topMatthew ch 2

Chapter 2

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Visit of the Wise Men

2:1 Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλεὲμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἐν ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἰδοὺ μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν παρεγένοντο εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, 1 Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλεὲμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας, ἐν ἡμέραις Ἡρώδου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἰδού, μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν παρεγένοντο εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα,
Now after Jesus was born in Bēthlehem of Judea in the days of Hērōd the king, suddenly magi1 from the east arrived into Jerusalem, Now after Jesus was born in Bēthlehem of Judea in the days of Hērōd the king, suddenly magi1 from the east arrived into Jerusalem,
1Oriental scientists.
2:2 λέγοντες, Ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ τεχθεὶς βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων;
εἴδομεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ καὶ ἤλθομεν προσκυνῆσαι αὐτῷ. 		2 λέγοντες, Ποῦ ἐστὶν ὁ τεχθεὶς βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων;
εἴδομεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ, καὶ ἤλθομεν προσκυνῆσαι αὐτῷ.
saying, “Where is the one who was born king of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and came to worship him.” saying, “Where is the one who was born king of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and came to worship him.”
2:3 ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἡρῴδης ἐταράχθη καὶ πᾶσα Ἱεροσόλυμα μετ’ αὐτοῦ, 3 ἀκούσας δὲ Ἡρώδης ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐταράχθη, καὶ πᾶσα Ἱεροσόλυμα μετ’ αὐτοῦ·
King Hērōd, after hearing this, was troubled, also all Jerusalem with him. King Hērōd, after hearing this, was troubled, also all Jerusalem with him.
2:4 καὶ συναγαγὼν πάντας τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ γραμματεῖς τοῦ λαοῦ ἐπυνθάνετο παρ’ αὐτῶν ποῦ ὁ Χριστὸς γεννᾶται. 4 καὶ συναγαγὼν πάντας τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ γραμματεῖς τοῦ λαοῦ, ἐπυνθάνετο παρ’ αὐτῶν, ποῦ ὁ Χριστὸς γεννᾶται.
Then after assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, Hērōd inquired from them where the Christ is to be born. Then after assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, Hērōd inquired from them where the Christ is to be born.
2:5 οἱ δὲ εἶπαν αὐτῷ, Ἐν Βηθλεὲμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας· οὕτως γὰρ γέγραπται διὰ τοῦ προφήτου· 5 οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ, Ἐν Βηθλεὲμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας.
οὕτω γὰρ γέγραπται διὰ τοῦ προφήτου,
Then they said to him, “In Bēthlehem of Judea; for this has been written by the prophet: Then they said to him, “In Bēthlehem of Judea; for this has been written by the prophet:
2:6 Καὶ σὺ Βηθλεέμ, γῆ Ἰούδα, οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ἰούδα· ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος, ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ἰσραήλ. 6 Καὶ σύ, Βηθλεέμ, γῆ Ἰούδα, οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ἰούδα· ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος, ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ἰσραήλ.
‘And you Bēthlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come out one who rules, who will shepherd my people Israēl.’1” ‘And you, Bēthlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come out one who rules, who will shepherd my people Israēl.’1”
1 Micah 5:2
2:7 Τότε Ἡρῴδης λάθρᾳ καλέσας τοὺς μάγους ἠκρίβωσεν παρ’ αὐτῶν τὸν χρόνον τοῦ φαινομένου ἀστέρος, 7 Τότε Ἡρώδης, λάθρα καλέσας τοὺς μάγους, ἠκρίβωσε παρ’ αὐτῶν τὸν χρόνον τοῦ φαινομένου ἀστέρος,
Then after calling the magi privately, Hērōd determined from them the time the star appeared. Then after calling the magi privately, Hērōd determined from them the time the star appeared.
2:8 καὶ πέμψας αὐτοὺς εἰς Βηθλεὲμ εἶπεν, Πορευθέντες ἐξετάσατε ἀκριβῶς περὶ τοῦ παιδίου· ἐπὰν δὲ εὕρητε, ἀπαγγείλατέ μοι, ὅπως κἀγὼ ἐλθὼν προσκυνήσω αὐτῷ. 8 καὶ πέμψας αὐτοὺς εἰς Βηθλεὲμ εἶπε, Πορευθέντες ἀκριβῶς ἐξετάσατε περὶ τοῦ παιδίου· ἐπὰν δὲ εὕρητε, ἀπαγγείλατέ μοι, ὅπως κἀγὼ ἐλθὼν προσκυνήσω αὐτῷ.
And after sending them into Bēthlehem, he said, “After you depart, search carefully concerning the child; and when you have found him, report to me, so that I, after coming, will also worship him.” And after sending them into Bēthlehem, he said, “After you depart, search carefully concerning the child; and when you have found him, report to me, so that I, after coming, will also worship him.”
2:9 οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπορεύθησαν καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ ἀστήρ, ὃν εἶδον ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ, προῆγεν αὐτούς, ἕως ἐλθὼν ἑστάθη ἐπάνω οὗ ἦν τὸ παιδίον. 9 οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπορεύθησαν· καὶ ἰδού, ὁ ἀστήρ, ὃν εἶδον ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ, προῆγεν αὐτούς, ἕως ἐλθὼν ἔστη ἐπάνω οὗ ἦν τὸ παιδίον.
After hearing the king, they departed; and suddenly the star, which they saw in the east, went on before them until after coming, it stood above where the child was. After hearing the king, they departed; and suddenly the star, which they saw in the east, went on before them until after coming, it stood above where the child was.
2:10 ἰδόντες δὲ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα. 10 ἰδόντες δὲ τὸν ἀστέρα, ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα·
After seeing the star, they rejoiced with very great joy. After seeing the star, they rejoiced with very great joy.
2:11 καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ Μαρίας τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα, χρυσὸν καὶ λίβανον καὶ σμύρναν. 11 καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, εὗρον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ Μαρίας τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα, χρυσὸν καὶ λίβανον καὶ σμύρναν.
After coming into the home, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and after falling down, they worshipped him; and after opening their treasures, they offered him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. After coming into the home, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and after falling down, they worshipped him; and after opening their treasures, they offered him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
2:12 καὶ χρηματισθέντες κατ’ ὄναρ μὴ ἀνακάμψαι πρὸς Ἡρῴδην, δι’ ἄλλης ὁδοῦ ἀνεχώρησαν εἰς τὴν χώραν αὐτῶν. 12 καὶ χρηματισθέντες κατ’ ὄναρ μὴ ἀνακάμψαι πρὸς Ἡρώδην, δι’ ἄλλης ὁδοῦ ἀνεχώρησαν εἰς τὴν χώραν αὐτῶν.
And after being warned in a dream not to return to Hērōd, they departed into their country by another way. And after being warned in a dream1 not to return to Hērōd, they departed into their country by another way.
1Interestingly, the KJV (English translation) adds "by God" in the dream warnings to the Magi in verse 12 and to Jōsēph in verse 22. However in the NKJV, the words "by God" appear in verse 22 but not in verse 12. The word χρηματίζω means any kind of warning, not exclusively a divine warning.

