The Pilgrimage of the Magi
(Micah 5:1–6)
1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
The Flight to Egypt
(Hosea 11:1-7)
13And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Herod Slaughters Infants
(Jeremiah 31:1-30)
16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. 17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
18In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
The Return to Nazareth
(Isaiah 61:1-11; Matthew 13:53-58; Mark 6:1-6; Luke 2:39-40; Luke 4:16-30)
19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. 21And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 23And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
The Pilgrimage of the Magi
(Micah 5:1–6)
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,
6 ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah: for out of you shall come forth a governor, who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’”
7 Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.” 9 They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Being warned in a dream that they shouldn’t return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
The Flight to Egypt
(Hosea 11:1–7)
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
14 He arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Weeping and Great Mourning
(Jeremiah 31:1–25)
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.”
The Return to Nazareth
(Luke 2:39–40)
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20 “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.” 21 He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
The Pilgrimage of the Magi
(Micah 5:1–6)
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east a and have come to worship Him.”
3 When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 ‘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 be the shepherd of My people Israel.’ b”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 And sending them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go and search carefully for the Child, and when you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.
The Flight to Egypt
(Hosea 11:1–7)
13 When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
14 So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” c
Weeping and Great Mourning
(Jeremiah 31:1–25)
16 When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.” d
The Return to Nazareth
(Luke 2:39–40)
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. 20 “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those seeking the Child’s life are now dead.”
21 So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he learned that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
Footnotes:
2 a Or as it rose
6 b Micah 5:2; see also 2 Samuel 5:2.
15 c Hosea 11:1
18 d Jeremiah 31:15
The Pilgrimage of the Magi
(Micah 5:1–6)
1And Jesus having been born in Beth-Lehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, lo, mages from the east came to Jerusalem, 2saying, 'Where is he who was born king of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and we came to bow to him.' 3And Herod the king having heard, was stirred, and all Jerusalem with him, 4and having gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he was inquiring from them where the Christ is born. 5And they said to him, 'In Beth-Lehem of Judea, for thus it hath been written through the prophet,
6And thou, Beth-Lehem, the land of Judah, thou art by no means the least among the leaders of Judah, for out of thee shall come one leading, who shall feed My people Israel.'
7Then Herod, privately having called the mages, did inquire exactly from them the time of the appearing star, 8and having sent them to Beth-Lehem, he said, 'Having gone -- inquire ye exactly for the child, and whenever ye may have found, bring me back word, that I also having come may bow to him.' 9And they, having heard the king, departed, and lo, the star, that they did see in the east, did go before them, till, having come, it stood over where the child was. 10And having seen the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy, 11and having come to the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and having fallen down they bowed to him, and having opened their treasures, they presented to him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh, 12and having been divinely warned in a dream not to turn back unto Herod, through another way they withdrew to their own region.
The Flight to Egypt
(Hosea 11:1-7)
13And on their having withdrawn, lo, a messenger of the Lord doth appear in a dream to Joseph, saying, 'Having risen, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and be thou there till I may speak to thee, for Herod is about to seek the child to destroy him.'
14And he, having risen, took the child and his mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, 15and he was there till the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled that was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 'Out of Egypt I did call My Son.'
Herod Slaughters Infants
(Jeremiah 31:1-30)
16Then Herod, having seen that he was deceived by the mages, was very wroth, and having sent forth, he slew all the male children in Beth-Lehem, and in all its borders, from two years and under, according to the time that he inquired exactly from the mages. 17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
18A voice in Ramah was heard -- lamentation and weeping and much mourning -- Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be comforted because they are not.'
The Return to Nazareth
(Isaiah 61:1-11; Matthew 13:53-58; Mark 6:1-6; Luke 2:39-40; Luke 4:16-30)
19And Herod having died, lo, a messenger of the Lord in a dream doth appear to Joseph in Egypt, 20saying, 'Having risen, take the child and his mother, and be going to the land of Israel, for they have died -- those seeking the life of the child.' 21And he, having risen, took the child and his mother, and came to the land of Israel, 22and having heard that Archelaus doth reign over Judea instead of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither, and having been divinely warned in a dream, he withdrew to the parts of Galilee, 23and coming, he dwelt in a city named Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled that was spoken through the prophets, that 'A Nazarene he shall be called.'
