MAT 2:6 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) ‘You, Bethlehem in the land of Yudah,
⇔ are not the most insignificant of the leaders of Yudah,
⇔ because a leader will come from you
⇔ who will guide my people Yisrael.’ ”

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, magenta:vocative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
⇔  are by no means least among the leaders of Judah,
⇔  for from you will come out a ruling one
⇔  who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

UST ‘You who live in the town of Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
⇔ your town is one of the important towns in Judah.
⇔ That is because someone from your town will become a leader.
⇔ That person will rule God’s people, the Israelites.’ ”

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.’[fn]”

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.'"

AICNT ‘And you, Bethlehem, 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.’ ”[fn]

2:6, Micah 5:2

OEB “And you, Bethlehem in Judah’s land,
⇔ are in no way least among the chief cities of Judah,
⇔ for out of you will come a ruler –
⇔ who will shepherd my people Israel.” ’

WEBBE ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah,
⇔ are in no way least amongst the princes of Judah;
⇔ for out of you shall come a governor
⇔ who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’ ”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET ‘ And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
⇔  are in no way least among the rulers of Judah,
⇔  for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

LSV And you, Beth-Lehem, the land of Judah, you are by no means the least among the leaders of Judah, for out of you will come One leading, who will feed My people Israel.”

FBV ‘Bethlehem in the land of Judea, you are certainly not the least important of Judah's leading cities,[fn] for a leader will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.[fn]’ ”

2:6 “Cities,” implied.

2:6 Referencing Micah 5:2 and 2 Samuel 5:2.

TCNT ⇔ ‘But yoʋ Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
⇔ are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
⇔ for from yoʋ will come a ruler
⇔ who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

T4T ‘You who live in Bethlehem [APO], in Judea province, your town is certainly very important [LIT], because a man from your town will become a ruler. He will guide my people who live in Israel.’ ”

LEB • ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,
• for from you will go out a ruler
• who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”[fn]

2:5 A quotation from Mic 5:2|link-href="None"

BBE You Beth-lehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the chiefs of Judah: out of you will come a ruler, who will be the keeper of my people Israel.

Moff And you Bethlehem, in Judah's land,
⇔ You are not least among the rulers of Judah:
⇔ For a ruler will come from you,"
⇔ Who will shepherd Israel my people.

Wymth "`And thou, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, by no means the least honorable art thou among princely places in Judah! For from thee shall come a prince—one who shall be the Shepherd of 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.

DRA And thou Bethlehem the land of Juda art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel.

YLT And thou, Beth-Lehem, the land of Judah, thou art by no means the least among the leaders of Judah, for out of thee shall come one leading, who shall feed My people Israel.'

Drby 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.

RV 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, Which shall be shepherd of my people Israel.
(And thou/you Bethlehem, land of Yudah, Art in no wise least among the princes of Yudah: For out of thee/you shall come forth a governor, Which shall be shepherd of my people Israel. )

SLT And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, by no means art thou least among the leaders of Judah for out of thee shall come forth the leader, who shall feed my people.

Wbstr And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

KJB-1769 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.
(And thou/you Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee/you shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. )

KJB-1611 And thou Bethlehem in the land of Iuda, art not the least among the Princes of Iuda: for out of thee shall come a Gouernour, that shall [fn]rule my people Israel.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation and footnotes)

2:6 Or, feede.

Bshps And thou Bethlehem in the lande of Iuda, art not the least among the princes of Iuda. For out of thee shall there come a capitain, that shal gouerne my people Israel.
(And thou/you Bethlehem in the land of Yuda, art not the least among the princes of Yuda. For out of thee/you shall there come a capitain, that shall govern my people Israel.)

Gnva And thou Beth-leem in the lande of Iuda, art not the least among the Princes of Iuda: For out of thee shall come the gouernour that shall feede that my people Israel.
(And thou/you Beth-lehem in the land of Yuda, art not the least among the Princes of Yuda: For out of thee/you shall come the governor that shall feed that my people Israel. )

Cvdl And thou Bethleem in the londe of Iury, art not the leest amonge the Princes of Iuda. For out of ye shall come vnto me the captayne, that shall gouerne my people Israel.
(And thou/you Beth-lehem in the land of Yury/Yudea, art not the least among the Princes of Yuda. For out of ye/you_all shall come unto me the captain, that shall govern my people Israel.)

TNT And thou Bethleem in the londe of Iury art not the leest concernynge the princes of Iuda. For out of the shall come the captayne that shall govern my people Israhel.
(And thou/you Beth-lehem in the land of Yury/Yudea art not the least concerning the princes of Yuda. For out of the shall come the captain that shall govern my people Israhel. )

Wycl And thou, Bethleem, the lond of Juda, art not the leest among the prynces of Juda; for of thee a duyk schal go out, that schal gouerne my puple of Israel.
(And thou/you, Beth-lehem, the land of Yuda, art not the least among the princes of Yuda; for of thee/you a duke shall go out, that shall govern my people of Israel.)