Flight to Egypt

2:13 Ἀναχωρησάντων δὲ αὐτῶν ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου φαίνεται κατ’ ὄναρ τῷ Ἰωσὴφ λέγων, Ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ φεῦγε εἰς Αἴγυπτον καὶ ἴσθι ἐκεῖ ἕως ἄν εἴπω σοι· μέλλει γὰρ Ἡρῴδης ζητεῖν τὸ παιδίον τοῦ ἀπολέσαι αὐτό. 13 Ἀναχωρησάντων δὲ αὐτῶν, ἰδού, ἄγγελος κυρίου φαίνεται κατ’ ὄναρ τῷ Ἰωσήφ, λέγων, Ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ φεῦγε εἰς Αἴγυπτον, καὶ ἴσθι ἐκεῖ ἕως ἄν εἴπω σοὶ· μέλλει γὰρ Ἡρώδης ζητεῖν τὸ παιδίον, τοῦ ἀπολέσαι αὐτό.
Now after they departed, suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to Jōsēph in a dream saying, “Get up! Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and be there until I tell you; for Hērōd intends to seek the child to destroy him.” Now after they departed, suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to Jōsēph in a dream saying, “Get up! Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and be there until I tell you; for Hērōd intends to seek the child to destroy him.”
2:14 ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ νυκτὸς καὶ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον, 14 ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ νυκτός, καὶ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον,
So after arising, he took the child and his mother by night and he departed into Egypt. So after arising, he took the child and his mother by night and he departed into Egypt.
2:15 καὶ ἦν ἐκεῖ ἕως τῆς τελευτῆς Ἡρῴδου· ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος, Ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἐκάλεσα τὸν υἱόν μου. 15 καὶ ἦν ἐκεῖ ἕως τῆς τελευτῆς Ἡρώδου· ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου, λέγοντος, Ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἐκάλεσα τὸν υἱόν μου.
And he was there until the death of Hērōd; in order that the word of the Lord by the prophet might be fulfilled saying, “Out of Egypt I called my Son.”1 He was there until the death of Hērōd; in order that the word of the Lord by the prophet might be fulfilled saying, “Out of Egypt I called my Son.”1
1Hōsea 11:1

