Definition: And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down that verse from Matthew 2:5: “And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet.” Here's a simple explanation: What it means: This verse tells us that people in Jerusalem (Bethlehem) were questioning Jesus’s identity. They were asking him about who he was and where he came from. Let's unpack it further: “In Bethlehem of Judaea” : This refers to a small town called Bethlehem, located in the region of Judea (which is now part of Israel). “For thus it is written by the prophet” : This is crucial. It means that a prophecy (a message or prediction) was made about Jesus before he was born. A prophet is someone who speaks words of God and shares important messages. This verse says that this prophecy was actually written – meaning it’s a record of what was already known to God. So, essentially, the verse is saying: "A message was given in Bethlehem about Jesus's identity, and that message was recorded as part of a larger prophecy." Why is this significant? This is one of the earliest and most important accounts of Jesus’s birth in the Bible. It’s a foundational story – it establishes the very beginning of the narrative about who Jesus is! It's a key point in understanding how the story of Jesus begins. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss what this verse might mean in a broader context (like its significance in the Old Testament)?