our land and rises upon our borders, we shall be freed by the Lord who raised up seven shepherds and eight attacks of men against him, the remnants of Jacob, whom we understand as the apostles, and the first Church of the Jews, will be among many peoples like dew falling from the Lord. For the hearts of the people burned with the fiery arrows of the devil, and all the nations, being unfaithful to God, had hearts like a furnace kindled with fire (Hosea 7). Where the dew falling from the Lord, the health of the sick was made. And just as we read in Daniel (Dan. 3), that the spirit of the roaring dew extinguished the fiery furnace, let us generally understand this of all nations, that the doctrine of the Apostles was like dew from the Lord in the midst of all nations. But what follows: And like lambs on the grass, so that no one gathers and is not among the sons of men, let us receive this concerning those who from the nations did not want to believe, that they are the heavenly Apostles and the remnants of Jacob, like lambs grazing on grass, and gathering grass with their teeth. And they shall do this, so that those who did not want to be angels, receiving the spiritual dew, are by no means gathered among men, nor are they assigned to a rational part, but it is said of them: They are not in the toil of men, and they shall not be scourged with men (Ps. 73:5). And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of the nations like a lion among beasts in the forest, and like a young lion among flocks of sheep. For the Lord Jesus, of whom it is prophesied in Genesis: Judah, you have ascended from the offspring, my son, you have laid down to sleep as a lion and as a young lion (Gen. 49:9). And in another place, reclining as a lion, and like a lion's cub, who will rouse him? He also gave to his apostles, to whom he said: Go, baptize all nations in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19): so that just as no one can resist a lion among beasts, and a lion's cub among sheep, in the same way, those who have been freed from the hand of Assyria and from the hand of the devil would snatch away cattle and livestock; for the Lord will save both men and animals (Psalm 36:7). And they ravaged, not to kill, but to divide, that is, to separate from the infidels, and there would be no one to resist them. But with the lion and the lion's cub wandering among the livestock and the sheep, the hand of God is exalted over those who either troubled God or the relics of Israel before. And all his enemies will be scattered, not because the enemies perish and stop existing, but because they perish as enemies. As it is written to the Thessalonians: Whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth (II Thes. II, 8). This killing does not signify abolition, but rather the cessation of a wicked life, which they were living badly before. Finally, it concludes: And he will destroy with the brightness of his coming. However, he would never destroy if the killing signified abolition, since it would have already ceased to exist: thus the destruction of enemies here is understood, according to the Proverbs of Solomon, in which it is written: The destruction will lodge with the wicked: it will not be perpetual, it will not reduce them to nothing; but it will lodge with them as long as the wickedness that is in them is consumed. For God created man, so that he would not perish, and He did not make death. After this follows: And it shall come to pass in that day, when your hand is lifted up against your enemies, O Israel, and all your enemies are destroyed, I will kill your horses from among you, that is, the principal (ἡγεμονικῷ) impulses of your heart's lust, like horses breaking loose from their chains, rushing forward, and your chariots in which you delighted in your vices, and associating sins with sins, as if triumphing you were carried in triumphal chariots. And I will destroy the cities of your land. For you have not built a city that delights in the rushing of God's river (Psalm 49), nor the heavenly Jerusalem that is situated in the mountains (Matthew 5), but rather the city that Cain built (Genesis 4). Hence, the cities of the earth are said to be built with earthly works. And I will take away, it says, all your fortresses, your wealth, indeed, and the pomp of the world, and the eloquence of orators, and the arguments of dialecticians, in which you trusted as in fortresses. And I will take away the evil deeds from your hands, by which either you yourself were deceived by others, or being deceived, you deceived others. And those who speak or pronounce will not be to you. Now the world is full of those who speak and pronounce: they speak what they do not know, they teach what they have not learned: they are masters, when they have not been disciples before. Therefore, when God teaches man knowledge, false presumptions will cease, and perverse teaching will be removed. And I will destroy your idols and your statues from your midst. Our idols are those that are made by those who speak, or that we ourselves create for ourselves. Hence it is commanded in the Law (Exodus 20) , that we do not make idols for ourselves, and do not place statues in our land (Leviticus 26) : and you shall not worship the works of your own hands (Deuteronomy 5) . Unfortunate is the human condition, full of foolishness and error, knowing that doctrines are composed from one's own understanding, not ignorant that it is a simulated idol created by oneself, and worships the works of one's own hands as God, and man bends down, deceived to deceive. It is added in the promise that is directed to the remnants, that is, the remnants of Jacob: And I will cut down the woods from the midst of you, and will destroy your cities, so that all the trees of the forests, and the woods that were prohibited to be planted in the temple of God, and the badly constructed cities, which previously were called cities of the land, may be destroyed and consumed. But after he has done this to the remnants of Jacob, then he will turn to the nations that the Apostles, like lambs, have grazed. And because they did not want to receive the dew of speech, he said, 'I will make vengeance in anger and fury upon the nations, because they did not want to hear.' Hence the prophet says: 'Lord, do not rebuke me in your fury; nor chastise me in your anger.' (Psalm 6:1). According to the Septuagint interpreters, this is because it is a spiritual understanding, and we ought to connect the meaning with the previous chapters, as has been discussed. However, the Hebrews dream such delusions: After the seven whom they imagine, and the shepherds whom they want, and the eight princes of the Assyrians whom they have conquered, and they have fed the land of Nimrod with their swords, and this has happened when the Assyrian came into the land of Judah, then, they say, when Christ comes, all the remaining descendants of Jacob who can survive among the nations will be in blessing, like dew coming from the Lord, and like rain upon the grass, and they will not hope in men, nor in the sons of men, but in God. And they will be among the nations and peoples, bloodthirsty and cruel, seeking vengeance against their former masters, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, and like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, and there will be no one who can resist their strength. Then, O God, or O Israel, your hand will be exalted over the Assyrians and all your enemies who now possess you will perish. On that day, when you are liberated from the nations, I will remove your horses and chariots that are in your midst cities. Not because Israel had horses and chariots at that time, but rather the horses and chariots of the Assyrians that are in the midst of your cities. And I will destroy all your cities and the fortified places that you have dedicated to idols. And I will remove sorcerers and fortune-tellers from your land, and I will cause all your sculptures and statues to perish, and you will no longer worship the works of your hands. I will also uproot and overthrow all your groves, and the cities that you have dedicated to idols. And when I have done this to you, and have been appeased in this way, so that whatever evil is in you may be removed, then I will also avenge you in my fury and indignation against all the nations that have refused to listen to my word. Let the fleshly Israel respond here, whether it speaks of past or future events. If it mentions past events, let it provide a history and cite the authority of ancient books: let it teach all nations that Assyria was once subject to Israel. But if someone thinks that he will be secure while indulging in sinful pleasure, when Christ comes, what idols of Israel will be removed, which are not currently worshipped? What lights will be extinguished, which it does not have? What cities will be destroyed, which were once destroyed? What soothsayers will be taken away, whom it does not have, and should not glory in having? Yet for so long, the daughter of Zion has been abandoned, and she sits without an altar and without priests; while others enjoy the fruits of their labor, they themselves promise themselves a future with dry throats, not knowing what it will bring.
Richard ChallonerAD 1781
As a lion: This denotes the fortitude of these first preachers; and their success in their spiritual enterprises.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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