The Pilgrimage of the Magi
(Micah 5:1–6)
¹ Τοῦ (G3588 - Now) δὲ (G1161 - now) Ἰησοῦ (G2424 - Yeshua) γεννηθέντος (G1080 - having been born) ἐν (G1722 - in) Βηθλέεμ (G965 - Beit-Lechem) τῆς (G3588 - of the) Ἰουδαίας (G2449 - Yehudah) ἐν (G1722 - in) ἡμέραις (G2250 - the days) Ἡρῴδου (G2264 - Herod) τοῦ (G3588 - the) βασιλέως (G935 - king), ἰδοὺ (G2400 - behold), μάγοι (G3097 - Magi) ἀπὸ (G575 - from) ἀνατολῶν (G395 - the east) παρεγένοντο (G3854 - came) εἰς (G1519 - to) Ἰεροσόλυμα (G2414 - Yerushalayim),
² λέγοντες (G3004 - saying), “Ποῦ (G4226 - Where) ἐστιν (G1510 - is) ὁ (G3588 - the) τεχθεὶς (G5088 - born) βασιλεὺς (G935 - king) τῶν (G3588 - of the) Ἰουδαίων (G2453 - Yehudim)? εἴδομεν (G1492 - we saw) γὰρ (G1063 - for) τὸν (G3588 - the) ἀστέρα (G792 - star) αὐτοῦ (G846 - of him) ἐν (G1722 - in) τῇ (G3588 - the) ἀνατολῇ (G395 - east), καὶ (G2532 - and) ἤλθομεν (G2064 - we have come) προσκυνῆσαι (G4352 - to worship) αὐτῷ (G846 - him).”
³ Ἀκούσας (G191 - Having heard) δὲ (G1161 - then) Ἡρῴδης (G2264 - Herod) ὁ (G3588 - the) βασιλεὺς (G935 - king) ἐταράχθη (G5015 - was troubled), καὶ (G2532 - and) πᾶσα (G3956 - all) Ἰεροσόλυμα (G2414 - Yerushalayim) μετ’ (G3326 - with) αὐτοῦ (G846 - him).
⁴ Καὶ (G2532 - And) συναγαγὼν (G4863 - having gathered together) πάντας (G3956 - all) τοὺς (G3588 - the) ἀρχιερεῖς (G749 - chief priests) καὶ (G2532 - and) γραμματεῖς (G1122 - scribes) τοῦ (G3588 - of the) λαοῦ (G2992 - people), ἐπυνθάνετο (G4441 - he inquired) παρ’ (G3844 - from) αὐτῶν (G846 - them) ποῦ (G4226 - where) ὁ (G3588 - the) Χριστὸς (G5547 - Messiah) γεννᾶται (G1080 - was to be born).
⁵ Οἱ (G3588 - They) δὲ (G1161 - and) εἶπαν (G2036 - said) αὐτῷ (G846 - to him), “Ἐν (G1722 - In) Βηθλέεμ (G965 - Beit-Lechem) τῆς (G3588 - of the) Ἰουδαίας (G2449 - Yehudah), οὕτως (G3779 - for thus) γὰρ (G1063 - for) γέγραπται (G1125 - it has been written) διὰ (G1223 - by) τοῦ (G3588 - the) προφήτου (G4396 - prophet):
⁶ ‘Καὶ (G2532 - And) σύ (G4771 - you), Βηθλέεμ (G965 - Beit-Lechem), γῆ (G1093 - land) Ἰούδα (G2455 - Yehudah), οὐδαμῶς (G3762 - by no means) ἐλαχίστη (G1646 - least) εἶ (G1510 - are) ἐν (G1722 - among) τοῖς (G3588 - the) ἡγεμόσιν (G2232 - rulers) Ἰούδα (G2455 - of Yehudah); ἐκ (G1537 - out of) σοῦ (G4771 - you) γὰρ (G1063 - for) ἐξελεύσεται (G1831 - shall come) ἡγούμενος (G2233 - a ruler), ὅστις (G3748 - who) ποιμανει (G4165 - shall shepherd) τὸν (G3588 - the) λαόν (G2992 - people) μου (G1473 - of me), τὸν (G3588 - the) Ἰσραήλ (G2474 - Yisrael).’”
