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Advent Season · Fourth Sunday of Advent · Year C

Micah 5:2-5a

A Promised Ruler from Bethlehem

December 19, 2027

Shepherdess with her Flock, Jean-François Millet
Shepherdess with her Flock, Jean-François Millet, c. 1863Musée d’Orsay, Paris
A girl in a red cape knitting while her sheep graze behind her at dusk. It was the hit of the 1864 Salon, and made Millet's name after years of hostility.Micah's ruler from Bethlehem will feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, and Psalm 100 calls us the sheep of his pasture; this is what that work actually looks like.Jean-François MilletA founder of the Barbizon school (1814-1875), who painted peasant labour at a scale previously reserved for history painting and was attacked as a political radical for it.Musée d’Orsay, ParisThe Musée d’Orsay in Paris.Musée d’Orsay, Paris
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelLk. 1:39-45, (46-55)Lk 1:39-45, (46-55)
EpistleHeb. 10:5-10Heb 10:5-10
Old TestamentMic. 5:2-5aMi 5:2-5a
PsalterLuke 1:46b-55Lk 1:46b-55 orPs. 80:1-7Ps 80:1-7

Overview & Insights

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah... from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel.” (Micah 5:2)

In the previous chapter, 4:6–8 promised the return of a remnant to Zion, Yahweh’s rule over them, and the restoration of the Davidic throne. Then there followed with 4:9 a series of three oracles, each beginning with “now,” and each portraying Judah’s current desperate situation and Yahweh’s salvation yet to come. This passage, the third in the series, deals with the restoration of the Davidic throne in fulfillment of 2 Samuel 7:13.

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Commentary

Commentary on Micah 5:2-5aCommentary on Mi 5:2-5a Working Preacher

The Lutheran home commentary on God's faithfulness showing up in the small and unexpected.

Micah 5:2-5a CommentaryMi 5:2-5a Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed preaching commentary reading the Bethlehem ruler as prophecy's exclamation point.

Micah 5 - The Ruler from BethlehemMi 5 - The Ruler from Bethlehem Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse-by-verse evangelical study of the promised ruler and shepherd of peace.

Micah Commentaries and SermonsMi Commentaries and Sermons Precept Austin

A gateway to inductive word studies and cross references across Micah.

Micah 5:2 CommentariesMi 5:2 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the ruler out of Bethlehem.

Micah 5:2 Verse-by-Verse CommentaryMi 5:2 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight

A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further voice on the passage.

Background & Word Study

Micah 5 (Hebrew and English)Mi 5 (Hebrew and English) Sefaria

The Hebrew of the passage alongside English with linked Jewish commentary.

Micah 5:2 InterlinearMi 5:2 Interlinear BibleHub

The Hebrew of the passage word by word with parsing and lexical helps.

Book of Micah OverviewBook of Mi Overview BibleProject

An animated overview of Micah and its promise of a coming shepherd-king.

The Church Fathers

Micah 5 (Catena)Mi 5 (Catena) Catena

Patristic comments verse by verse on the ruler who comes from Bethlehem.

Questions preachers ask

Why is Micah 5 a Christmas prophecy?

Micah names the little town of Bethlehem as the birthplace of the coming ruler whose origin is from of old, the shepherd-king who will be their peace, fulfilled when Christ is born there.

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