Micah 5:1 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Under siege, the people muster for battle, and the ruler of Israel is humiliated, struck on the cheek with a rod.
What Does Micah 5:1 Mean?
The chapter opens in distress. The city is besieged, called to gather its troops, and the judge of Israel is struck on the cheek with a rod, a public humiliation of the nation's leader. The kingdom is brought low before its rescue.
The striking of the ruler's cheek is a picture of deepest shame and defeat. Yet this dark moment is the threshold of the chapter's great promise. Out of the lowest point, where Israel's leader is mocked and beaten, God will raise up a Ruler of an entirely different order, as the very next verse declares.
Micah 5:1 in the Original Language
shevet (שֵׁבֶט), 'rod' -- a staff or scepter, here the instrument of insult against the ruler.
Frequently Asked Questions About Micah 5:1
What does Micah 5:1 mean?
Under siege, the people muster for battle, and the ruler of Israel is humiliated, struck on the cheek with a rod.