Devine Scripture

Matthew 2:5

What does Matthew 2:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 2:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 2:5 means

The religious leaders correctly identified Bethlehem of Judea as the prophesied birthplace of the Christ. Their answer was rooted in the scriptural prophecies they knew well. This demonstrates their accurate knowledge of the Messiah's expected origins, yet it contrasts sharply with their later rejection of Jesus. Their immediate, correct answer to Herod’s query underscores their intellectual understanding of prophecy, even if their spiritual discernment remained lacking concerning the arrival of the Messiah.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they said to him, In Beth-lehem of Judaea; for so it is said in the writings of the prophet,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And they said to him, `In Beth-Lehem of Judea, for thus it hath been written through the prophet,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judaea; for thus it is written through the prophet:

Context

This verse provides the direct, scriptural answer to Herod's inquiry in the previous verse, pinpointing Bethlehem as the Messiah's birthplace. This critical information, drawn from prophetic texts, immediately leads to the quotation of Micah 5:2 in the following verse, confirming the specific biblical basis for their declaration. It gives Herod the geographical target for his plans.

v.4And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.

v.5This passage

v.6And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah: For out of thee shall come forth a governor, Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ruth 4:11

    And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. Jehovah make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Beth-lehem:

  • 1 Samuel 16:1

    And Jehovah said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? fill thy 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 2:4

    And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, Jehovah be with you. And they answered him, Jehovah bless thee.

  • Joshua 19:15

    and Kattath, and Nahalal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.

  • Ruth 1:1

    And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, 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.

  • John 7:42

    Hath not the scripture said that the Christ cometh of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?

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