Matthew 2:5

5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

Matthew 2:5 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 2:5

And they said unto him
They answer without any hesitation, it being a generally received notion, and a thing well known among them,

in Bethlehem of Judea;
and give their reason for it; for

thus it is written by the prophet,
that is, the prophet Micah, in whose prophecy, ( Micah 5:2 ) it stands, and is as follows:

Matthew 2:5 In-Context

3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him;
4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6 "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.' "
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.