Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Matthew 2:6. It’s a really important and fascinating passage in the Bible! Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is about God’s plan for the future of Israel. Basically, God wants to establish a leader (a "Governor") within the Jewish people – specifically, Bethlehem. He's saying that this particular group of people, Bethlehem, is destined to become a significant and influential part of his kingdom. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And thou Bethlehem…” - This refers back to the ancient city of Bethlehem, which was a significant location in Israel's history. “[in] the land of Juda” – This tells us that Bethlehem is located in Judea, which was part of the kingdom of Israel at that time. “art not the least among the princes of Juda” - This is a crucial phrase. "Prince" means a leader or a prominent figure. “The princes of Juda” means the leaders and officials within Bethlehem. It’s saying that Bethlehem is a significant part of this group. “out of thee shall come a Governor…” – This is where it gets really exciting. The verse says that a leader will be born from Bethlehem. “Governor” in this context refers to a high-ranking official, like a king or a ruler. God wants this person to guide and rule Israel. “…that shall rule my people Israel.” – This is the ultimate goal! God intends for this leader to have the authority to govern and lead all of Israel. In short: God has chosen Bethlehem as a key place in his plan to establish a strong and lasting kingdom, and he wants this specific person to rise to become that leader. Why is this important? This passage shows that God's plans are often carefully orchestrated and can have significant consequences for the people he chooses to guide. It’s a powerful message of hope and destiny! --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Talk about the historical context surrounding this passage? Explore why this story is considered significant in the Bible?