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Micah 4:10

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Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go [even] to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

Be in pain {H2342}, and labour to bring forth {H1518}, O daughter {H1323} of Zion {H6726}, like a woman in travail {H3205}: for now shalt thou go forth {H3318} out of the city {H7151}, and thou shalt dwell {H7931} in the field {H7704}, and thou shalt go {H935} even to Babylon {H894}; there shalt thou be delivered {H5337}; there the LORD {H3068} shall redeem {H1350} thee from the hand {H3709} of thine enemies {H341}.

Be in pain! Work to give birth like a woman in labor, daughter of Tziyon! For now you will go out of the city and live in the wilds till you reach Bavel. There you will be rescued; there ADONAI will redeem you from the power of your enemies.

Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor. For now you will leave the city and camp in the open fields. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies!

Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail; for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and shalt dwell in the field, and shalt come even unto Babylon: there shalt thou be rescued; there will Jehovah redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

Commentary

Micah 4:10 is a powerful prophetic declaration to the "daughter of Zion," representing the people of Jerusalem and Judah. It vividly portrays a period of intense suffering and forced displacement, yet it concludes with a definitive promise of divine deliverance and restoration.

Context

The prophet Micah lived in the 8th century BC, a time of significant political and spiritual turmoil for both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. He prophesied judgment against their sins, idolatry, and social injustice, particularly from their leaders. Chapter 4, however, begins with a glorious vision of future restoration and the establishment of God's kingdom on Mount Zion, where all nations will come to learn God's ways (Micah 4:1-3). Verse 10 serves as a stark interruption to this hopeful vision, detailing the painful path through which this future glory will be achieved: a period of exile.

Key Themes

  • Suffering and Travail: The imagery of a "woman in travail" highlights the extreme pain, distress, and helplessness that Judah would experience. This was not merely discomfort but a profound national agony, akin to birth pangs, signifying a painful transition.
  • The Babylonian Captivity: The explicit mention of "Babylon" is a direct prophecy of the coming exile to Babylon, which occurred centuries after Micah's prophecy. This historical event, where the people were forced "out of the city" and into a foreign land, was a defining moment of judgment and purification for Israel.
  • Divine Deliverance and Redemption: Crucially, the verse concludes with a powerful promise: "there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies." Even in the place of their deepest humiliation and suffering, God would act as their Redeemer. This underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people, even when they face the consequences of their unfaithfulness. It speaks to the truth that God's plan of salvation often involves passing through trials.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "labour to bring forth" (חִילִי, ḥîlî) carries the sense of writhing in pain, trembling, or being in anguish, often used in contexts of childbirth. This emphasizes the intensity and inevitability of the suffering. The term "redeem" (גָּאַל, ga'al) is a significant theological word, often referring to the act of a kinsman-redeemer buying back or delivering one who is enslaved or in distress. It speaks to God's active intervention on behalf of His people, not merely a passive rescue but a powerful, covenantal act.

Practical Application

Micah 4:10 offers profound insights for believers today. It reminds us that:

  1. Suffering Can Precede Breakthrough: Just as birth pangs precede new life, periods of intense difficulty or "travail" can be part of God's process to bring about spiritual growth, purification, or a new season of blessing.
  2. God is Present in Adversity: The promise of deliverance comes while the people are *in* Babylon. This teaches us that God does not abandon His people in their trials; He is present even in the darkest circumstances and can bring about redemption from within the very place of suffering.
  3. God's Promises Are Sure: Despite the impending judgment and exile, God's ultimate plan for His people was restoration and glory. This verse is a testament to God's unfailing commitment to His covenant and His long-term redemptive purposes, offering hope even when immediate circumstances are grim. It echoes the broader theme of God's faithfulness to His covenant people, as seen in Isaiah 43:1-2.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 48:20 (6 votes)

    Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it [even] to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob.

  • 2 Kings 20:18 (5 votes)

    And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

  • Isaiah 45:13 (5 votes)

    I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.

  • Hosea 2:14 (5 votes)

    ¶ Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

  • Isaiah 43:14 (5 votes)

    ¶ Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry [is] in the ships.

  • Hosea 13:13 (5 votes)

    The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he [is] an unwise son; for he should not stay long in [the place of] the breaking forth of children.

  • Isaiah 52:9 (5 votes)

    Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.