What is an example of a New Testament verse that quotes the Old Testament?

The New Testament is full of references and allusions to the Old Testament, with many verses quoting directly from earlier scripture. One example of a New Testament verse that quotes the Old Testament is found in Matthew 2:6, which quotes from the book of Micah.

In Matthew 2, the wise men from the East come to Jerusalem seeking the newborn king of the Jews. When King Herod hears of this, he becomes alarmed and asks the chief priests and scribes where the Messiah is to be born. They tell him that the prophet Micah had prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

Matthew 2:6 quotes from Micah 5:2, saying, "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel." This verse is a direct quote from Micah 5:2, which reads, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

This verse is significant because it not only identifies Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah, but it also emphasizes the prophetic nature of the Old Testament. The fact that Matthew was able to quote from Micah to support his narrative suggests that the early Christians believed that the Old Testament was divinely inspired and contained prophetic messages about the coming of the Messiah.

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Jamie Larson
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