⁷ Τότε (G5119 - Then) Ἡρῴδης (G2264 - Herod) λάθρᾳ (G2977 - secretly) καλέσας (G2564 - having called) τοὺς (G3588 - the) μάγους (G3097 - Magi) ἠκρίβωσεν (G198 - inquired) παρ’ (G3844 - from) αὐτῶν (G846 - them) τὸν (G3588 - the) χρόνον (G5550 - time) τοῦ (G3588 - the) φαινομένου (G5316 - appearing) ἀστέρος (G792 - of the star)·
⁸ καὶ (G2532 - and) πέμψας (G3992 - having sent) αὐτοὺς (G846 - them) εἰς (G1519 - to) Βηθλέεμ (G965 - Beit-Lechem) εἶπεν (G2036 - he said), “Πορευθέντες (G4198 - Having gone) ἐξετάσατε (G1833 - inquire carefully) περὶ (G4012 - concerning) τοῦ (G3588 - the) παιδίου (G3813 - child)· ἐπὰν (G1875 - when) δὲ (G1161 - and) εὕρητε (G2147 - you find), ἀπαγγείλατέ (G518 - report) μοι (G3427 - to me), ὅπως (G3704 - so that) κἀγὼ (G2504 - I also) ἐλθὼν (G2064 - having come) προσκυνήσω (G4352 - might worship) αὐτῷ (G846 - him).”
⁹ Οἱ (G3588 - They) δὲ (G1161 - and) ἀκούσαντες (G191 - having heard) τοῦ (G3588 - the) βασιλέως (G935 - king), ἐπορεύθησαν (G4198 - they went)· καὶ (G2532 - and) ἰδοὺ (G2400 - behold), ὁ (G3588 - the) ἀστὴρ (G792 - star) ὃν (G3739 - which) εἶδον (G3708 - they saw) ἐν (G1722 - in) τῇ (G3588 - the) ἀνατολῇ (G395 - east), προῆγεν (G4254 - went before) αὐτούς (G846 - them), ἕως (G2193 - until) ἐλθὼν (G2064 - having come) ἔστη (G2476 - it stood) ἐπάνω (G1883 - over) οὗ (G3739 - where) ἦν (G1510 - was) τὸ (G3588 - the) παιδίον (G3813 - child).
¹⁰ Ἰδόντες (G1492 - Having seen) δὲ (G1161 - then) τὸν (G3588 - the) ἀστέρα (G792 - star), ἐχάρησαν (G5463 - they rejoiced) χαρὰν (G5479 - with exceeding joy) μεγάλην (G3173 - great) σφόδρα (G4970 - exceedingly).
¹¹ Καὶ (G2532 - And) ἐλθόντες (G2064 - having come) εἰς (G1519 - into) τὴν (G3588 - the) οἰκίαν (G3614 - house), εἶδον (G3708 - they saw) τὸ (G3588 - the) παιδίον (G3813 - child) μετὰ (G3326 - with) Μαρίας (G3137 - Miryam) τῆς (G3588 - the) μητρὸς (G3384 - mother) αὐτοῦ (G846 - of him), καὶ (G2532 - and) πεσόντες (G4098 - having fallen) προσεκύνησαν (G4352 - they worshipped) αὐτῷ (G846 - him), καὶ (G2532 - and) ἀνοίξαντες (G455 - having opened) τοὺς (G3588 - the) θησαυροὺς (G2344 - treasures) αὐτῶν (G846 - of them), προσήνεγκαν (G4374 - they offered) αὐτῷ (G846 - to him) δῶρα (G1435 - gifts), χρυσόν (G5557 - gold) καὶ (G2532 - and) λίβανον (G3030 - frankincense) καὶ (G2532 - and) σμύρναν (G4666 - myrrh).
