Matthew 2:1 kjv
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,
Matthew 2:1 nkjv
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
Matthew 2:1 niv
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
Matthew 2:1 esv
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,
Matthew 2:1 nlt
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,
Matthew 2 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mic 5:2 | But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah... out of thee shall he come forth unto me... | Prophecy of Messiah's Bethlehem birth |
| Jn 7:42 | Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem...? | Confirmation of Bethlehem as Messiah's birthplace |
| Matt 2:5-6 | For thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda... | Matthew explicitly links Jesus' birth to prophecy |
| Lk 1:5 | There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias... | John the Baptist's birth also during Herod's reign |
| Lk 2:1-7 | And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus... | Historical context of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem |
| Matt 2:3 | When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled... | Herod's immediate negative reaction |
| Matt 2:13 | 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... | Herod's plot against Jesus |
| Isa 60:3 | And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. | Prophecy of Gentiles seeking God's light |
| Isa 60:6 | All they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense... | Prophecy of Gentiles bringing gifts |
| Ps 72:10-11 | The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him... | Kings/Gentiles honoring the Messiah |
| Eph 3:6 | That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: | Gentile inclusion as core gospel truth |
| Acts 10:45 | And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. | Early Christian Gentile inclusion confirmed |
| Gal 3:8 | And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. | Abrahamic promise extends to all nations |
| Isa 9:6-7 | For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder... | Prophecy of Jesus' kingship and nature |
| Lk 1:32-33 | He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. | Angel's prophecy of Jesus' everlasting kingship |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... | Universal acknowledgment of Jesus' sovereignty |
| Rev 21:24 | And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. | Future worship of Jesus by nations |
| Matt 28:19 | Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: | Universal mission to all nations |
| Jer 23:5 | Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper... | Prophecy of a righteous King from David's line |
| Zech 9:9 | Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation... | Prophecy of Messiah's coming as King |
| Dan 2:44 | And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed... | God's eternal kingdom displacing earthly kingdoms |
| Rom 5:6 | For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. | Emphasizes the divine timing of Christ's advent |
| Gen 10:30 | And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east. | 'East' as a region associated with specific peoples and origins |
Matthew 2 verses
Matthew 2 1 Meaning
Matthew 2:1 announces the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea, specifying it occurred during the reign of King Herod. The verse highlights a pivotal moment when Gentile "wise men" arrived in Jerusalem from the East, seeking the newborn King of the Jews, initiating a central theme of Gentile inclusion in God's redemptive plan.
Matthew 2 1 Context
Matthew chapter 2 immediately follows the genealogy and miraculous birth narrative of Jesus. Verse 1 sets the geographical and historical stage for the events surrounding Jesus' early infancy, focusing on His birth in Bethlehem as a fulfillment of prophecy and the dramatic arrival of foreign dignitaries seeking Him. This verse contrasts the obscure, humble birthplace of the Messiah with the universal, royal recognition His birth immediately commands from non-Jewish seekers. Historically, "Herod the King" refers to Herod the Great, a cruel and ambitious client king appointed by Rome, whose reign of fear and political intrigue forms the backdrop for the infancy narrative, highlighting the inherent tension between the earthly throne and the heavenly King. The narrative's focus on the Magi and their journey also introduces the theme of Gentile inclusion into God's plan of salvation, which is central to Matthew's Gospel.
Matthew 2 1 Word analysis
- Now when Jesus was born: The Greek is "τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος" (tou de Iēsou gennēthentos), a genitive absolute, marking the timing of the events. "Jesus" (Ἰησοῦ, Iēsou) is the Greek form of the Hebrew "Yeshua" (Joshua), meaning "Yahweh saves." This points to His divine mission. His "birth" (γεννηθέντος) underscores His full humanity and actual physical presence on earth, yet it also fulfills ancient prophecies concerning the coming Messiah.
- in Bethlehem of Judæa: Bethlehem (Βηθλεὲμ, Bethleem) means "house of bread," or "house of meat/food." It was prophetically designated as the birthplace of the Messiah (Mic 5:2) and was also the hometown of King David (1 Sam 17:12), thus affirming Jesus' Davidic lineage and royal claim. "Judæa" (Ἰούδα, Iouda) specifies the region, distinguishing it from other Bethlehems.
- in the days of Herod the king: Herod (Ἡρῴδου, Hērōdou) refers to Herod the Great (died c. 4 BCE). He was an Idumean (Edomite) king, ruling under Roman authority. His inclusion precisely dates Jesus' birth to before Herod's death, highlighting divine providence in historical timing. His title "the king" (τοῦ βασιλέως) immediately contrasts with the unstated "King" the Magi seek, setting up the conflict central to Matthew 2 between an earthly tyrant and the heavenly Messiah.
- behold: This (ἰδοὺ, idou) is an interjection used to draw attention, signifying something noteworthy, unexpected, or divinely significant is about to occur. It alerts the reader to a remarkable event.
- there came wise men from the east: "Wise men" (Μάγοι, Magoi) are typically interpreted as scholars, astronomers, astrologers, or priestly caste members from ancient Persia or Mesopotamia, associated with esoteric wisdom. They were not kings as later tradition held. Their origin "from the east" (ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν, apo anatolōn) signifies a non-Jewish, perhaps Gentile, origin. This anticipates the global scope of Jesus' kingship and the future inclusion of Gentiles into the covenant, a significant Matthean theme. Their coming implies an awareness of cosmic or prophetic signs, perhaps derived from Jewish prophecy, Babylonian astronomy, or even the prophecy of Balaam (Num 24:17).
- to Jerusalem: Jerusalem was the capital city of Judea, the religious and political center, and the expected place for news of a newborn king. This immediately puts the new King into direct confrontation with existing religious and political powers embodied by the Sanhedrin and Herod.
Matthew 2 1 Bonus section
The concept of "star lore" was prevalent in the ancient Near East, with celestial events often interpreted as portending the birth of significant figures or major historical changes. The wise men's understanding, while not fully revealed, suggests a possible blend of scientific observation (astronomy) and ancient prophetic knowledge, perhaps even an inheritance of prophecies known through Daniel or other Jewish exiles in Babylon. Their long, arduous journey signifies profound commitment and anticipation, acting as a precursor to the missionary endeavors of the church. This verse also implicitly foreshadows the future conflict between true worship (represented by the Magi) and false authority (represented by Herod). The initial search in Jerusalem, the expected seat of power, highlights that the King's true domain transcends earthly kingdoms, starting in the seemingly insignificant Bethlehem.
Matthew 2 1 Commentary
Matthew 2:1 initiates the unfolding drama of Jesus' early life, affirming His rightful kingship from birth, even as His circumstances are humble. The precise geographical and historical details (Bethlehem, Judea, Herod's reign) ground the supernatural events in verifiable reality, yet simultaneously infuse them with prophetic meaning. The arrival of the "wise men" from the East serves as a powerful theological statement: the King of the Jews, the Messiah of Israel, is immediately recognized and sought out by Gentiles. This foretells the universal scope of the Gospel and highlights that God's plan of salvation extends beyond the nation of Israel to include all peoples. The pursuit of truth by those outside the covenant community provides a striking contrast to the skepticism and hostility that will later emerge from within Israel's religious establishment, as implied by Jerusalem's (and Herod's) troubled reaction in subsequent verses.