Matthew 2:16-18

International Children’s Bible

Herod Kills the Baby Boys

¹⁶When Herod saw that the wise men had tricked him, he was very angry. So he gave an order to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem and in all the area around Bethlehem who were two years old or younger. This was in keeping with the time he learned from the wise men. ¹⁷So what God had said through the prophet Jeremiah came true:

¹⁸“A sound was heard in Ramah.
    It was painful crying and much sadness.
Rachel cries for her children,
    and she cannot be comforted,
    because her children are dead.” Jeremiah 31:15

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Matthew 2:16-18

New International Version

¹⁶When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. ¹⁷Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:^(A)

¹⁸“A voice is heard in Ramah,
    weeping and great mourning,
Rachel^(B) weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,
    because they are no more.”^[a]^(C)