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Matthew 2:6
ESV "‘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 shepherd my people Israel.’"
NIV " ‘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 shepherd my people Israel.’ "
NASB ‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR FROM YOU WILL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’?'
CSB And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel."
NLT ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for 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.
NKJV ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

What does Matthew 2:6 mean?

Herod has asked Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem where is the prophesied Christ is to be born? To their understanding, the Christ, or the Messiah, was the promised and long-awaited Savior of Israel who would free the people and rule over the nation. Matthew has already hinted at the difference between their expectation and the truth. He quoted the angel telling Joseph that Jesus would "save His people from their sins" with no mention of their earthly enemies (Matthew 1:21).

Now the scribes and priests quote the source of their answer that the Christ will be born in Bethlehem of Judea. Matthew's version of this prophecy comes from a paraphrase combining Micah 5:2 and 2 Samuel 5:2. It says that the small town of Bethlehem is greater than its size because of the ruler who will be born there, as David was. Matthew emphasizes that the ruler will shepherd the people of Israel.

Herod now had somewhere to send the Magi from the east to look for the newborn "king of the Jews." He also had a plan for that child if they turned out to be right and found Him there (Matthew 2:16). Herod's priority was to protect his own power, even from the fulfillment of God's prophecy about Israel's Savior.
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