Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever.
Parallel translations
- WEB Indeed all the nations may walk in the name of their gods; but we will walk in the name of Yahweh our God forever and ever.
- KJV For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
- BSB Though each of the peoples may walk in the name of his god, yet we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.
- NKJV For all people walk each in the name of his god, But we will walk in the name of the Lord our God Forever and ever.
- NASB Though all the peoples walk, Each in the name of his god, As for us, we will walk In the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Though the nations follow their own gods now, God's people resolve to walk in the LORD's name forever. It calls for present faithfulness in light of the future hope.
Overview
While awaiting the glorious future, believers commit to loyal worship of Yahweh amid a world of competing gods. The verse contrasts the temporary allegiances of the nations with the eternal devotion of God's people. Such steadfastness is the fitting response to the promises just declared.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Zech 10:12I will strengthen them in Yahweh; and they will walk up and down in his name,” says Yahweh.
- Josh 24:15If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.”
- Col 3:17Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.
- Isa 2:5House of Jacob, come, and let us walk in the light of Yahweh.
- Ps 48:14For this God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even to death.
- Ps 145:1–2A praise psalm by David. I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever.
- 2 Kgs 17:29However every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities in which they lived.
- 2 Kgs 17:34To this day they do what they did before. They don’t fear Yahweh, and they do not follow the statutes, or the ordinances, or the law, or the commandment which Yahweh commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;
- Isa 26:8Yes, in the way of your judgments, Yahweh, have we waited for you. Your name and your renown are the desire of our soul.
- Gen 17:1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and be blameless.
- Col 2:6As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him,
- Exod 3:14–15God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
- Jer 2:10–11For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see; and send to Kedar, and consider diligently; and see if there has been such a thing.
- Ps 71:16I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Yahweh. I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Micah names the town — 'But you, Bethlehem... from you shall come forth one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origins are from of old' — the birthplace of the eternal King.
How Micah 4:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.