Old Testament Prophecy of Jesus' Birth in Bethlehem
The prophecy that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem is rooted in Micah 5:2, which states, "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah... out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel" [6]. This prophecy is cited in Matthew 2:6 as a fulfillment of the Old Testament expectation that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem [5].
Bethlehem, also known as Ephrath or Ephratah, is a town in the tribe of Judah with a rich history [3, 4]. It was the site of Rachel's death and burial (Genesis 35:16-20, 48:7) and was later the home of Ruth and David (Ruth 1:1-2, 1 Samuel 17:12) [4]. The town's significance is highlighted in Micah 5:2, where it is identified as the birthplace of the Messiah [6].
The New Testament accounts of Jesus' birth in Matthew and Luke confirm that Jesus was indeed born in Bethlehem [1, 2]. According to Matthew 2:1, Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of King Herod [1]. The circumstances surrounding Jesus' birth in Bethlehem are explained by the fact that Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem for a census, as required by Roman law (Luke 2:1-7) [2].
The prophecy of Micah 5:2 is significant not only because it foretells the birthplace of Jesus but also because it highlights the town's connection to the Davidic dynasty [6]. As the birthplace of David, Bethlehem is a fitting location for the birth of Jesus, who is often referred to as the "son of David" in the New Testament [7].
The interpretation of Micah 5:2 as a prophecy of Jesus' birth is widely attested across various Christian traditions. For example, John Gill's commentary on Micah 5:2 notes that the prophecy is "owned by both ancient and later Jews... to be a prophecy of the Messiah" [6]. Similarly, Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's commentary on Matthew 2:6 explains that the prophecy is a clear reference to the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem [7].
The fulfillment of Micah 5:2 in Jesus' birth in Bethlehem underscores the importance of understanding Jesus' identity within the context of Jewish scripture and tradition [2]. As Easton's Bible Dictionary notes, the birth of Jesus "took place at the time and place predicted by the prophets" [2].
Sources
- Matthew “Matthew 2:1 (BBE) — Now when the birth of Jesus took place in Beth-lehem of Judaea, in the days of Herod the king, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Nativity of Christ — The birth of our Lord took place at the time and place predicted by the prophets (Gen. 49:10; Isa. 7:14; Jer. 31:15; Micah 5:2; Hag. 2:6-9; Dan. 9:24, 25). Joseph and Mary were providentially led to go up to Bethlehem at this period, and there Christ was born (Matt. 2:1, 6; Luke 2:1, 7). The exact year or month or day of his birth cannot, however, now be exactly ascertained. We know, however, that it took place in the "fulness of the time" (Gal. 4:4), i.e., at the fittest time in the world's history. Chronologists are now generally agreed that th”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Bethlehem — (house of bread). + One of the oldest towns in Palestine, already in existence at the time of Jacob's return to the country. Its earliest name was [295]Ephratah, Or Ephrath or EPHRATAH. See (Genesis 35:16,19; 48:7) After the conquest Bethlehem appears under its own name, BETHLEHEM-JUDAH. (Judges 17:7; 1 Samuel 17:12; Ruth 1:1,2) The book of Ruth is a page from the domestic history of Bethlehem. It was the home of Ruth, (Ruth 1:19) and of David. (1 Samuel 17:12) It was fortified by Rehoboam. (2 Chronicles 11:6) It was here that our Lord was born, (Matthew 2”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Bethlehem — House of bread. (1.) A city in the "hill country" of Judah. It was originally called Ephrath (Gen. 35:16, 19; 48:7; Ruth 4:11). It was also called Beth-lehem Ephratah (Micah 5:2), Beth-lehem-judah (1 Sam. 17:12), and "the city of David" (Luke 2:4). It is first noticed in Scripture as the place where Rachel died and was buried "by the wayside," directly to the north of the city (Gen. 48:7). The valley to the east was the scene of the story of Ruth the Moabitess. There are the fields in which she gleaned, and the path by which she and Naomi returned to the ”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 2 (introduction): Now when Jesus was born,.... Several things are here related respecting the birth of Christ, as the place where he was born, in Bethlehem of Judea; so called to distinguish it from another Bethlehem in the tribe of Zabulon, Jos 19:15. Here Christ was to be born according to a prophecy hereafter mentioned, and accordingly the Jews expected he would be born here, Mat 2:4 and so Jesus was born here, Luk 2:4 and this the Jews themselves acknowledge; "Such a year, says a noted (l) chronologer of theirs, Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem Juda, which i”
- Micah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Micah 5:2: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah,.... But though Jerusalem should be besieged and taken, and the land of Judea laid waste, yet, before all this should be, the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem, of which this is a prophecy, as is evident from Mat 2:4; the place is called by both the names it went by, to point it out the more distinctly, and with the greater certainty, Gen 35:19; the former signifies "the house of bread", and a proper place for Christ to be born in, who is the bread of life; and it has the name of the latter from its fruitfulness, being a place of pasture, ”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 2 (introduction): VISIT OF THE MAGI TO JERUSALEM AND BETHLEHEM. (Mat 2:1-12) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea--so called to distinguish it from another Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulun, near the Sea of Galilee (Jos 19:15); called also Beth-lehem-judah, as being in that tribe (Jdg 17:7); and Ephrath (Gen 35:16); and combining both, Beth-lehem Ephratah (Mic 5:2). It lay about six miles southwest of Jerusalem. But how came Joseph and Mary to remove thither from Nazareth, the place of their residence? Not of their own accord, and certainly not wi”