Matthew 2:16-18

New Living Translation

¹⁶Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance. ¹⁷Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

¹⁸“A cry was heard in Ramah—
    weeping and great mourning.
Rachel weeps for her children,
    refusing to be comforted,
    for they are dead.”^[a]

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Footnotes

2:18 Jer 31:15.

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)