Micah 5:2 kjva — But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth…

King James Version with Apocrypha

"But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."

— Micah 5:2, King James Version with Apocrypha

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Micah 5:2 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

  • ASV

    “But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. ”

  • WEB

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

  • NET

    “A King Will Come and a Remnant Will Prosper(5:1) As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah– from you a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf, one whose origins are in the distant past.”

  • DRB

    “And thou Bethlehem Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands of Juda, out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the ruler in Israel: and his going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity.”

  • BBE

    “And you, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, the least among the families of Judah, out of you one will come to me who is to be ruler in Israel; whose going out has been purposed from time past, from the eternal days.”

Micah 5 — Context

1

Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.

2

But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

3

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.

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.

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.

Micah 5:2 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Micah 5:2 say?
Micah 5:2 in the King James Version with Apocrypha reads: “But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
Where is Micah 5:2 in the Bible?
Micah 5:2 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Micah, chapter 5, verse 2.
Who wrote Micah?
Micah is traditionally attributed to Micah of Moresheth. It was written c. 735–700 BC.
What is the book of Micah about?
Micah pronounces judgment on the corruption of leaders, prophets, and priests, but also points beyond it — to a ruler who will come from Bethlehem and shepherd God's flock. His famous summary of true religion still defines covenant life.
What are the major themes of Micah?
Micah explores themes including Justice, Mercy, Humility, Bethlehem, Coming Ruler. These themes shape the meaning and context of Micah 5:2.
What translation should I read Micah 5:2 in?
Micah 5:2 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Micah 5:2?
Micah 5:2 reads (KJVA): “But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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