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]

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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

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:(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)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 2:18 Jer. 31:15