Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Micah 5:2. It's a really significant and poetic passage about God's plan for the future. Here’s a simplified explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse is saying that God will choose a specific city – Bethlehem – to be the leader of Israel. It's not just about a single person, but about a future leader who will be chosen specifically for this purpose. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah…” : This refers to the city of Bethlehem. It's being addressed as if it were a special, important place. “…though” : This word means “even though.” It's acknowledging that Bethlehem is small and not a prominent part of Judah (the people under Israel’s rule). “yet” : This word means "but." It introduces a contrast – even though it’s small, God intends something significant to happen from Bethlehem. “out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel…” : This is the core of the verse. “He” refers to God himself. This means that God will choose a specific person – likely a shepherd or leader – to rule over Israel. The phrase "come forth" suggests He’s choosing someone to lead, and “that is” clarifies it's for the purpose of leading. “from of old, from everlasting” : This is a really important part. “From of old” means “throughout history.” And “everlasting” means "forever." It indicates that this leader hasn’t been chosen before and will be chosen again in the future. It speaks to something incredibly significant – a lasting and enduring destiny for Israel. In simpler terms: God is choosing Bethlehem as the place where His leadership will be established, and this person (who He will call “He”) will be the ruler of Israel forever. What's it saying about God? The verse suggests that God has a plan for the future, and He’s deliberately setting up a specific leader – and it’s not just a random choice but one with significant meaning and lasting impact. It hints at a divine purpose and an ongoing relationship between God and His people. Important Note: This is a complex passage from Scripture, and different interpretations exist. This explanation aims to provide a general understanding of the verse's message. --- Would you like me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Connect it to other Bible stories or themes? Give you a brief overview of the historical context of Micah 5:2?