Keraia
Micah 4

Micah 4:10

The Restoration of Zion · Micah 4:6–13
Read Micah 4

Translations

Modern
Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor. For now you will leave the city and camp in the open fields. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies!
Traditional
Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
Literal
Writhe, and bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor. For now you will go forth from the city, and you will dwell in the field, and you will go to Babylon. There you will be delivered, there YHWH will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.
Latin
Dole et satage, filia Sion, quasi parturiens, quia nunc egredieris de civitate, et habitabis in regione, et venies usque ad Babylonem: ibi liberaberis, ibi redimet te Dominus de manu inimicorum tuorum.

Original

Hebrew
English
Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor. For now you will leave the city and camp in the open fields. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies!

Notes

Micah 4:10

  • Babylon was about 1,700 kilometers (1,000 miles) from Jerusalem. People could not reach it by crossing the barren eastern desert.

  • The Lord's rescue of his people from certain death in Babylon would be greater than when he brought them out of Egypt. They were shaped in the womb of suffering and awaited a hopeful rebirth (Isaiah 43:1–5; compare Ezekiel 37).

  • For Micah, Babylon symbolized exile. In Micah's time (the late 700s and early 600s BC), there was no sign of a Babylonian empire replacing the Assyrians. But Micah spoke for God, who knows the future.

Micah 3:1–5:15

This message accuses the evil leaders who harmed God's people. It contrasts them with a vision of God's kingdom and a righteous king's rule. After facing judgment and exile, a purified Israel would return and receive God's blessings.

Events

Parallels

Zechariah 8:1–23

Places

Babylon: Ancient Mesopotamian city, capital of Babylonian Empire, site of the Tower of Babel Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions

Glossary

Book of Micah Book of Revelation Lamentations, Book of

Topics

Babylon: Predictions Respecting: Captivity of the Jews By Prophecies Concerning Israel: Prophecies Concerning of War and Other Judgments