The Meaning of Micah 5:4 Explained

Micah 5:4

KJV: And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.

YLT: And he hath stood and delighted in the strength of Jehovah, In the excellency of the name of Jehovah his God, And they have remained, For now he is great unto the ends of earth.

Darby: And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of Jehovah, in the majesty of the name of Jehovah his God. And they shall abide; for now shall he be great even unto the ends of the earth.

ASV: And he shall stand, and shall feed his flock in the strength of Jehovah, in the majesty of the name of Jehovah his God: and they shall abide; for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he shall stand  and feed  in the strength  of the LORD,  in the majesty  of the name  of the LORD  his God;  and they shall abide:  for now shall he be great  unto the ends  of the earth. 

What does Micah 5:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This Redeemer will arise and shepherd Yahweh"s flock (Israel) in Yahweh"s strength and majesty in harmony with His character (cf. Micah 2:12; Micah 7:14; Zechariah 10:3). Contrast the failure of Israel"s leaders in Micah"s day ( Micah 3:1-11). The Redeemer will worship Yahweh as His God, another indication of His humanity. In the ancient Near East, kings frequently referred to themselves as the shepherds of their people. [1] It is the pastoral role of Israel"s messianic King, leading and caring for His people, that is in view here. The Israelites will remain in their secure and glorious position because He will be so great; His greatness will guarantee His people"s security (cf. Zechariah 14:11). People throughout the world will acknowledge His greatness (cf. Malachi 1:11).

Context Summary

Micah 5:1-15 - The Deliverer From Bethlehem
This name for Bethlehem recalls Genesis 48:7. Though insignificant in size she would outshine her compeers, because of Messiah's birth, Matthew 2:6. As man, our Lord comes from David's city; but as Son of God, His goings forth are from eternity. Though the Jewish flock rejected Him, He is the Shepherd of men. He is great to the ends of the earth, and has made peace by the blood of His Cross. What though the Assyrian, whether ancient or modern, threaten us, shepherds and princes shall be raised up as delivers, Micah 5:5. The ranks of the democracy hold within themselves unbounded stores of leadership. God's people refresh the world like dew, and are lionlike in strength and courage, Micah 5:8. Horses, chariots, and walled cities, are classed with witchcrafts, etc., because they weaned away the trust of God's people. "Thou shalt no more worship the work of thy hands." [source]

Chapter Summary: Micah 5

1  The birth of Christ
4  His kingdom
8  His conquest

What do the individual words in Micah 5:4 mean?

And He shall stand and feed [His flock] in the strength of Yahweh in the majesty of the name of Yahweh His God and they shall abide for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth
וְעָמַ֗ד וְרָעָה֙ בְּעֹ֣ז יְהוָ֔ה בִּגְא֕וֹן שֵׁ֖ם יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑יו וְיָשָׁ֕בוּ כִּֽי־ עַתָּ֥ה יִגְדַּ֖ל עַד־ אַפְסֵי־ אָֽרֶץ

וְעָמַ֗ד  And  He  shall  stand 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
וְרָעָה֙  and  feed  [His  flock] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָעָה 
Sense: to pasture, tend, graze, feed.
בְּעֹ֣ז  in  the  strength  of 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֹז  
Sense: might, strength.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
בִּגְא֕וֹן  in  the  majesty 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: גָּאֹון  
Sense: exaltation, majesty, pride.
שֵׁ֖ם  of  the  name  of 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
אֱלֹהָ֑יו  His  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְיָשָׁ֕בוּ  and  they  shall  abide 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
עַתָּ֥ה  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
יִגְדַּ֖ל  He  shall  be  great 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּדַל  
Sense: to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things.
אַפְסֵי־  the  ends 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אֶפֶס 
Sense: ceasing, end, finality.
אָֽרֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.