John Calvin Commentary Matthew 2:6

"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." — Matthew 2:6 (ASV)

And you, Bethlehem. The scribes undoubtedly quoted faithfully the words of the passage in their own language, as it is found in the prophet. But Matthew considered it enough to point out the passage; and, as he wrote in Greek, he followed the ordinary reading. This passage, and others of the same kind, readily suggest the inference that Matthew did not compose his Gospel in the Hebrew language.

It ought always to be observed that, whenever any proof from Scripture is quoted by the apostles, though they do not translate word for word, and sometimes depart widely from the language, it is still applied correctly and appropriately to their subject. Let the reader always consider the purpose for which passages of Scripture are brought forward by the Evangelists, so as not to stick too closely to the particular words, but to be satisfied with this: that the Evangelists never torture Scripture into a different meaning, but apply it correctly in its native meaning.

But while it was their intention to supply with milk children and novices (1 Timothy 3:6) in faith, who were not yet able to endure strong meat (Hebrews 5:12), there is nothing to prevent the children of God from making careful and diligent inquiry into the meaning of Scripture. They are thus led to the fountain by the taste which the apostles offer.

Let us now return to the prediction. It stands literally thus in the Prophet:

And you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are little
among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall
he come forth to me, who is Ruler in Israel, (Micah 5:2).

For Ephratah Matthew has put Judah, but the meaning is the same; for Micah only intended by this mark to distinguish the Bethlehem of which he speaks from another Bethlehem, which was in the tribe of Zebulun.

There is greater difficulty in what follows. For the Prophet says that Bethlehem is little, when reckoned among the governments of Judah, while Matthew, on the contrary, speaks highly of its rank as one of the most distinguished: you are by no means the least among the princes of Judah.

This reason has induced some commentators to read the passage in the prophet as a question: Are you little among the thousands of Judah? But I rather agree with those who think that Matthew intended, by this change of the language, to magnify the grace of God in making an inconsiderable and unknown town the birthplace of the highest King.

Although Bethlehem received this distinguished honor, it was of no advantage to its inhabitants but brought upon them a heavier destruction, for there an unworthy reception was given to the Redeemer.

For he is to be Ruler, Matthew has put he shall feed, (ποιμανεῖ). But he has expressed both when he says that Christ is the leader, (ἡγούμενος), and that to him is committed the office of feeding his people.