Matthew 2:1-8
New King James Version
Wise Men from the East
2 Now after (A)Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, [a]wise men (B)from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, (C)“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen (D)His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all (E)the chief priests and (F)scribes of the people together, (G)he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘But(H) you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
(I)Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the [b]wise men, determined from them what time the (J)star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 2:1 Gr. magoi
- Matthew 2:7 Gr. magoi
Matthew 2:1-8
Amplified Bible
The Visit of the Magi
2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of [a]Herod the king (Herod the Great), [b]magi (wise men) from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star [c]in the east and have come to worship Him.”(A) 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 So he called together all the chief priests and [d]scribes of the people and [anxiously] asked them where the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) was to be born. 5 They replied to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what has been written by the prophet [Micah]:
6
‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are not in any way least among the leaders of Judah;
For from you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”(B)
7 Then Herod secretly sent for the magi and learned from them [e]the [exact] time the star [had first] appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 2:1 Herod the Great was born into a prominent, wealthy family in Idumea (the area formerly known as Edom, the land of Esau’s descendants) and some archeological evidence indicates he considered himself Jewish.
- Matthew 2:1 Gr magoi; these were educated men who specialized in astronomy, astrology, and the natural sciences. The magi were witnesses to the miraculous events surrounding the birth of Jesus.
- Matthew 2:2 Or at its rising.
- Matthew 2:4 Teachers and professional scholars specializing in the Law (Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament) and writings of the prophets.
- Matthew 2:7 Lit the time of the appearing star.
Matthew 2:1-8
Authorized (King James) Version
2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 saying, 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. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And 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.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And 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.
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Matthew 2:1-8
1599 Geneva Bible
2 The wise men, who are the firstfruits of the Gentiles, worship Christ. 14 Joseph fled into Egypt with Jesus and his mother. 16 Herod slayeth the children.
1 When (A)[a]Jesus then was born at Bethlehem in [b]Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came [c]Wise men from the East to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is the King of the Jews that is born? for we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him.
3 When king Herod heard this, he was [d]troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And gathering together all the [e]chief Priests and [f]Scribes of the people, he asked of them, where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, At Bethlehem in Judea: for so it is written by the Prophet,
6 (B)And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah, art not the [g]least among the Princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come the governor that [h]shall feed my people Israel.
7 Then Herod privily called the Wise men, and diligently inquired of them the time of the star that appeared,
8 And sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go, and search diligently for the babe: and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come also, and worship him.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 2:1 Christ a poor child, laid down in a crib, and nothing set by of his own people, receiveth notwithstanding a noble witness of his divinity from heaven, and of his kingly estate of strangers: which his own also unwittingly allow of, although they do not acknowledge him.
- Matthew 2:1 For there was another in the tribe of Zebulun.
- Matthew 2:1 Wise and learned men: It is a Persian word which they use in good part.
- Matthew 2:3 Was much moved, for he was a stranger, and came to the kingdom by force: and the Jews were troubled: for wickedness is mad and raging.
- Matthew 2:4 The chief priests, that is, such as were of Aaron’s family, which were divided into four and twenty orders, 1 Chron. 14:5 and 2 Chron. 36:14.
- Matthew 2:4 They that expound the Law to the people, for the Hebrews take this word of another, which signifieth as much as to expound and declare.
- Matthew 2:6 Though thou be a small town, yet shalt thou be very famous and notable through the birth of the Messiah, who shall be born in thee.
- Matthew 2:6 That shall rule and govern: for Kings are fitly called leaders and shepherds of the people.
Matthew 2:1-8
Young's Literal Translation
2 And Jesus having been born in Beth-Lehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, lo, mages from the east came to Jerusalem,
2 saying, `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.'
3 And Herod the king having heard, was stirred, and all Jerusalem with him,
4 and having gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he was inquiring from them where the Christ is born.
5 And they said to him, `In Beth-Lehem of Judea, for thus it hath been written through the prophet,
6 And 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.'
7 Then Herod, privately having called the mages, did inquire exactly from them the time of the appearing star,
8 and 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.'
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