Micah 5:1 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.

◄ Micah 5:1 ►

New International Version
Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod.

New Living Translation
Mobilize! Marshal your troops! The enemy is laying siege to Jerusalem. They will strike Israel’s leader in the face with a rod.

English Standard Version
Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops; He has laid siege against us; They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.

New American Standard Bible
“Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops; They have laid siege against us; With a rod they will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.

NASB 1995
“Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops; They have laid siege against us; With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek.

NASB 1977
“Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops; They have laid siege against us; With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops; They have laid siege against us; With a rod they will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.

Amplified Bible
“Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops; A state of siege has been placed against us. They shall strike the ruler of Israel on the cheek with a rod (scepter).

Christian Standard Bible
Now, daughter who is under attack, you slash yourself in grief; a siege is set against us! They are striking the judge of Israel on the cheek with a rod.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now, daughter who is under attack, you slash yourself in grief; a siege is set against us! They are striking the judge of Israel on the cheek with a rod.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
Jerusalem, enemy troops have surrounded you; they have struck Israel's ruler in the face with a stick.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Now, gather your troops, you city of troops. We are under attack. Enemies will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek with a stick.

Good News Translation
People of Jerusalem, gather your forces! We are besieged! They are attacking the leader of Israel!

International Standard Version
"Now marshal yourselves as troops. He has laid siege to us. They will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek with a rod."

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
But now slash yourself, daughter surrounded by soldiers! We are besieged! With a scepter they strike Israel's ruler on the side of his face.

New Heart English Bible
Now you shall gather yourself in troops, daughter of troops. He has laid siege against us. They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
Now you shall gather yourself in troops, daughter of troops. He has laid siege against us. They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Now gather yourself together, O daughter of troops, "" He has laid a siege against us, "" They strike [the] judge of Israel on the cheek with a rod.

Young's Literal Translation
Now gather thyself together, O daughter of troops, A siege he hath laid against us, With a rod they smite on the cheek the judge of Israel.

Smith's Literal Translation
Now thou shalt crowd thyself together, O daughter of a troop: besieging there against us; with a rod they will strike the judge of Israel upon the cheek.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now shalt thou be laid waste, O daughter of the robber: they have laid siege against us, with a rod shall they strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now you will be devastated, you daughter of a robber. They have placed a blockade against us, with a rod they will strike the jaw of the judge of Israel.

New American Bible
Now grieve, O grieving daughter! “They have laid siege against us!” With the rod they strike on the cheek the ruler of Israel.

New Revised Standard Version
Now you are walled around with a wall; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the ruler of Israel upon the cheek.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
NOW you shall go forth in a raid, O daughter of mighty raiders, for they have risen against us and have smitten the shepherd of Israel with a rod upon his cheek.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Therefore you shall go out with robbers, daughter of strong robbers who arose against us and they struck The Shepherd of Israel with a rod on his cheek

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Now shalt thou gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops; They have laid siege against us; They smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Now shall the daughter of Sion be completely hedged in: he has laid siege against us: they shall smite the tribes of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

A Ruler from Bethlehem
1Now, 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. 2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.

Matthew 2:6
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”

Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. / Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

Matthew 2:1-2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, / asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

John 7:42
Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”

Isaiah 11:1-5
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. / The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. / And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear, ...

Luke 2:4-7
So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. / He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. / While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. ...

Jeremiah 23:5-6
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. / In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.

Matthew 27:30
Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.

Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

John 18:36-37
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.” / “Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”

Hosea 11:1
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

Matthew 26:67
Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him

1 Samuel 16:1
Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”

Psalm 2:1-2
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? / The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:

Treasury of Scripture

Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops: he has laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.

gather.

Deuteronomy 28:49
The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

2 Kings 24:2
And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets.

Isaiah 8:9
Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.

he hath.

Deuteronomy 28:51-57
And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee…

2 Kings 25:1-3
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…

Ezekiel 21:21,22
For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver…

they.

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.

Lamentations 3:30
He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.

Matthew 5:39
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

judge.

1 Samuel 8:5,6
And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations…

Isaiah 33:22
For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.

Amos 2:3
And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD.

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Micah 5

1. The birth of Christ.
4. His kingdom.
8. His conquest.

Berean Study Bible

Now, O daughter of troops
The phrase "daughter of troops" is a poetic expression often used in Hebrew literature to personify a city or nation. Here, it likely refers to Jerusalem or the people of Judah. The term "troops" suggests a militaristic context, indicating a time of war or conflict. Historically, this period was marked by Assyrian aggression, and the imagery of a "daughter" evokes vulnerability, yet also a call to action. The Hebrew root for "troops" (גְּדוּדִים, gedudim) implies organized military units, emphasizing the need for readiness and defense.

mobilize your troops
This command to "mobilize" is a call to prepare for battle. The Hebrew verb used here (הִתְגֹּדְדִי, hitgoded) conveys urgency and action. It reflects the dire situation facing the Israelites, who must gather their forces in response to an impending threat. This mobilization is not just physical but also spiritual, as the people are called to trust in God's deliverance despite overwhelming odds. The historical context of Assyrian sieges underscores the gravity of this call to arms.

a siege is set against us
The term "siege" (מָצוֹר, matzor) refers to a military blockade designed to capture a city by cutting off essential supplies. In ancient warfare, sieges were common and often devastating. The phrase "set against us" indicates an imminent and unavoidable threat. This reflects the historical reality of the Assyrian Empire's expansionist policies, which frequently involved besieging fortified cities. Theologically, this siege represents not only a physical threat but also a test of faith for the Israelites.

