Micah 5: A Ruler from Bethlehem

Micah says that out of small Bethlehem Ephrathah will come one who will be ruler in Israel, whose goings out are from of old. He will shepherd in the strength of Yahweh and be great to the ends of the earth. He will be our peace. Yahweh also promises to remove idols and false trust from his people.

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Read Micah 5

World English Bible · 15 verses

¹ 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me who is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Therefore he will abandon them until the time that she who is in labor gives birth. Then the rest of his brothers will return to the children of Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ He shall stand, and shall shepherd in the strength of Yahweh, in the majesty of the name of Yahweh his God. They will live, for then he will be great to the ends of the earth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ He will be our peace when Assyria invades our land and when he marches through our fortresses, then we will raise against him seven shepherds, and eight leaders of men.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in its gates. He will deliver us from the Assyrian, when he invades our land, and when he marches within our border.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ The remnant of Jacob will be among many peoples like dew from Yahweh, like showers on the grass, that don’t wait for man nor wait for the sons of men.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, among many peoples, like a lion among the animals of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep; who, if he goes through, treads down and tears in pieces, and there is no one to deliver.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Let your hand be lifted up above your adversaries, and let all of your enemies be cut off.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ “It will happen in that day”, says Yahweh, “that I will cut off your horses from among you and will destroy your chariots.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ I will cut off the cities of your land and will tear down all your strongholds.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² I will destroy witchcraft from your hand. You shall have no soothsayers.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ I will cut off your engraved images and your pillars from among you; and you shall no more worship the work of your hands.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ I will uproot your Asherah poles from among you; and I will destroy your cities.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ I will execute vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations that didn’t listen.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Micah 5 · Preschool

Bethlehem

Name Date

Color the little town and the bright star. God promised a great ruler from Bethlehem.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me who is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times.”

Micah 5:2 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: God said a great ruler would come from the little town of Bethlehem. In the New Testament, Jesus was born in Bethlehem!

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Micah 5 · Grade 4

The Ruler from Bethlehem

Name Date

Read and Think

Micah 5 begins with Jerusalem under siege. Then Micah speaks to a small town: you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah. Out of it one will come who is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times. Bethlehem was also the town of King David.

This ruler will stand and shepherd in the strength of Yahweh, in the majesty of the name of Yahweh his God. His people will live securely, for he will be great to the ends of the earth. Micah says, he will be our peace. The remnant of Jacob will be among many peoples like dew from Yahweh, like showers on the grass.

In that day, Yahweh will remove the things his people trusted instead of him: horses, chariots, strongholds, witchcraft, and idols. They would no more worship the work of their hands. In the New Testament, Matthew 2:5-6 tells how the chief priests and scribes quoted Micah 5:2 when Herod asked where the Christ would be born.

Show What You Know

Why is it surprising that the ruler comes from Bethlehem?
What does verse 2 say about the ruler's goings out?
How will this ruler lead his people?
What will Yahweh remove from his people?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

rulerBethlehemstrengthremnantpeace

Then Micah speaks to a small town: you, Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah.
Out of it one will come who is to be in Israel, whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times.
This ruler will stand and shepherd in the of Yahweh, in the majesty of the name of Yahweh his God.
Micah says, he will be our .
The of Jacob will be among many peoples like dew from Yahweh, like showers on the grass.

Think About It

God chose a small town for a great ruler. How does God use small or overlooked things?
God removed things his people trusted instead of him. What might people today trust more than God?

Memory Verse

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me who is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times.”

Micah 5:2 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for sending a great Shepherd. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Who helps you be strong when you need to help others?
What things in your life could be crowding out your trust in God?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Micah 5 · Grade 5

He Will Be Our Peace

Name Date

Read and Think

Micah 5 opens in a crisis: Jerusalem is under siege, and the judge of Israel is struck on the cheek. Into that humiliation God speaks a promise to a small town. God says, but you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me who is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times. Bethlehem was David's hometown, so the promise recalls God's covenant with David's family.

This ruler will stand and shepherd in the strength of Yahweh, in the majesty of the name of Yahweh his God. His people will live securely, for he will be great to the ends of the earth. Micah says he will be our peace when Assyria invades. The remnant of Jacob will be like dew from Yahweh, refreshing many peoples, and also like a lion, strong against its enemies.

The chapter ends with God purifying his people. In that day Yahweh will cut off their horses and chariots, their strongholds, their witchcraft, their engraved images, and their Asherah poles. They will no more worship the work of their hands. God removes every false source of security so that his people trust him alone. In the New Testament, Matthew 2:6 quotes Micah 5:2 when Herod asks where the Christ would be born, and Christians believe Jesus is this eternal Shepherd-King.

Show What You Know

What is the situation at the start of chapter 5?
Why does Bethlehem's connection to David matter?
What two pictures describe the remnant of Jacob?
Why does God remove horses, chariots, and idols?

Crossword

Across

The ____ of Jacob will be among the nations.

Down

He will be our ____ when Assyria invades our land and when he marches through our fortresses.
And shall shepherd in the ____ of Yahweh.
That don’t ____ for man nor wait for the sons of men.
Out of you one will come out to me who is to be ____ in Israel.

Think About It

Micah says the ruler will be our peace. How does God bring peace to your life?
God took away the things Israel trusted instead of him. What would it look like for you to trust God more than your own strength?

Memory Verse

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me who is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times.”

Micah 5:2 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for sending a great Shepherd. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why do you think God planned Jesus's birth so long before it happened?
What is one thing you are tempted to rely on instead of God?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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‹ All Micah chapters · All books

Micah 5: A Ruler from Bethlehem

Read Micah 5

Worksheets

Bethlehem

Prayer

Take It Home

A Ruler Is Coming

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

A Shepherd King

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

From Bethlehem

Prayer

Take It Home

A Ruler from a Small Town

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Small Town, Great King

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

From Bethlehem

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

The Ruler from Bethlehem

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

He Will Be Our Peace

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options