Matthew 2:6

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.

⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

‘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.’”

⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared.

⁸ 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.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: ‘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.’”
KJV: 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.
WEB: ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah; for out of you shall come a governor who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’”
ASV: And 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.
DARBY: And *thou* Bethlehem, land of Juda, art in no wise the least among the governors of Juda; for out of thee shall go forth a leader who shall shepherd my people Israel.
BLB: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come forth One leading, who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

ÅB: Og du, Betlehem i Judea, du er langt ifra den ringeste blant høvdingene i Juda; for fra deg skal utgå en høvding som skal være hyrde for mitt folk Israel.»
OTB: ‘Og du, Betlehem, i Juda land, er slett ikke den ringeste blant fyrstene i Juda; for fra deg skal det komme en fyrste som skal være hyrde for mitt folk Israel.’”
B1930: Og du Betlehem i Juda land, du er ingenlunde den ringeste blandt høvdingene i Juda; for fra dig skal utgå en høvding som skal være hyrde for mitt folk Israel.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Ezekiel 34:23–25
I will appoint over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them. He will feed them and be their shepherd.
Read in context
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.
Read in context
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?”
Read in context
Isaiah 9:6–7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Read in context
Genesis 49:10
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.
Read in context
Revelation 11:15
Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”
Read in context
Matthew 28:18
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Read in context
Isaiah 40:11
He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.
Read in context