¹² Καὶ (G2532 - And) χρηματισθέντες (G5537 - having been warned) κατ’ (G2596 - according to) ὄναρ (G3677 - a dream) μὴ (G3361 - not) ἀνακάμψαι (G344 - to return) πρὸς (G4314 - to) Ἡρῴδην (G2264 - Herod), δι’ (G1223 - by) ἄλλης (G243 - another) ὁδοῦ (G3598 - way) ἀνεχώρησαν (G402 - they withdrew) εἰς (G1519 - into) τὴν (G3588 - the) χώραν (G5561 - country) αὐτῶν (G846 - of them).
¹³ Ἀναχωρησάντων (G402 - Having withdrawn) δὲ (G1161 - then) αὐτῶν (G846 - of them), ἰδοὺ (G2400 - behold), ἄγγελος (G32 - an angel) Κυρίου (G2962 - of the Lord) φαίνεται (G5316 - appears) κατ’ (G2596 - in) ὄναρ (G3677 - a dream) τῷ (G3588 - to) Ἰωσὴφ (G2501 - Yosef), λέγων (G3004 - saying), “Ἐγερθεὶς (G1453 - Having arisen), παράλαβε (G3880 - take) τὸ (G3588 - the) παιδίον (G3813 - child) καὶ (G2532 - and) τὴν (G3588 - the) μητέρα (G3384 - mother) αὐτοῦ (G846 - of him), καὶ (G2532 - and) φεῦγε (G5343 - flee) εἰς (G1519 - into) Αἴγυπτον (G125 - Mitzrayim), καὶ (G2532 - and) ἴσθι (G1510 - stay) ἐκεῖ (G1563 - there) ἕως (G2193 - until) ἂν (G302 - when) εἴπω (G2036 - I tell) σοι (G4671 - you); μέλλει (G3195 - is about) γὰρ (G1063 - for) Ἡρῴδης (G2264 - Herod) ζητεῖν (G2212 - to seek) τὸ (G3588 - the) παιδίον (G3813 - child) τοῦ (G3588 - to) ἀπολέσαι (G622 - destroy) αὐτό (G846 - it).”
¹⁴ Ὁ (G3588 - And) δὲ (G1161 - then) ἐγερθεὶς (G1453 - having arisen) παρέλαβεν (G3880 - he took) τὸ (G3588 - the) παιδίον (G3813 - child) καὶ (G2532 - and) τὴν (G3588 - the) μητέρα (G3384 - mother) αὐτοῦ (G846 - of him) νυκτός (G3571 - by night) καὶ (G2532 - and) ἀνεχώρησεν (G402 - he withdrew) εἰς (G1519 - into) Αἴγυπτον (G125 - Mitzrayim),
¹⁵ καὶ (G2532 - and) ἦν (G1510 - was) ἐκεῖ (G1563 - there) ἕως (G2193 - until) τῆς (G3588 - the) τελευτῆς (G5054 - death) Ἡρῴδου (G2264 - of Herod), ἵνα (G2443 - so that) πληρωθῇ (G4137 - might be fulfilled) τὸ (G3588 - the) ῥηθὲν (G4483 - spoken) ὑπὸ (G5259 - by) Κυρίου (G2962 - the Lord) διὰ (G1223 - through) τοῦ (G3588 - the) προφήτου (G4396 - prophet), λέγοντος (G3004 - saying), “Ἐξ (G1537 - Out of) Αἰγύπτου (G125 - Mitzrayim) ἐκάλεσα (G2564 - I called) τὸν (G3588 - the) υἱόν (G5207 - son) μου (G1473 - of me).”
¹⁶ Τότε (G5119 - Then) Ἡρῴδης (G2264 - Herod), ἰδὼν (G1492 - having seen) ὅτι (G3754 - that) ἐνεπαίχθη (G1702 - he had been deceived) ὑπὸ (G5259 - by) τῶν (G3588 - the) μάγων (G3097 - Magi), ἐθυμώθη (G2373 - he became angry) λίαν (G3029 - exceedingly), καὶ (G2532 - and) ἀποστείλας (G649 - having sent) ἀνεῖλεν (G337 - he killed) πάντας (G3956 - all) τοὺς (G3588 - the) παῖδας (G3816 - male children) τοὺς (G3588 - the) ἐν (G1722 - in) Βηθλέεμ (G965 - Beit-Lechem) καὶ (G2532 - and) ἐν (G1722 - in) πᾶσιν (G3956 - all) τοῖς (G3588 - the) ὁρίοις (G3725 - region) αὐτῆς (G846 - of it), ἀπὸ (G575 - from) διετοῦς (G1332 - two years old) καὶ (G2532 - and) κατωτέρω (G2736 - under), κατὰ (G2596 - according to) τὸν (G3588 - the) χρόνον (G5550 - time) ὃν (G3739 - which) ἠκρίβωσεν (G198 - he had inquired) παρὰ (G3844 - from) τῶν (G3588 - the) μάγων (G3097 - Magi).