Luth Und du Bethlehem im jüdischen Lande bist mitnichten die kleinste unter den Fürsten Judas; denn aus dir soll mir kommen der Herzog, der über mein Volk Israel ein HErr sei.
(And you(sg) Bethlehem in_the Yewishen land are not_at_all the smallest under the prince(s)/ruler(s) Yudas; because/than out_of you/to_you(sg) should to_me coming the/of_the heartog, the/of_the above my people Israel a LORD be.)

ClVg [Et tu Bethlehem terra Juda, nequaquam minima es in principibus Juda: ex te enim exiet dux, qui regat populum meum Israël.][fn]
([And you(sg) Bethlehem earth/land Yuda, by_no_means minima you_are in/into/on princes/leaders Yuda: from you(sg) because exiet leader/chief, who/which regat the_people mine Israel.] )

2.6 Et tu, Bethlehem. Hoc sic ponit, ut ab eis dictum est, quia etsi non verba, veritatem sensus quodammodo ponunt.

2.6 And you(sg), Bethlehem. This so puts, as away to_them said it_is, because even_though not/no words, the_truth sense in_a_certain_way ponunt.

UGNT καὶ σύ Βηθλέεμ, γῆ Ἰούδα, οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ἰούδα; ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος, ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ἰσραήλ.
(kai su Baʸthleem, gaʸ Youda, oudamōs elaⱪistaʸ ei en tois haʸgemosin Youda; ek sou gar exeleusetai haʸgoumenos, hostis poimanei ton laon mou ton Israaʸl.)

SBL-GNT Καὶ σύ, Βηθλέεμ γῆ Ἰούδα, οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ἰούδα· ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος, ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ἰσραήλ.
(Kai su, Baʸthleem gaʸ Youda, oudamōs elaⱪistaʸ ei en tois haʸgemosin Youda; ek sou gar exeleusetai haʸgoumenos, hostis poimanei ton laon mou ton Israaʸl.)

RP-GNT Καὶ σὺ Βηθλεέμ, γῆ Ἰούδα, οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ἰούδα· ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος, ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ἰσραήλ.
(Kai su Baʸthleʼem, gaʸ Youda, oudamōs elaⱪistaʸ ei en tois haʸgemosin Youda; ek sou gar exeleusetai haʸgoumenos, hostis poimanei ton laon mou ton Israaʸl.)

TC-GNT ⇔ Καὶ σὺ Βηθλεέμ, γῆ Ἰούδα,
⇔ οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ἰούδα·
⇔ ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος,
⇔ ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ἰσραήλ.
( ⇔ Kai su Baʸthleʼem, gaʸ Youda,
⇔ oudamōs elaⱪistaʸ ei en tois haʸgemosin Youda;
⇔ ek sou gar exeleusetai haʸgoumenos,
⇔ hostis poimanei ton laon mou ton Israaʸl. )

Key for above GNTs: red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–12: Wise men came and honored Jesus

In this section, Matthew showed his readers that:

Jesus was indeed born in Bethlehem as scripture predicted (even though he would later move to Nazareth, and people considered him to be a Nazarene).
The Jewish religious teachers who knew the law did not go to worship the king of the Jews. It was the Gentile wise men who worshiped him.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The Visit of the Wise Men (NET)

Visitors from the East (GNT)

2:6

Verse 2:6 contains a figure of speech called apostrophe.The name of this figure of speech is spelled and pronounced the same as the punctuation mark used to show contractions. But the meaning is different. For more information about the figure of speech called apostrophe, see Translation Problems A to Z, Apostrophe. In this figure of speech, God speaks to the town of Bethlehem as if it were a person.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse:

Keep the apostrophe as in the BSB.
Translate it in a way that God is speaking to the people of the town. For example:
^6aYou people of Bethlehem in the land of Judah, ^6byour town is by no means least among the towns of Judah, ^6cfor out of your town will come a ruler ^6dwho will be the shepherd of my people Israel.
Translate it in a way that God is speaking indirectly about the town. For example:
But Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, it is by no means least among the leading towns of Judah; for out of it will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.

2:6a

‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

‘Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you^(sing)
‘You^(plur) people of the town of Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you
‘Bethlehem in the kingdom of Judah

But: In the Greek, this verse begins with a conjunction that is usually translated as “And.” In Matthew, only part of a longer passage from Micah is quoted. In that longer passage, there is contrast. However, here in Matthew, the incomplete quote indicates no contrast. Only the BSB, NIV, and the NCV translate the conjunction as But. Most other versions, such as the RSV and NJB, have “and.” Still others, such as the GNT, do not use a conjunction here.

Since Matthew quotes only part of Micah, you may leave this conjunction untranslated.

you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah: In some languages, it will be more natural to put the pronoun you at the end of this clause. For example:

Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you

the land of Judah: The phrase the land of Judah refers to the country/kingdom of Judah. When the prophet Micah wrote these words, Judah was a kingdom. When Jesus was born, this area was no longer its own country. It had become a province and was then called Judea (2:5a). If possible, Judah and Judea should be spelled differently in your language.

