Matthew 2:5
New International Version
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

New Living Translation
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:

English Standard Version
They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

Berean Standard Bible
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

Berean Literal Bible
And they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus has it been written through the prophet:

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

New King James Version
So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

New American Standard Bible
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:

NASB 1995
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:

NASB 1977
And they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet,

Legacy Standard Bible
And they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:

Amplified Bible
They replied to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what has been written by the prophet [Micah]:

Christian Standard Bible
“In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:

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

Contemporary English Version
They told him, "He will be born in Bethlehem, just as the prophet wrote,

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They told him, "In Bethlehem in Judea. The prophet wrote about this:

Good News Translation
"In the town of Bethlehem in Judea," they answered. "For this is what the prophet wrote:

International Standard Version
They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, because that is what was written by the prophet:

Majority Standard Bible
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

NET Bible
"In Bethlehem of Judea," they said, "for it is written this way by the prophet:

New Heart English Bible
And they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written through the prophet,

Webster's Bible Translation
And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

Weymouth New Testament
"At Bethlehem in Judaea," they replied; "for so it stands written in the words of the Prophet,

World English Bible
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they said to him, “In Beth-Lehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet:

Berean Literal Bible
And they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus has it been written through the prophet:

Young's Literal Translation
And they said to him, 'In Beth-Lehem of Judea, for thus it hath been written through the prophet,

Smith's Literal Translation
And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus has it been written by the prophet:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they said to him: “In Bethlehem of Judea. For so it has been written by the prophet:

New American Bible
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet:

New Revised Standard Version
They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
They said, In Bethlehem of Judah, for thus it is written in the book of the prophet:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they said, “In Bethlehem of Judaea”, for thus it is written in The Prophets:
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And they said to him: In Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it is written by the prophet:

Godbey New Testament
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it has been written by the prophet;

Haweis New Testament
Then they answered him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet,

Mace New Testament
they answered him, in Bethlehem of Judea: for these are the words of the prophet;

Weymouth New Testament
"At Bethlehem in Judaea," they replied; "for so it stands written in the words of the Prophet,

Worrell New Testament
And they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judaea;" for thus it has been written through the prophet:

Worsley New Testament
for thus it is written by the prophet,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Pilgrimage of the Magi
4And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6‘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 be the shepherd of My people Israel.’ ”…

Cross References
Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.

John 7:42
Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”

Luke 2:4-7
So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. / He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. / While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. ...

Matthew 2:6
‘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 be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”

Matthew 2:1
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,

Matthew 2:4
And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

Matthew 2:3
When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

Matthew 2:7-8
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared. / And sending them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go and search carefully for the Child, and when you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.”

Matthew 2:9-11
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the Child was. / When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight. / On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 2:12
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.

Matthew 2:13-15
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” / So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, / where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Matthew 2:16-18
When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi. / Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: / “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Matthew 2:19-23
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. / “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those seeking the Child’s life are now dead.” / So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and went to the land of Israel. ...

Luke 2:11
Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!

John 1:45-46
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” / “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.


Treasury of Scripture

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

Genesis 35:19
And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

Joshua 19:15
And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.

Ruth 1:1,19
Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons…

Jump to Previous
Bethlehem Beth-Lehem Judaea Judea Prophet Stands Words Writings Written
Jump to Next
Bethlehem Beth-Lehem Judaea Judea Prophet Stands Words Writings Written
Matthew 2
1. The wise men from the east enquire after Jesus;
3. at which Herod is alarmed.
9. They are directed by a star to Bethlehem, worship him, and offer their presents.
13. Joseph flees into Egypt with Jesus and his mother.
16. Herod slays the children;
20. himself dies.
23. Jesus is brought back again into Galilee to Nazareth.














In Bethlehem
The name "Bethlehem" comes from the Hebrew "Beit Lechem," meaning "House of Bread." This small town, located about six miles south of Jerusalem, holds significant historical and theological importance. It is the birthplace of King David, Israel's greatest king, and is prophesied in Micah 5:2 as the birthplace of the Messiah. The choice of Bethlehem underscores God's plan and fulfillment of prophecy, emphasizing that God often chooses the humble and the lowly to accomplish His divine purposes.

in Judea
Judea refers to the southern region of ancient Israel, which was a Roman province during the time of Jesus' birth. This area was historically significant as it included Jerusalem, the center of Jewish worship and the location of the Temple. The mention of Judea situates the narrative within the broader context of Jewish history and Roman occupation, highlighting the political and religious tensions of the time. It also emphasizes the fulfillment of Jewish prophecy within the land promised to Abraham and his descendants.

they replied
The "they" in this context refers to the chief priests and scribes who were consulted by King Herod. Their response indicates their knowledge of the Scriptures and the prophecies concerning the Messiah. This phrase highlights the irony that these religious leaders, who were well-versed in the prophecies, did not seek the Messiah themselves. It serves as a reminder of the importance of not only knowing Scripture but also responding to it with faith and action.

for this is what the prophet has written
This phrase introduces the fulfillment of prophecy, specifically referring to the words of the prophet Micah. The use of prophecy in the Gospel of Matthew is a recurring theme, demonstrating that Jesus' life and mission were in accordance with God's predetermined plan as revealed through the prophets. This underscores the reliability and divine inspiration of Scripture, affirming that God's promises are trustworthy and will come to pass. The prophetic word serves as a beacon of hope and assurance for believers, reminding them of God's sovereignty and faithfulness throughout history.

(5) In Bethlehem of Judaea.--The words of the people in John 7:42 show the same belief thirty years later. The Targum, or Jewish paraphrase, of Micah 5:2, inserts the very words, "Out of thee the Messiah shall come."

Verse 5. - And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet. For" by" the Revised Version margin has "through" (Matthew 1:22, not,.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
“In
Ἐν (En)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

Bethlehem
Βηθλέεμ (Bēthleem)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 965: Bethlehem, a town of Judea. Of Hebrew origin; Bethleem, a place in Palestine.

in Judea,”
Ἰουδαίας (Ioudaias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2449: Judea, a Roman province, capital Jerusalem. Feminine of Ioudaios; the Judaean land, a region of Palestine.

they replied,
εἶπαν (eipan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“for
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

this is what
οὕτως (houtōs)
Adverb
Strong's 3779: Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows).

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

prophet
προφήτου (prophētou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 4396: From a compound of pro and phemi; a foreteller; by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet.

has written:
γέγραπται (gegraptai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1125: A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe.


Links
Matthew 2:5 NIV
Matthew 2:5 NLT
Matthew 2:5 ESV
Matthew 2:5 NASB
Matthew 2:5 KJV

Matthew 2:5 BibleApps.com
Matthew 2:5 Biblia Paralela
Matthew 2:5 Chinese Bible
Matthew 2:5 French Bible
Matthew 2:5 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: Matthew 2:5 They said to him In Bethlehem (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 2:4
Top of Page
Top of Page