Matthew 2:6 kjv
And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Matthew 2:6 nkjv
'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' "
Matthew 2:6 niv
"?'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'"
Matthew 2:6 esv
"'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'"
Matthew 2:6 nlt
'And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
are not least among the ruling cities of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.' "
Matthew 2 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mic 5:2 | "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel..." | Primary OT source for the prophecy |
| Lk 2:4-7 | Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem for the census, where Jesus was born. | Fulfillment of Bethlehem birthplace |
| Gen 35:19 | Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (which is Bethlehem). | Historical connection to Bethlehem |
| Ruth 1:1-2, 4:11 | Elimelech and Naomi were from Bethlehem of Judah; Ruth became ancestress to David there. | Bethlehem as an ancestral home for Judah/David |
| 1 Sam 16:1, 4 | Samuel sent to Bethlehem to anoint David king. | David's origins in Bethlehem |
| 1 Sam 17:12 | David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse from Bethlehem in Judah. | Reaffirms David's connection to Bethlehem |
| Psa 23:1 | "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." | God as Shepherd |
| Isa 40:11 | "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms..." | Messianic/Godly shepherd imagery |
| Ezek 34:23-24 | "I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David... he will tend them." | Messiah as the Shepherd-King (New David) |
| Jn 10:11 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." | Jesus as the Good Shepherd |
| Heb 13:20 | "Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep..." | Jesus as the Great Shepherd |
| 1 Pet 5:4 | "...when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory." | Jesus as the Chief Shepherd |
| Rev 7:17 | "...for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd..." | Christ's eternal role as Shepherd |
| Isa 9:6-7 | "For to us a child is born...and the government will be on his shoulders..." | Prophecy of Messiah as Ruler/King |
| Jer 23:5 | "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king..." | Messiah as a Righteous King |
| Zech 9:9 | "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!...your king comes to you..." | Prophecy of the Messiah's coming as King |
| Lk 1:32-33 | "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David." | Jesus' reign as King |
| Jn 18:37 | Jesus confirms His kingship to Pilate: "You say that I am a king." | Jesus' identity as King |
| Rev 19:16 | "On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." | Jesus' ultimate Kingship |
| Matt 1:22 | "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet." | Matthew's theme of prophecy fulfillment |
| Matt 2:15, 17, 23 | Examples of Jesus' life fulfilling other prophecies. | Consistent theme of fulfillment in Matthew |
| Acts 3:18 | "...what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He thus fulfilled." | Divine plan in Christ's fulfillment of prophecy |
| 2 Sam 5:2 | "The Lord said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’" | David as Shepherd over Israel |
Matthew 2 verses
Matthew 2 6 Meaning
Matthew 2:6 is a pivotal verse declaring Bethlehem's divinely ordained role as the birthplace of the Messiah, identifying Him as a "Ruler" who will "shepherd My people Israel." It serves as a prophetic confirmation from the Old Testament, specifically from the prophet Micah, quoted by the chief priests and scribes to King Herod. This verse underscores Jesus' identity as the prophesied King and a caring leader of God's covenant people.
Matthew 2 6 Context
Matthew 2:6 is part of the account of the Magi's visit to King Herod in Jerusalem, seeking the newborn King of the Jews. Herod, disturbed by this news, convenes the chief priests and scribes, demanding to know where the Christ was to be born. Their authoritative answer, quoting from Micah 5:2, identifies Bethlehem of Judea as the prophesied birthplace. This moment is crucial as it demonstrates that Jewish religious authorities had the prophetic knowledge concerning the Messiah's birth location, yet many failed to act on it or acknowledge Jesus when He arrived. The verse highlights the precise fulfillment of prophecy, establishing Jesus' claim to be the long-awaited King of Israel and emphasizing divine orchestration even amid human skepticism and opposition. Matthew uses this episode to show Jesus as the King and true Son of David, confirming His messianic credentials to his Jewish audience.
Matthew 2 6 Word analysis
- And you, Bethlehem (Greek: Kai su Bethleem): "Bethlehem" (Hebrew: Beit-Lechem) means "house of bread" or "house of food," a small village with great prophetic significance. It was already renowned as the city of David's birth. The direct address personalizes the prophecy.
- in the land of Judah (Greek: gē Iouda): Specifically locates Bethlehem within the tribal territory of Judah, the tribe from which both David and the Messiah were prophesied to come. This reinforces the Davidic lineage of Jesus.
- are not least (Greek: ouch elachiste): This phrase is a notable departure from Micah 5:2's original "too little to be among the clans of Judah." Matthew's quotation is interpretive; instead of describing Bethlehem's physical size or political insignificance, it emphasizes its profound theological importance and exalts its status due to its unique messianic role. It suggests that while seemingly small, its ultimate destiny is one of greatness. This indicates a focus on divine purpose over earthly appearance.
- among the rulers of Judah (Greek: en tois hēgemósin Iouda): This refers to the principal towns or clans from which leaders, or "rulers" (hēgemón - governor, chief, leader), would emerge. By being the birthplace of the Messiah, Bethlehem becomes preeminent among these centers of authority.
- for out of you shall come (Greek: ek sou gar exeleusetai): A direct prophetic declaration, asserting divine decree and guaranteed fulfillment. It connects Bethlehem's destiny directly to the Messiah's appearance.
- a Ruler (Greek: hēgoumenos): From the same root as "rulers" above, but here referring to a singular, specific individual. It explicitly defines the Messiah's role as one of supreme authority, leadership, and governance over God's people. This highlights His kingly office.
- who will shepherd My people Israel (Greek: hostis poimanei ton laon mou ton Israel): This phrase adds the crucial dimension of the Ruler's nature and function. The Greek word poimanei means "to shepherd," denoting care, guidance, protection, and provision, like a shepherd cares for his flock. "My people Israel" refers to God's covenant people. This emphasizes the Messiah's role not merely as a king but as a compassionate, protective, and faithful Shepherd-King, fulfilling a promise repeatedly made by God throughout the Old Testament to provide a true shepherd for His flock.
Matthew 2 6 Bonus section
Matthew's method of quoting the Old Testament often involved adaptation for theological clarity, focusing on the Christological meaning rather than a strict literal word-for-word reproduction. His use of "not least" (instead of Micah's "too little") transforms Bethlehem's perceived insignificance into a profound statement of its honored status because the Messiah was born there. This interpretation aligns with Matthew's broader purpose of demonstrating Jesus as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah, whose birth in Bethlehem fulfilled centuries-old prophecies, underscoring God's meticulous plan and providence. The irony is that the religious experts, well-versed in Scripture, could correctly identify the birthplace of the Messiah but largely failed to recognize Him upon His arrival, setting a crucial theological challenge for the reader.
Matthew 2 6 Commentary
Matthew 2:6 presents the chief priests' and scribes' response to Herod's inquiry regarding the Messiah's birthplace. Their reliance on Micah 5:2 signifies the accurate theological knowledge available concerning Jesus' identity and origins. Matthew's adapted quote of Micah 5:2, particularly "are not least," recontextualizes Bethlehem's humility into an anticipation of its ultimate glory through the birth of Jesus. This King is not merely a political ruler but a caring shepherd, highlighting Jesus' dual role as sovereign authority and tender provider. The passage implicitly critiques those who possessed the prophetic insight but lacked the faith to pursue the Messiah. It affirms God's perfect timing and precise fulfillment of His divine promises, emphasizing that Jesus is the appointed Shepherd-King for God's covenant people.