Jesus’ Birth In Bethlehem Fulfilled A 700-Year-Old Prophecy (Micah 5:2)

Dec 26, 2025

St. Thomas points out that Our Lord “willed to be born at Bethlehem, where David was born, in order that by the very birthplace the promise made to David might be shown to be fulfilled.” (Summa Theologiae, Pt. III, Q. 35, A. 7) This is why the New Testament accounts that deal with the circumstances of Our Lord’s birth repeatedly mention the connection to David. They emphasize that the birth occurred in the city of David and that Jesus was of the lineage of David.

Luke 2:4-5,11: “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child… for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 1:32: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.”

Matthew 1:18-20: “Now the birth of Jesus took place in this way… But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’”

Jesus’ birth in the city of Bethlehem was a powerful fulfillment of the prophecy in Micah 5:2, which was made approximately 700 years in advance.

Micah 5:2: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”

At the time of Our Lord’s birth Bethlehem was the smallest town in the area. It was considered to be a very humble and insignificant location. Then Jesus was born in this tiny town, and He changed the entire history of the world. That is a striking fulfillment of Micah 5:2’s prophecy about “the one who was to be ruler”, which was made in the 8th century BC.

Indeed, Christ rules over all men since all things were committed to Him by His Father (Pope Pius XI, Quas Primas #17). However, this was manifested explicitly and powerfully by the Christianization of the Roman Empire, the many kingdoms dedicated to Him, and most importantly by the Church in which He spiritually rules. He rules on earth through His spiritual kingdom.

Pope Pius XI, Quas Primas (#15), Dec. 11, 1925: “This kingdom is spiritual and is concerned with spiritual things. That this is so the above quotations from Scripture amply prove, and Christ by his own action confirms it. On many occasions, when the Jews and even the Apostles wrongly supposed that the Messiah would restore the liberties and the kingdom of Israel, he repelled and denied such a suggestion. When the populace thronged around him in admiration and would have acclaimed him King, he shrank from the honor and sought safety in flight. Before the Roman magistrate he declared that his kingdom was not of this world.”

Pope Pius XI, Quas Primas (#33), Dec. 11, 1925: “He must reign in our minds, which should assent with perfect submission and firm belief to revealed truths and to the doctrines of Christ. He must reign in our wills, which should obey the laws and precepts of God. He must reign in our hearts, which should spurn natural desires and love God above all things, and cleave to him alone. He must reign in our bodies and in our members, which should serve as instruments for the interior sanctification of our souls, or to use the words of the Apostle Paul, as instruments of justice unto God.”

Micah 5:4 also says that the prophesied savior/ruler will “shepherd his flock”, and Jesus is “the good shepherd” (John 10:11). Micah 5:2’s statement that “His coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” also indicates that the coming ruler (the savior) would be divine as well as human, having existed from all eternity. This of course refers to Jesus being true God and true man, one divine person with two natures.

Bethlehem also means “the house of bread”, which was also providential; for Jesus is “the living bread who came down from Heaven” (John 6:51).