¹⁷ Τότε (G5119 - Then) ἐπληρώθη (G4137 - was fulfilled) τὸ (G3588 - the) ῥηθὲν (G4483 - spoken) διὰ (G1223 - by) Ἱερεμίου (G2408 - Yirmeyahu) τοῦ (G3588 - the) προφήτου (G4396 - prophet), λέγοντος (G3004 - saying),
¹⁸ “Φωνὴ (G5456 - A voice) ἐν (G1722 - in) Ῥαμᾷ (G4471 - Ramah) ἠκούσθη (G191 - was heard), θρῆνος (G2355 - weeping) καὶ (G2532 - and) κλαυθμὸς (G2805 - lamentation) καὶ (G2532 - and) ὀδυρμὸς (G3602 - great mourning) πολύς (G4183 - much), Ῥαχὴλ (G4478 - Rachel) κλαίουσα (G2799 - weeping) τὰ (G3588 - the) τέκνα (G5043 - children) αὐτῆς (G846 - of her), καὶ (G2532 - and) οὐκ (G3756 - not) ἤθελεν (G2309 - she was willing) παρακληθῆναι (G3870 - to be comforted), ὅτι (G3754 - because) οὐκ (G3756 - they are not) εἰσίν (G1510 - they are).”
¹⁹ Τελευτήσαντος (G5053 - Having died) δὲ (G1161 - but) τοῦ (G3588 - the) Ἡρῴδου (G2264 - Herod), ἰδοὺ (G2400 - behold), ἄγγελος (G32 - an angel) Κυρίου (G2962 - of the Lord) φαίνεται (G5316 - appears) κατ’ (G2596 - in) ὄναρ (G3677 - a dream) τῷ (G3588 - to) Ἰωσὴφ (G2501 - Yosef) ἐν (G1722 - in) Αἰγύπτῳ (G125 - Mitzrayim),
²⁰ λέγων (G3004 - saying), “Ἐγερθεὶς (G1453 - Having arisen), παράλαβε (G3880 - take) τὸ (G3588 - the) παιδίον (G3813 - child) καὶ (G2532 - and) τὴν (G3588 - the) μητέρα (G3384 - mother) αὐτοῦ (G846 - of him), καὶ (G2532 - and) πορεύου (G4198 - go) εἰς (G1519 - into) γῆν (G1093 - land) Ἰσραήλ (G2474 - Yisrael), τεθνήκασιν (G2348 - they have died) γὰρ (G1063 - for) οἱ (G3588 - the) ζητοῦντες (G2212 - seeking) τὴν (G3588 - the) ψυχὴν (G5590 - life) τοῦ (G3588 - of the) παιδίου (G3813 - child).”
²¹ Ὁ (G3588 - And) δὲ (G1161 - then) ἐγερθεὶς (G1453 - having arisen) παρέλαβεν (G3880 - he took) τὸ (G3588 - the) παιδίον (G3813 - child) καὶ (G2532 - and) τὴν (G3588 - the) μητέρα (G3384 - mother) αὐτοῦ (G846 - of him), καὶ (G2532 - and) εἰσῆλθεν (G1525 - he went into) εἰς (G1519 - into) γῆν (G1093 - land) Ἰσραήλ (G2474 - Yisrael).
