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Matthew 2

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

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.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

What does Matthew 2:6 mean?

Explanation

The verse from Matthew 2:6 references a prophecy about the origin of a new ruler for Israel. It establishes Bethlehem in Judah as the birthplace of a significant figure ("a Governor") who is destined to lead and shepherd the people of Israel.

The phrase "art not the least among the princes of Juda" is an affirmation of Bethlehem's importance, despite its small size and seeming insignificance.

The verse indicates that the future leader's humble beginnings will not detract from his greatness and impact.

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Historical Context

Matthew 2:6 is a quotation from the Old Testament prophet Micah (Micah 5:2), written centuries earlier.

It is part of the New Testament narrative where the wise men are searching for the newborn Jesus.

Bethlehem, a small town in Judea, was the ancestral home of King David, and thus it was expected that the Messiah would be of Davidic lineage.

The use of this prophecy served to validate Jesus' messianic claims by linking him to the prophesied birthplace and David's line.

Theological Insights

Different Christian denominations interpret this verse through various theological lenses:

Traditional Christian View: This verse fulfills Old Testament prophecy, proving Jesus' divine origin and his destined role as the Messiah.
Jewish Perspective: While Jews acknowledge the prophecy in Micah, they do not accept the Christian interpretation that Jesus is the fulfillment of this messianic prophecy.
Skeptical Perspective: Some scholars argue that the New Testament writers may have utilized Old Testament prophecies to construct their narrative and bolster the messianic claims about Jesus.

Practical Applications

The verse implies that greatness can emerge from humble and small beginnings.

This can be an inspiration for individuals to strive for impact and significance no matter their origins.

It also serves as a reminder for communities to value each member and to recognize the potential in everyone.

Cross-References

Micah 5:2: "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."
Luke 2:4-7: Describes that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy.
John 7:42: "Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?"

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek language of this verse include:

"Bethlehem" (Βηθλεέμ): Meaning "house of bread," indicating the town's name and reflecting its agricultural roots.
"Juda" (Ἰούδα): The Greek transliteration of "Judah," referring to the region and tribe.
"Governor" (ἡγούμενος): Can be translated as "leader," "ruler," or "one who leads the way."

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Ancient myths often speak of significant figures arising from unexpected places, much as the prophecy in Micah declares a ruler coming from lowly Bethlehem.

For instance, in Greek mythology, heroes often come from obscure origins.

Comparatively, this Christian narrative emphasizes the unexpected and humble beginnings of a divine ruler.

Scientific Perspectives

This verse does not address scientific perspectives directly.

However, modern historical and archaeological studies can provide insights into the actual town of Bethlehem during the period in question, such as its size and political significance.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Matthew 2:6 offer varied interpretations:

Conservative Commentary: Generally sees this verse as a direct fulfillment of prophecy, an indication of the divine authorship of Scripture.
Critical Scholarship: May argue that Matthew used this Old Testament reference to construct or validate his narrative of Jesus' birth.
Linguistic Analysis: Some commentaries may focus on the translation and meaning of the original Greek text, emphasizing the connotations of the terms used.

Matthew 2

Matthew 2

What does Matthew 2:6 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 2:6 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?