Prophecy

The Messiah was to be Born at Bethlehem

Prophecy: The Messiah was to be Born at Bethlehem

As it was written in the Tanakh (NIV & TLV),

Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Bethlehem

Bethlehem ( בֵּֽית־לֶ֣חֶם ) means “the house of bread/food”. It is the birthplace and hometown of David, Israel’s greatest king. Approximately 300 years after David’s kingdom, Micah 5:2-5 prophesied that a great ruler, the Messiah, would come from Bethlehem.

How did Messiah Jesus Fulfill this Prophecy?

Jesus was Born in Bethlehem and Raised in Nazareth

Micah 5:2 was written more than 700 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Though Jesus was raised in Nazareth, Matthew 2:1 and Luke 2:4-6 identify Jesus’ birthplace as Bethlehem.

As it was written in the New Covenant (NIV & TLV),

Matthew 2:1-2 “ ¹ After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Luke 2:4-6 “ ⁴So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,”