Hērōd Kills Infants

2:16 Τότε Ἡρῴδης ἰδὼν ὅτι ἐνεπαίχθη ὑπὸ τῶν μάγων ἐθυμώθη λίαν, καὶ ἀποστείλας ἀνεῖλεν πάντας τοὺς παῖδας τοὺς ἐν Βηθλεὲμ καὶ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτῆς ἀπὸ διετοῦς καὶ κατωτέρω, κατὰ τὸν χρόνον ὃν ἠκρίβωσεν παρὰ τῶν μάγων. 16 Τότε Ἡρώδης, ἰδὼν ὅτι ἐνεπαίχθη ὑπὸ τῶν μάγων, ἐθυμώθη λίαν, καὶ ἀποστείλας ἀνεῖλε πάντας τοὺς παῖδας τοὺς ἐν Βηθλεὲμ καὶ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτῆς, ἀπὸ διετοῦς καὶ κατωτέρω, κατὰ τὸν χρόνον ὃν ἠκρίβωσε παρὰ τῶν μάγων.
Then Hērōd, after seeing that he had been tricked by the magi, became very enraged. And after departing, he killed all the male children in Bēthlehem and in all its borders, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. Then Hērōd, after seeing that he had been tricked by the magi, became very enraged. And after departing, he killed all the male children in Bēthlehem and in all its borders, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi.
2:17 τότε ἐπληρώθη τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Ἱερεμίου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος, 17 τότε ἐπληρώθη τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ Ἱερεμίου τοῦ προφήτου, λέγοντος,
Then the word through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled saying: Then the word through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying:
2:18 Φωνὴ ἐν Ῥαμὰ ἠκούσθη, κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὀδυρμὸς πολύς· Ῥαχὴλ κλαίουσα τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν παρακληθῆναι, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσίν. 18 Φωνὴ ἐν Ῥαμὰ ἠκούσθη, θρῆνος καὶ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὀδυρμὸς πολύς, Ῥαχὴλ κλαίουσα τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς· καὶ οὐκ ἤθελε παρακληθῆναι, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσί.
“A sound was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachēl weeping for her children; and she didn’t want to be comforted, because they don’t exist.”1 “A sound was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachēl weeping for her children; and she didn’t want to be comforted, because they don’t exist.”1
1 Jer. 31:15

Return from Egypt

2:19 Τελευτήσαντος δὲ τοῦ Ἡρῴδου ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου φαίνεται κατ’ ὄναρ τῷ Ἰωσὴφ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ 19 Τελευτήσαντος δὲ τοῦ Ἡρώδου, ἰδού, ἄγγελος κυρίου κατ’ ὄναρ φαίνεται τῷ Ἰωσὴφ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ,
But after Hērōd died, suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Jōsēph in Egypt But after Hērōd died, suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Jōsēph in Egypt
2:20 λέγων, Ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ πορεύου εἰς γῆν Ἰσραήλ· τεθνήκασιν γὰρ οἱ ζητοῦντες τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ παιδίου. 20 λέγων, Ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ πορεύου εἰς γῆν Ἰσραήλ· τεθνήκασι γὰρ οἱ ζητοῦντες τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ παιδίου.
saying, “After getting up, take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israēl; for those who sought the child’s life have died.” saying, “After getting up, take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israēl; for those who sought the child’s life have died.”
2:21 ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς γῆν Ἰσραήλ. 21 ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς γῆν Ἰσραήλ.
So after getting up, he took the child and his mother, and entered into the land of Israēl. So after getting up, he took the child and his mother, and entered into the land of Israēl.
2:22 ἀκούσας δὲ ὅτι Ἀρχέλαος βασιλεύει τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἀντὶ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ Ἡρῴδου ἐφοβήθη ἐκεῖ ἀπελθεῖν· χρηματισθεὶς δὲ κατ’ ὄναρ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὰ μέρη τῆς Γαλιλαίας, 22 ἀκούσας δὲ ὅτι Ἀρχέλαος βασιλεύει ἐπὶ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἀντὶ Ἡρώδου τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, ἐφοβήθη ἐκεῖ ἀπελθεῖν· χρηματισθεὶς δὲ κατ’ ὄναρ, ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὰ μέρη τῆς Γαλιλαίας,
But after hearing that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Hērōd, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned in a dream, he departed into the regions of Galilee, But after hearing that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Hērōd, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned in a dream, he departed into the regions of Galilee,
1Interestingly, the KJV (English translation) adds "by God" in the dream warnings to the Magi in verse 12 and to Jōsēph in verse 22. However in the NKJV, the words "by God" appear in verse 22 but not in verse 12. The word χρηματίζω means any kind of warning, not exclusively a divine warning.
2:23 καὶ ἐλθὼν κατῴκησεν εἰς πόλιν λεγομένην Ναζαρέτ· ὅπως πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν ὅτι Ναζωραῖος κληθήσεται. 23 καὶ ἐλθὼν κατῴκησεν εἰς πόλιν λεγομένην Ναζαρέτ· ὅπως πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν, ὅτι Ναζωραῖος κληθήσεται.
and after going, he resided in a city called Nazareth. Thus the word through the prophets was fulfilled that he will be called a Nazarene.1 and went and resided in a city called Nazareth. Thus the word through the prophets was fulfilled that he will be called a Nazarene.1
1A form of the clause "called a Nazirite" is found in Judges 13:5,7 in reference to Samsōn’s birth.