2:6b

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,

are not the least important town among the leading towns of Judah.
are/live in one of the most important towns in Judah,
is a very important town in Judah,

are by no means least: The phrase are by no means least is a figure of speech called litotes.For more information about the figure of speech called litotes, see Translation Problems A to Z, Litotes. In this figure of speech, God through the prophet makes an emphatic statement. He does this by stating that the opposite is not true. Bethlehem is not the least important town. This is a way to emphasize that Bethlehem is an important town.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Keep the apostrophe of 2:6 and the litotes here in 2:6b. For example:
are not least (NLT)
Keep the apostrophe but not the litotes. For example:
you are very important (CEV)
Keep neither the apostrophe nor the litotes. For example:
you people are in a very important town

among the rulers of Judah: The Greek word that the BSB translates as rulers refers to a person who rules over a province. God was speaking to Bethlehem as if it were a person, so he referred to Bethlehem as a ruler of Judah.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Keep the apostrophe. For example:
among the leaders of Judah (GW)
Do not keep the apostrophe. In that case, you should translate the word rulers as towns/cities. For example:
of the leading cities of Judah (GNT)
among the great towns of Judah

2:6c

for out of you will come a ruler

because from you^(sing) will come a ruler
because a leader will come from your town
because a ruler will be born in it.

for: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as for indicates that 2:6c is the reason for what was said in 2:6b. ^6bBethlehem is not the least among the towns of Judah, ^6cfor/because a ruler will come from Bethlehem.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

because

The reason is that

In some languages, it is more natural to translate 2:6c (the reason clause) before 2:6b (the result clause). For example:

^6cout of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel. ^6bSo you, Bethlehem, are by no means least among the towns of Judah.

out of you will come a ruler: This clause indicates that a ruler or “great leader” will be born in Bethlehem.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

From your town will come a leader (CEV)

It is from you that a ruler will come

2:6d

who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”

who will shepherd/tend my people the Israelites.’ ”
who will be like a shepherd for my people the tribe/nation of Israel.’ ”
He will lead and care for my people the descendants of Israel.’ ”

who will be the shepherd: The Greek word that the BSB translates as will be the shepherd also means “tend.” It refers to watching over, protecting, and leading animals to places where there are plants to eat. Here it is used figuratively to represent a leader who watches over, protects, and provides for his people.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Literally, as a verb or noun. For example:
will shepherd (NASB)
will be the shepherd (NLT)
With a simile. For example:
will be like a shepherd (CEV)
will lead…like a shepherd
Without the figure of a shepherd. For example:
will guide (GNT)

My people: The pronoun My refers to God. It does not refer to the prophet Micah.

Israel: The word Israel refers to the people who were the descendants of the man whose name was Israel. (This man was first called Jacob.)

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

the descendants of Israel

the tribe/nation of Israel

the Israelites

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

καὶ σύ Βηθλέεμ, γῆ Ἰούδα, οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ἰούδα; ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος, ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ἰσραήλ.

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί σύ Βηθλέεμ γῆ Ἰούδα οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ἰούδα ἐξ σοῦ γάρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τόν λαόν μού τόν Ἰσραήλ)

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. If you use the following alternate translation, you will need to delete the comma at the end of the previous verse and only use one quotation mark at the end of this verse. Alternate translation: [that you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah, for from you will come out a ruling one who will shepherd God’s people Israel]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / apostrophe

καὶ σύ Βηθλέεμ, γῆ Ἰούδα, οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ἰούδα; ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος, ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ἰσραήλ

Micah was speaking to Bethlehem as if it were a person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could direct the speech to the people who live in Bethlehem, or you could refer to Bethlehem in the third person. Alternate translation: [And Bethlehem, land of Judah, is by no means least among the leaders of Judah, for from this town will come out a ruling one who will shepherd my people Israel]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

σύ & σοῦ

you & ˱of˲_you

The word you is singular in this verse because Micah is speaking to Bethlehem.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη

by_no_means least

The prophet Micah is using a figure of speech here that expresses a strongly positive meaning by using a negative phrase, by no means, together with an expression that is the opposite of the intended meaning, least. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the positive meaning. Alternate translation: [very great] or [important]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ἰούδα

the rulers ˱of˲_Judah

Since Micah is speaking to Bethlehem as if it were a person, he refers to important towns in Judah as if they were leaders. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the leading towns of Judah] or [the great cities in Judah]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐκ σοῦ & ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος

Here Micah refers to a person from Bethlehem becoming a ruling one as if the person were coming out of Bethlehem. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [a person from you will be a ruling one]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ποιμανεῖ

˓will_be˒_shepherding

Here, the prophet Micah is speaking of leading and caring for the people as if it were shepherding. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [will lead and care for]

Parallel MAT 2:6

Section 2:1–12: Wise men came and honored Jesus

2:6

2:6a

2:6b

2:6c

2:6d