²² Ἀκούσας (G191 - Having heard) δὲ (G1161 - but) ὅτι (G3754 - that) Ἀρχέλαος (G745 - Archelaus) βασιλεύει (G936 - was reigning) τῆς (G3588 - of the) Ἰουδαίας (G2449 - Yehudah) ἀντὶ (G473 - in place of) Ἡρῴδου (G2264 - Herod) τοῦ (G3588 - the) πατρὸς (G3962 - father) αὐτοῦ (G846 - of him), ἐφοβήθη (G5399 - he was afraid) ἐκεῖ (G1563 - there) ἀπελθεῖν (G565 - to go); χρηματισθεὶς (G5537 - having been warned) δὲ (G1161 - but) κατ’ (G2596 - according to) ὄναρ (G3677 - a dream), ἀνεχώρησεν (G402 - he withdrew) εἰς (G1519 - into) τὰ (G3588 - the) μέρη (G3313 - regions) τῆς (G3588 - of the) Γαλιλαίας (G1056 - Galil).
²³ Καὶ (G2532 - And) ἐλθὼν (G2064 - having come) κατῴκησεν (G2730 - he dwelt) εἰς (G1519 - in) πόλιν (G4172 - a city) λεγομένην (G3004 - called) Ναζαρέτ (G3478 - Nazareth), ὅπως (G3704 - so that) πληρωθῇ (G4137 - might be fulfilled) τὸ (G3588 - the) ῥηθὲν (G4483 - spoken) διὰ (G1223 - through) τῶν (G3588 - the) προφητῶν (G4396 - prophets), ὅτι (G3754 - that) Ναζωραῖος (G3480 - a Nazarene) κληθήσεται (G2564 - he shall be called).
Favor of God Message Paraphrase
The Visit of the Wise Men
¹ After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a small town in the region of Judea, during the reign of King Herod, a group of wise scholars from distant lands, astrologers who studied the stars, traveled to Jerusalem. They had seen an extraordinary new star rising in the heavens, one they believed was a sign of the birth of a king. They came asking, “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” ² When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed. The thought of another king, especially one with divine signs marking his birth, unsettled him. Herod had always been paranoid about threats to his throne. All of Jerusalem felt the tension too, as they knew what Herod’s violent reactions could bring. ³ Herod called together the religious leaders and experts in the Scriptures, demanding to know where the Messiah was supposed to be born. They answered, “In Bethlehem of Judea, just as the prophet foretold.” ⁴ Then Herod secretly met with the wise men, trying to learn exactly when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find Him, bring me word, so that I too may go and worship Him.”
⁵ After hearing the king, the wise men continued on their journey. The star they had seen in the east went ahead of them, guiding them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ⁶ When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. ⁷ Entering the house, they saw the child with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Opening their treasures, they presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ⁸ But God warned them in a dream not to return to Herod, so they left for their own country by another route.
The Escape to Egypt
⁹ After the wise men had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and His mother and escape to Egypt! Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill Him.” ¹⁰ So Joseph got up, took the child and His mother during the night, and left for Egypt, where they stayed until the death of Herod. ¹¹ This fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my Son.”
Herod’s Anger and the Massacre
¹² When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the wise men, he flew into a furious rage. He gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and the surrounding area who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the wise men. ¹³ Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
The Return to Nazareth
¹⁴ After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Get up! Take the child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” ¹⁵ So Joseph got up, took the child and His mother, and went to the land of Israel. ¹⁶ But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, ¹⁷ and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that He would be called a Nazarene.
Footnotes:
1.The “wise men” (Greek: μάγοι, magoi) were likely astrologers or priests from Persia, representing both Gentiles and foreigners coming to recognize Jesus’ kingship.
2.“Bethlehem” means “house of bread,” an interesting connection with Jesus later calling Himself the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35).
3.Herod’s paranoia is historically documented; he even executed members of his own family whom he suspected of plotting against him.
4.Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were gifts often associated with royalty, divinity, and burial, respectively—symbolizing Jesus’ kingship, priesthood, and eventual sacrificial death.
5.The prophecy about Egypt (Matthew 2:15) connects Jesus to Israel’s history, symbolizing Jesus as the new and true Son called out of Egypt, paralleling the nation’s exodus.
6.The massacre of Bethlehem’s children is echoed in other biblical references to suffering and loss, especially Rachel’s weeping, as she represents all the mothers of Israel mourning their children.
7.“Nazarene” may not refer to one specific Old Testament prophecy but rather a general reference to Jesus being from an insignificant place, as Nazareth was considered unremarkable in ancient times.
