Matthew 2:4-6 English Standard Version (ESV)
4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
It bothers me when the bible is misquoted. It leaves the impression that either the bible lies or the speaker doesn’t know what they are talking about. I tend to believe the later and it should not matter but it does if the hearer is curious about the word of God. Trying to find misquotes can be very difficult.
Micah 5:2 English Standard Version (ESV) 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.
This is the prophet that is misquoted. Was the misquote intentional? These learned men were quoting Old Testament to a Roman Tetrarch who was not brought up studying the Old Testament. He would not have known the difference. Israel was under Roman rule and the last thing they wanted this ruler to know was more of Micah’s prophecy.
Micah 5:5-6 English Standard Version (ESV)
5 And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border.
Herod, being unable to interpret the word properly might have killed them for not answering his question to his satisfaction. These men might have misquoted the Old Testament for self-preservation.
The bible remains accurate because this is what they told Herod.