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.

MICAH 4:10KJV
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Micah 4:10 (KJV)

What does Micah 4:10 mean?

Micah 4:10 describes how the people of Jerusalem (called the "daughter of Zion") will go through a time of great suffering, like a woman in labor, as they are forced to leave their city and live in exile in Babylon. However, the verse also promises that God will rescue and redeem them from their enemies while they are there.

The prophet Micah is speaking to the people of Jerusalem during a time when their city faces threat and eventual conquest. He uses the image of childbirth to show the pain and struggle they will experience, but also hints at hope and new life, since God will not abandon them in exile. The verse sets up both the warning of coming hardship and the assurance of future deliverance.

The Hebrew behind Micah 4:10

  • "Pain" (חִיל, ḥîl, H2342) and "travail" (יָלַד, yālad, H3205) both use imagery of childbirth, highlighting not just suffering but the idea that this pain leads to something new or redemptive.
  • "Daughter" (בַּת, bat, H1323) and "Zion" (צִיּוֹן, tsiyyôn, H6726) together are a poetic way of referring to the people of Jerusalem, emphasizing their relationship to the city and to God.
  • "Redeem" (גָּאַל, ga'al, H1350) is a word often used for a family member rescuing someone in trouble, suggesting a close, caring act by God rather than just a distant rescue.

Why Micah 4:10 matters

  • Micah 4:10 clarifies that the exile to Babylon is not the end for Jerusalem, but a painful stage before deliverance, countering the idea that suffering means abandonment by God.
  • The verse connects the coming hardship to a larger story of hope, showing that God’s plans include both judgment and restoration.
  • The use of childbirth imagery helps readers see that even deep pain can lead to new beginnings, which is a theme that runs through the whole book of Micah.