Matthew 2:6

| Matt 2 |

 6 p “‘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 q shepherd my people Israel.’”

Micah 5:2

| Mic 5 |

 2  [1] q But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of r Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be s ruler in Israel,
t whose coming forth is u from of old,
from ancient days.

Translation Notes

[1] 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Hebrew

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Matt. 1:1–2:23 The Arrival in History of Jesus the Messiah. Matthew's introduction echoes the language of Genesis. The word rendered “genealogy” (1:1) is Greek genesis (“beginning, origin, birth, genealogy”), and this is also the title of the Greek translation of Genesis, implying that it is a book of “beginnings.” “The book of the genealogy” appears to function not only as a heading for the genealogy itself (1:2–17) but also as a title for the entire story to follow: a new beginning with the arrival of Jesus the Messiah and the kingdom of God (cf. note on Gen. 2:4).

Matt. 2:1–12 Magi Report the Star-sign of the Birth of “the King of the Jews.” As much as two years have passed since the events of ch. 1. Matthew highlights God's sovereign care in this infancy account of Jesus the King.

Matt. 2:5–6 Bethlehem was by no means least among the rulers of Judah, because it would be the birthplace of the future ruler, the Messiah (Mic. 5:2). The quotation also alludes to a shepherding theme cited at David's coronation as king over Israel (2 Sam. 5:2).