The Massacre of the Innocents

16 Then Herod, when he realized that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men.(A) 17 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:

18 A voice was heard in Ramah,

weeping,[a] and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
and she refused to be consoled,
because they are no more.[b](B)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:18 Other mss read Ramah, lamentation, and weeping,
  2. 2:18 Jr 31:15

The Massacre of the Innocents

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the male children in and around Bethlehem who were two years[a] old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men.(A) 17 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:

18 A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping,[b] and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
and she refused to be consoled,
because they were no more.(B)[c]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 2:16 Lit were from two years
  2. Matthew 2:18 Other mss read Ramah, lamentation, and weeping,
  3. Matthew 2:18 Jr 31:15