King James Version

What Does Micah 5:6 Mean?

Micah 5:6 in the King James Version says “And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he ...” — study this verse from Micah chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders. waste: Heb. eat up in the: or, with her own naked swords”

Micah 5:6 · KJV

Context

4

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. feed or, rule

5

And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. principal: Heb. princes of

6

And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders. waste: Heb. eat up in the: or, with her own naked swords

7

And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.

8

And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. sheep: or, goats

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof. This verse predicts complete reversal: Assyria, the devouring empire, will itself be devoured. "Waste" (רָעָה, ra'ah) means to shepherd, tend, graze—but here in a destructive sense: to pasture/graze upon, consuming like flocks devour grass. The sword represents divine judgment executed through Messiah's forces. "The land of Nimrod" refers to Assyria's ancestral territories (Genesis 10:8-11 identifies Nimrod as founder of Nineveh). Mentioning Nimrod evokes humanity's ancient rebellion—the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). God scatters the proud, fulfills His purposes despite human opposition.

"Thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land." The pronoun "he" refers to the Ruler from Bethlehem (v. 2). Deliverance comes not through Israel's military might but through Messiah's intervention. The phrase "when he treadeth within our borders" (וְכִי יִדְרֹךְ בִּגְבוּלֵנוּ, ve-khi yidrokh bi-gevulenu) uses דָּרַךְ (darakh), to tread, trample—the same verb describing enemy invasion. When enemies violate God's people's borders, Messiah responds with judgment.

This prophecy had partial fulfillment when God destroyed Sennacherib's army (2 Kings 19:35-37)—185,000 Assyrians killed overnight by the angel of the Lord. Ultimate fulfillment awaits Christ's second coming when He judges all nations (Revelation 19:11-21). The principle endures: God defends His people; those who curse Israel incur divine wrath (Genesis 12:3). Christ's first advent brought salvation; His second brings justice. Believers need not avenge themselves—vengeance belongs to the Lord (Romans 12:19).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Assyria epitomized brutal imperial power in the 8th century BC. Their military machine conquered through terror—mass deportations, public torture, psychological warfare. Isaiah 10:5-19 describes Assyria as God's rod of judgment against apostate Israel, yet God would judge Assyria for its arrogance. Nahum prophesied Nineveh's destruction (fulfilled 612 BC when Babylon and Medes conquered Assyria). Micah 5:6's prophecy thus had historical fulfillment: the empire that destroyed Israel's northern tribes was itself destroyed. However, the ultimate fulfillment is eschatological—Messiah will judge all hostile powers at His return. Revelation describes Christ as King of kings treading the winepress of God's wrath (Revelation 19:15). The Lamb becomes the Lion; the suffering Servant becomes conquering King.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's judgment of oppressive powers like Assyria demonstrate His justice and faithfulness to His covenant people?
  2. What does this passage teach about the relationship between Christ's first advent (bringing peace) and second advent (bringing judgment)?
  3. How should awareness of Christ's ultimate victory over all enemies shape your perspective on present injustices and persecutions?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וְרָע֞וּ1 of 17
H7489

properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e., bad (physically, socially or morally)

אֶת2 of 17
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

בְאַרְצֵ֔נוּ3 of 17

“and the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מֵֽאַשּׁ֔וּר4 of 17

“of Assyria”

H804

ashshur, the second son of shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e., assyria), its region and its empire

בַּחֶ֔רֶב5 of 17

“with the sword”

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

וְאֶת6 of 17
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

בְאַרְצֵ֔נוּ7 of 17

“and the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

נִמְרֹ֖ד8 of 17

“of Nimrod”

H5248

nimrod, a son of cush

בִּפְתָחֶ֑יהָ9 of 17

“in the entrances”

H6607

an opening (literally), i.e., door (gate) or entrance way

וְהִצִּיל֙10 of 17

“thereof thus shall he deliver”

H5337

to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense

מֵֽאַשּׁ֔וּר11 of 17

“of Assyria”

H804

ashshur, the second son of shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e., assyria), its region and its empire

כִּֽי12 of 17
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

יָב֣וֹא13 of 17

“when he cometh”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

בְאַרְצֵ֔נוּ14 of 17

“and the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

וְכִ֥י15 of 17
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

יִדְרֹ֖ךְ16 of 17

“and when he treadeth”

H1869

to tread; by implication, to walk; also to string a bow (by treading on it in bending)

בִּגְבוּלֵֽנוּ׃17 of 17

“within our borders”

H1366

properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e., (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Micah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Micah 5:6 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Micah 5:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 10:8-11Isaiah 14:25Luke 1:742 Kings 17:3-5Nahum 2:11-3:3Isaiah 10:5-12

Places in This Verse

AssyriaRegion · Modern: Nineveh · 36.36°N, 43.15°E141 verses across 15 books
NimrodRegion · Modern: Nineveh · 36.36°N, 43.15°E1 verse across 1 book
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