Matthew 2:1

MATTHEW Chapter 2 Verse 1. When Jesus was born. See the full account of his birth in Lu 2:1-20. In Bethlehem of Judaea. Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, was a small town about six miles south of Jerusalem. The word Bethlehem denotes "house of bread"---perhaps given to the place on account of its great fertility. It was also called Ephratah, a word supposed likewise to signify fertility, Ge 35:19; Ru 4:11; Ps 132:6. It was called the city of David, (Lu 2:4) because it was the city of his nativity, 1 Sa 16:1,18. It was called Bethlehem of Judea, to distinguish it from a town of the same name in Galilee, Jos 19:15. The soil of Bethlehem was noted for its fertility.