Hasn’t the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”
Parallel translations
- KJV Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
- BSB Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
- ESV Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”
- NKJV Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”
- NASB Has the Scripture not said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”
- NLT For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They cite Scripture that the Christ would come from David's offspring and from Bethlehem, David's village. Their objection rests on a genuine prophecy they misapply to Jesus.
Overview
The people correctly recall the biblical prophecy that the Messiah would descend from David and be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Ironically, this is exactly true of Jesus, whose birth in Bethlehem and Davidic lineage the Gospels affirm. Their failure to know the facts of His birth, not a flaw in Scripture, led them to reject Him, showing how ignorance can obscure the very truth that confirms Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Mic 5:2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times.
- Matt 2:5They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,
- Jer 23:5“Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
- Luke 2:4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
- Luke 2:11For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
- Matt 1:1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
- Isa 11:1A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit.
- 1 Sam 16:1Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have provided a king for myself among his sons.”
- Ps 132:11Yahweh has sworn to David in truth. He will not turn from it: “I will set the fruit of your body on your throne.
- Ps 89:4‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah.
- 1 Sam 16:18Then one of the young men answered, and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and Yahweh is with him.”
- 1 Sam 16:11–13Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your children here?” He said, “There remains yet the youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.”
- John 7:27However we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.”
- 1 Sam 17:58Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, you young man?” David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”
- 1 Sam 16:4Samuel did that which Yahweh spoke, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?”
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 7:42 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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