Daily Bible Verse - 12/23/2007 - 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. " (NIV)

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (KJV)

"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity."

Micah 5:2

Commentary
The birthplace of the Shepherd-King would be the city of Bethlehem. King David, a man after God's own heart, had been born in Bethlehem centuries before. The intervening kings had failed to follow the Lord. By predicting a new King from Bethlehem, Micah was invoking the covenant God made with David (2 Sam. 7). Centuries later when Jesus was born, this prophecy was quoted in answer to the question of the wise men concerning where the Christ was to be born

(Mic. 5:2; Matt 2:1-6).Thomas Nelson, I. (1997, c1995). Woman's study Bible . (Mic 5:2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Did you know?
Since there were two Bethlehems in the Holy Land, Micah specifies Bethlehem Ephrathah, six miles south of Jerusalem.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Mic 5:2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.