Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Micah 5:3 Therefore He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren Will return to the sons of Israel. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Micah 5:3 Therefore, He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has given birth to a child. Then what is left of His kinsmen Shall return to the children of Israel. |
Bible Question:
Micah 5:3 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity." Since verse 3 begins with "Therefore," I ask what is it therefore? It has been my understanding that this verse is prophetic indicating the birthplace of Jesus. So, I'm struggling a bit with the concept that verse 3 refers to the Babylonian captivity as previously suggested. What does He give up? Could this be a reference to Phi 2:6-7? OR . . . I'm also wondering if this refers to Israel being given up until the time of the Gentiles is completed and then they will be returned.("and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." Luke 221:24) Any comments? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Mommapbs! Here is a bit of commentary on Micah 5:2,3.. "5:2 Bethlehem Ephrathah. The town S of Jerusalem which was the birthplace of David and later Jesus Christ (1 Sam. 16; Matt. 2:5; Luke 2:4-7). The name Bethlehem means "house of bread" because the area was a grain producing region in OT times. The name Ephrathah ("fruitful") differentiates it from the Galilean town by the same name. The town, known for her many vineyards and olive orchards, was small in size but not in honor. 'from of old, From everlasting.' This speaks of eternal God's incarnation in the person of Jesus Christ. It points to His millennial reign as King of Kings (cf. Is. 9:6)." (1) "5:3 give them up. A reference to the interval between Messiah's rejection at His First Advent and His Second Advent, during the times of the Gentiles when Israel rejects Christ and is under the domination of enemies. Regathering of the "remnant of His brethren" did not occur at the First Advent but is slated for the Second Advent (cf. Is. 10:20-22; 11:11-16). Nor can "return" speak of Gentiles, since it cannot be said that they "returned" to the Lord. Rather, the context of 5:3,4 is millennial and cannot be made to fit the First Advent. Thus, "she who is in labor" must denote the nation of Israel (cf. Rev. 12:1-6)." (1) "5:3 The future of Israel is pictured here in terms of the birth, life, and ministry of the Savior King. The two advents of the Savior are seen as one event by Micah. Whereas v.2 speaks of the birth of the Savior in His First Coming, vv. 3-5 speak of the time of the rule of Jesus in the Second Coming. "She who is in labor" probably refers to Zion (4:10). The metaphor refers to the deliverance in the end time of those who will be able to delight in the coming of God's kingdom (4:9-5:1). the remnant: This minority will never be forgotten by the Lord." (2) You are correct! Verses 2 and 3 do prophesy concerning Jesus' birth. I do not see the Babylonian captivity as being referred to in either of these verses, and to 'try' to put that meaning into these as well only complicates and confuses things. Blessings to you, Makarios (1) The MacArthur Study Bible, 1997, Word Publishing, John MacArthur, pg. 1304 (2) The Nelson Study Bible, New King James Version, 1997, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Earl D. Radmacher, Th.D., pg. 1507 |