Micah 5 3

Micah 5:3 kjv

Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

Micah 5:3 nkjv

Therefore He shall give them up, Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; Then the remnant of His brethren Shall return to the children of Israel.

Micah 5:3 niv

Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.

Micah 5:3 esv

Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.

Micah 5:3 nlt

The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies
until the woman in labor gives birth.
Then at last his fellow countrymen
will return from exile to their own land.

Micah 5 verses

Micah 5 3 meaning

Micah 5:3 declares a period of divine abandonment for Israel, signified by "he shall give them up," until a specific pivotal event occurs: the birth of "she who is in labor." This moment of birth acts as a divinely appointed temporal marker, concluding the period of tribulation. Following this birth, "the rest of his brothers" – a faithful remnant of the Israelite people, kin to the promised Messianic ruler – will return. This return signifies not merely a geographical gathering but a spiritual restoration and reunion with the unified "people of Israel," all under the leadership of the Messiah foretold in the preceding verse. The verse points to God's precise timing for the fulfillment of His promises, despite periods of judgment and national suffering.

Micah 5 3 Context

Micah chapter 5 continues a series of prophecies against Israel and Judah (chapters 1-3) and promises of restoration (chapter 4). Immediately preceding verse 3, Micah 5:1 details an invasion and disgrace upon Jerusalem, likely referring to the Assyrian threat, while 5:2 dramatically shifts to a prophecy of a new ruler who will come from Bethlehem Ephrathah, whose origins are ancient and eternal. Verse 3 acts as an intermediate bridge, explaining the temporal delay and condition before this Bethlehem ruler's full reign and the full restoration of Israel. The historical context is the looming threat of Assyria, and the eventual Babylonian exile, which would indeed lead to Judah being "given up" into prolonged distress. The prophecy of the "woman in labor" sets a divine time-frame for Israel's abandonment and points directly to the arrival of the Messiah, linking the national destiny with His advent. This is a messianic prophecy within a larger context of divine judgment and ultimate salvation.

Micah 5 3 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן - lakhen): Connects this verse to the preceding Messianic prophecy in Mic 5:2. It indicates that the subsequent period of abandonment and tribulation is an ordained part of God's overarching plan, a necessary precursor to the Messiah's full reign.
• He shall give them up (יִתְּנֵם - yittnem): From the root נָתַן (nathan), meaning "to give," "to hand over," or "to abandon." Here, "he" refers to the sovereign God. "Them" refers to the people of Israel/Judah. This signifies a period of divine withdrawal or allowing national judgment, scattering, and exile, for a predetermined time.
• Until the time when (עַד-עֵת - ʻad-ʻet): Establishes a divinely appointed temporal boundary. This abandonment is not indefinite but has a fixed duration, contingent upon a specific, future event, highlighting God's meticulous scheduling.
• She who is in labor (יוֹלֵדָה - yoledah): Feminine participle, meaning "the one giving birth" or "the birthing one." While sometimes interpreted as the suffering nation of Israel giving birth to a remnant, in its direct Messianic context, supported by Christian interpretation of Micah 5:2, it is widely understood to refer specifically to Mary, the mother of Jesus, making it a prophecy of the Messiah's unique birth.
• Has given birth (יָלָדָה - yaladah): Denotes the completion of the labor and the actual act of birth. This event marks the definitive cessation of the "giving up" period, signaling the catalyst for Israel's turning point toward redemption.
• Then (וְשָׁב - weshāḇ): A temporal conjunction indicating the sequence of events. It marks what happens as a direct consequence after the fulfillment of the preceding condition (the birth).
• The rest of his brothers (שְׁאֵרִית אֶחָיו - sh'erith eḥāw): "His" refers to the Messiah, the promised Ruler from Bethlehem (Mic 5:2). "Brothers" refers to the people of Israel, underscoring their shared heritage and eventual kinship with the Messiah. "The rest" or "remnant" points to the prophetic concept that not all of Israel, but a faithful, purified portion will partake in the ultimate restoration.
• Shall return (יְשׁוּבוּן - yeshuvun): From שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to turn back," "to return," and by extension, "to repent." This encompasses both a literal return from physical dispersion and exile, as well as a spiritual turning back to God, orchestrated by the Messiah.
• To the people of Israel (עַל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - ʻal-bnei Yisra'el): Specifies the ultimate destination and purpose of the return. It signifies the gathering and reunification of the scattered faithful, re-establishing them as the true, unified covenant community under the Messianic Shepherd.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Therefore he shall give them up": This phrase highlights God's sovereignty over history and Israel's suffering. It establishes that even periods of judgment and national dispersion are part of a divine plan, not arbitrary events, underscoring God's justice in holding Israel accountable while maintaining control.
• "until the time when she who is in labor has given birth": This group of words serves as a divinely set chronometer for Israel's abandonment. The intense imagery of childbirth suffering preceding a joyful outcome symbolizes profound transition. Specifically identifying this "birthing one" with Mary emphasizes that the Messiah's advent is the pivotal moment that turns Israel's long period of judgment towards its destined restoration.
• "then the rest of his brothers shall return": This passage directly links the Messiah's birth to the subsequent, long-awaited restoration of Israel. "The rest of his brothers" foregrounds the significant doctrine of the remnant—that a chosen, purified segment of Israel will embrace the Messiah and be gathered. Their "return" signifies not merely geographical repatriation but a profound spiritual turning back to God, under the leadership of their Messiah.
• "to the people of Israel": This phrase completes the promise, detailing the culmination of the return. It speaks of the reunification and re-establishment of the true, faithful community of Israel. This restored nation will be characterized by its devotion to God and its recognition of the Messiah, fulfilling ancient covenant promises for their national and spiritual identity.

Micah 5 3 Bonus section

The concept of Israel being "given up" resonates strongly with the 'hiddenness of God' (Deut 31:17-18, Is 45:15) during periods of national suffering and dispersion. This prophecy not only points to the specific historical event of Jesus' birth but also spans the long "times of the Gentiles" (Lk 21:24) when Israel largely remained dispersed and alienated from their national identity. The "returning" of the remnant refers not just to a physical land return but, critically, a spiritual embrace of their Messiah, becoming part of the "true Israel." The phrasing "the rest of his brothers" highlights a vital theological theme in biblical prophecy—that while God’s covenant is with all Israel, the fulfillment of salvation is often actualized through a faithful remnant.

Micah 5 3 Commentary

Micah 5:3 is a profound prophecy articulating God's precise timing for Israel's destiny. It posits that a period of divine abandonment and dispersion ("he shall give them up") is not without limit but constrained by a specific, future event: the birth of the Messiah ("she who is in labor has given birth"). This singular birth acts as a temporal marker, concluding the age of profound national suffering for Israel. Following this pivotal moment, a "remnant" of the Messiah's kinsmen will be gathered and "return" to the true "people of Israel." This return signifies both a physical regathering from exile and a spiritual turning towards God under the leadership of the King prophesied in 5:2. The verse encapsulates divine justice, allowing for periods of suffering due to unfaithfulness, yet simultaneously emphasizes God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant, culminating in Messianic salvation. For example, during the Roman occupation and the long diaspora, Israel was "given up," but the birth of Jesus (the Messiah) ushered in the ultimate means for their return. This return is yet to see its full completion, especially in the eschatological sense for the nation.