Now 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,

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.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

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.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

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.

When 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.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And 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.

12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

13 And 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.

14 When he arose, he 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 of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

16 Then 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.

17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,

18 In 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.

19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

20 Saying, 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.

21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22 But 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:

23 And 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.

Vizita magilor

După ce s-a născut Isus în Betleemul Iudeii, în zilele regelui Irod[a], iată că nişte magi din Răsărit[b] au venit la Ierusalim şi au întrebat: „Unde este Împăratul Care li s-a născut de curând iudeilor? Căci I-am văzut steaua în Răsărit[c] şi am venit să ne închinăm Lui!“

Regele Irod s-a tulburat auzind acest lucru şi, împreună cu el, s-a tulburat tot Ierusalimul. El i-a adunat pe toţi preoţii conducători şi pe toţi cărturarii[d] poporului şi i-a întrebat unde urma să se nască Cristosul. Ei i-au răspuns: „În Betleemul Iudeii, căci iată ce a fost scris prin profetul care zice:

«Dar tu, Betleeme, ţinut al lui Iuda,
    nu eşti nicidecum cel mai neînsemnat dintre conducătorii lui Iuda,
căci din tine va ieşi un Conducător
    Care va păstori poporul Meu, Israel!»“[e]

Atunci Irod i-a chemat în ascuns pe magi şi a aflat de la ei vremea când apăruse steaua. Apoi i-a trimis la Betleem, spunându-le: „Duceţi-vă şi cercetaţi cu atenţie despre Copil, iar când Îl veţi găsi, anunţaţi-mă şi pe mine, ca să vin şi eu să mă închin Lui!“

După ce l-au ascultat pe rege, magii au plecat. Şi iată că steaua pe care o văzuseră în Răsărit[f] a mers înaintea lor până când a ajuns şi s-a oprit deasupra locului unde era Copilul. 10 Ei s-au bucurat nespus de mult la vederea stelei. 11 Când au intrat în casă şi L-au văzut pe Copil împreună cu Maria, mama Lui, s-au prosternat închinându-se înaintea Lui, şi-au deschis cuferele cu comori şi I-au oferit daruri: aur, tămâie şi smirnă. 12 Apoi, fiind înştiinţaţi de Dumnezeu în vis să nu se mai întoarcă pe la Irod, au pornit înapoi spre ţara lor, pe un alt drum.

Fuga în Egipt

13 După ce au plecat ei, un înger al Domnului i s-a arătat în vis lui Iosif şi i-a zis: „Scoală-te, ia Copilul şi pe mama Lui şi fugi în Egipt! Să rămâi acolo până când îţi voi spune eu, căci Irod va căuta Copilul ca să-L omoare!“

14 Iosif s-a sculat, a luat Copilul şi pe mama Lui şi a plecat în timpul nopţii în Egipt, 15 unde a rămas până la moartea lui Irod, ca să se împlinească ceea ce a spus Domnul prin profetul care zice: „L-am chemat pe Fiul Meu din Egipt“[g].

16 Irod s-a înfuriat foarte tare când a văzut că a fost înşelat de magi şi a trimis să fie ucişi toţi băieţii care erau în Betleem şi în toate împrejurimile lui, de la vârsta de doi ani în jos, potrivit cu perioada pe care o aflase de la magi. 17 Atunci s-a împlinit ceea ce a fost spus prin profetul Ieremia, care zice:

18 „Un ţipăt a fost auzit în Rama,
    plânset şi bocet mult:
Rahela îşi plânge copiii
    şi nu vrea să fie mângâiată, căci ei nu mai sunt“[h].

Întoarcerea în Nazaret

19 După ce a murit Irod, un înger al Domnului i s-a arătat în vis lui Iosif, în Egipt, 20 şi i-a zis: „Scoală-te, ia Copilul şi pe mama Lui şi du-te în ţara lui Israel, căci cei ce căutau să ia viaţa Copilului au murit!” 21 Iosif s-a sculat, a luat Copilul şi pe mama Lui şi a venit în Israel. 22 Dar când a auzit că în Iudeea domnea Arhelau[i] în locul tatălui său Irod, Iosif s-a temut să se ducă acolo şi, fiind înştiinţat de Dumnezeu în vis, a plecat în ţinuturile Galileii. 23 S-a dus acolo şi a locuit într-o cetate numită Nazaret, ca să se împlinească ce a fost spus prin profeţi, şi anume că El va fi numit nazarinean[j].

Footnotes

  1. Matei 2:1 Irod cel Mare (37-4 î.Cr.)
  2. Matei 2:1 Probabil astrologi, originari fie din Persia, fie din Arabia, ambele la răsărit de Canaan
  3. Matei 2:2 Sau: steaua răsărind
  4. Matei 2:4 Lit.: scribi, în sensul de erudiţi, experţi în Lege; cei care studiau, interpretau şi învăţau legea scrisă şi orală. Majoritatea erau farisei; peste tot în carte
  5. Matei 2:6 Vezi Mica 5:2
  6. Matei 2:9 Sau: o văzuseră răsărind
  7. Matei 2:15 Vezi Osea 11:1; textul din Osea face referire la exodul lui Israel din Egipt, însă Matei vede istoria lui Israel recapitulată în viaţa lui Isus
  8. Matei 2:18 Vezi Ier. 31:15
  9. Matei 2:22 Fiul lui Irod cel Mare; a domnit peste Iudeea şi Samaria (4 î.Cr-6 d.Cr.). A fost un despot deosebit de crud, fiind detronat
  10. Matei 2:23 Probabil Matei face referire la mai multe texte profetice, care spun că Mesia va fi dispreţuit, Nazaretul fiind un oraş obscur, ai cărui locuitori erau dispreţuiţi (vezi In. 1:45-46); poate fi, în acelaşi timp, şi o aluzie la termenul ebraic nezer/neţer (vlăstar) din Is. 11:1

The Magi Visit the Messiah

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,(A) during the time of King Herod,(B) Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?(C) We saw his star(D) when it rose and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem(E) in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘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 shepherd my people Israel.’[b](F)

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.(G) Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts(H) of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned(I) in a dream(J) not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

The Escape to Egypt

13 When they had gone, an angel(K) of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.(L) “Get up,” he said, “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.”(M)

14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled(N) what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”[c](O)

16 When 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. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:(P)

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

The Return to Nazareth

19 After Herod died, an angel(S) of the Lord appeared in a dream(T) to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “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.”(U)

21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 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,(V) he withdrew to the district of Galilee,(W) 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth.(X) So was fulfilled(Y) what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.(Z)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 2:1 Traditionally wise men
  2. Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:2,4
  3. Matthew 2:15 Hosea 11:1
  4. Matthew 2:18 Jer. 31:15

Wise Men from the East

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, 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.”

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 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.

So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

‘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.’

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the [b]wise men, determined from them what time the (J)star appeared. 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.”

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, (K)they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Then, being divinely warned (L)in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

The Flight into Egypt

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for 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, (M)“Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Massacre of the Innocents

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

18 “A (N)voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.”

The Home in Nazareth(O)

19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 (P)saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who (Q)sought the young Child’s life are dead.” 21 Then he arose, 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 instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a (R)dream, he turned aside (S)into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called (T)Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled (U)which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 2:1 Gr. magoi
  2. Matthew 2:7 Gr. magoi