They will strike the judge of Israel
The "judge of Israel" likely refers to a leader or ruler, possibly King Hezekiah during Micah's time. The act of striking with a "rod" symbolizes humiliation and defeat. In the Hebrew context, a "judge" (שֹׁפֵט, shofet) was a leader responsible for justice and governance. This prophecy foreshadows the suffering and trials that Israel's leaders would face, yet it also points to the ultimate hope of a future ruler who would bring true justice and peace.

with a rod on the cheek
Striking "with a rod on the cheek" is an act of insult and disgrace. In ancient Near Eastern culture, such an action was a profound humiliation, often reserved for captives or defeated foes. The "rod" (שֵׁבֶט, shevet) is a symbol of authority and discipline, yet here it is used to demean. This imagery not only reflects the immediate historical context of Assyrian dominance but also prophetically alludes to the suffering of Christ, the ultimate Judge of Israel, who would endure mockery and scorn for the sake of redemption.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(1) O daughter of troops.--This verse coheres better with the former chapter, to which it is attached in the Hebrew Version. Micah again interpolates a prediction of trouble and dismay between the sentences describing triumph and glory. The sentence of smiting the judge has its historical fulfilment in the indignities which happened to King Zedekiah.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 1-4. - § 8. After Zion's degradation Messiah shall be born, and shall bring the world into subjection. Verse 1. - This verse is joined to the preceding chapter in the Hebrew. Jerusalem is addressed, as in Micah 4:9, 11, not the invading army. The prophet returns to the view of the misery and humiliation expressed in that passage. Gather thyself in troops; or, thou shalt gather thyself, etc. Jerusalem must collect its armies to defend itself from the enemy. O daughter of troops. Jerusalem is thus named from the number of soldiers collected within her walls, from whence marauding expeditions were wont to set forth. Pusey considers that she is so called from the acts of violence, robbery, and bloodshed which are done within her (Micah 2:8; Micah 3:2, etc.; Jeremiah 7:11). Keil thinks the prophet represents the people crowding together in fear. It is more natural to refer the expression to the abnormal assemblage of soldiers and fugitives within the walls of a besieged city. Septuagint, Ἐμφραχθήσεσαι θυγάτηρ ἐμφραγμᾷ, "The daughter shall be wholly hemmed in;" Vulgate, Vastaberis, filia latronis. He hath laid siege. The enemy is spoken of by an abrupt change of person (comp. Isaiah 1:29). Against us. The prophet identifies himself with the besieged people. They shall smite the judge of Israel, etc. "The judge" represents the supreme authority, whether king or other governor (Amos 2:3); but he is called here "judge," that the sacred name of king may not be spoken of as dishonoured. To smite upon the cheek is the grossest insult (comp. 1 Kings 22:24; Job 16:10; Luke 22:64) When Zion is thus besieged, and its rulers suffer the utmost contumely, its condition must look hopeless, Such a state of things was realized in the treatment of Zedekiah (2 Kings 25.), and in many subsequent sieges of Jerusalem. But the underlying idea is that Israel shall suffer dire distress at the hands of her enemies until Messiah comes, and she herself turns to the Lord. The LXX. translates shophet, "judge," by φυλάς, "tribes," but the other Greek translators give κριτήν.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Now,
עַתָּה֙ (‘at·tāh)
Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

O daughter
בַת־ (ḇaṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1323: A daughter

of troops,
גְּד֔וּד (gə·ḏūḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1416: A band, troop

marshal your troops;
תִּתְגֹּדְדִ֣י (tiṯ·gō·ḏə·ḏî)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 1413: To crowd, to gash

for a siege
מָצ֖וֹר (mā·ṣō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4692: Something hemming in, a mound, a siege, distress, a fastness

is laid
שָׂ֣ם (śām)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

against us!
עָלֵ֑ינוּ (‘ā·lê·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

With a rod
בַּשֵּׁ֙בֶט֙ (baš·šê·ḇeṭ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7626: Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe

they will strike
יַכּ֣וּ (yak·kū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5221: To strike

on
עַֽל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the cheek
הַלְּחִ֔י (hal·lə·ḥî)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3895: The cheek, the jaw-bone

the judge
שֹׁפֵ֥ט (šō·p̄êṭ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

of Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

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OT Prophets: Micah 5:1 Now you shall gather yourself in troops (Mc Mic. Mi)