Matthew 2:5
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
Original Language Analysis
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 14
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτῷ
unto him
G846
αὐτῷ
unto him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
4 of 14
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 14
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰουδαίας·
of Judaea
G2449
Ἰουδαίας·
of Judaea
Strong's:
G2449
Word #:
8 of 14
the judaean land (i.e., judaea), a region of palestine
γὰρ
for
G1063
γὰρ
for
Strong's:
G1063
Word #:
10 of 14
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
γέγραπται
it is written
G1125
γέγραπται
it is written
Strong's:
G1125
Word #:
11 of 14
to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe
διὰ
by
G1223
διὰ
by
Strong's:
G1223
Word #:
12 of 14
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
Cross References
John 7:42Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?Ruth 1:1Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.1 Samuel 16:1And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.Ruth 2:4And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.
Historical Context
Bethlehem Ephrathah (distinguished from northern Bethlehem) was David's birthplace approximately 5 miles south of Jerusalem. Its name means 'house of bread,' fitting for Christ who is the Bread of Life. The prophecy was delivered around 700 BC.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's choice of insignificant Bethlehem demonstrate His values differ from worldly measures of importance?
- What does the precision of fulfilled prophecy teach about the reliability of God's Word and promises?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The quotation from Micah 5:2 demonstrates God's sovereign decree specifying the exact location of Messiah's birth 700 years in advance. Bethlehem, though small and insignificant, was chosen by God to produce both King David and the greater David, Jesus Christ. This shows God's pattern of using the weak and despised things to accomplish His purposes (1 Corinthians 1:27-28).