Matthew 2 12

Matthew 2:12 kjv

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

Matthew 2:12 nkjv

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

Matthew 2:12 niv

And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Matthew 2:12 esv

And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Matthew 2:12 nlt

When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

Matthew 2 verses

Matthew 2 12 Meaning

Matthew 2:12 describes a divine warning given to the wise men (Magi) in a dream, instructing them not to return to King Herod. In obedience to this heavenly guidance, they departed to their own country by a different route, thereby foiling Herod's malevolent plan to locate and kill the infant Jesus. This act demonstrates God's protective providence over His Son and the obedience of those guided by divine revelation.

Matthew 2 12 Context

Matthew chapter 2 details the events surrounding the birth and early childhood of Jesus, focusing on the external threats He faced and God's protective intervention. Preceding verse 12, the wise men from the East, guided by a star, arrive in Jerusalem seeking the newborn King of the Jews. King Herod is deeply troubled by this news and, feigning a desire to worship the child, secretly plots to kill Him (Mt 2:7-8). He instructs the wise men to return to him after they have found Jesus. After finding and worshipping Jesus in Bethlehem, giving Him gifts, they are then supernaturally warned in a dream. This dream directly counters Herod's command and becomes a critical juncture, frustrating his murderous intent and leading to the events of the flight to Egypt.

Matthew 2 12 Word analysis

• And being warned (καὶ χρηματισθέντες - kai chrēmatisthentes):
  • "warned" (χρηματισθέντες - chrēmatisthentes): This Greek term frequently implies a divine revelation or instruction given through a divine agent, like a dream or oracle. It denotes a communication from God that carries authority and often involves a warning or specific directive. It's not a mere suggestion but a divinely authoritative instruction. This word emphasizes that the message was a direct and certain divine communication, specifically revealing information or giving an imperative that humans could not have known on their own. The passive voice implies that the warning was "given to them by God."
• by God: Explicitly states the source of the warning, removing any ambiguity about its origin. It underlines God's direct involvement in orchestrating the protection of Jesus.
• in a dream: A common biblical mode of divine revelation, especially for warnings or guidance (e.g., Gen 20, Gen 31, Mt 1:20, Mt 2:13, Mt 2:19). It indicates a clear, undeniable spiritual communication that often transcends normal human understanding or decision-making processes. Dreams were seen as a direct conduit for divine messages.
• that they should not return to Herod:
  • "should not return": A direct, prohibitory command. This demonstrates God's immediate counter-action to Herod's malevolent intentions (cf. Mt 2:8). It signifies that God was fully aware of Herod's deceit and murderous plot and took active steps to thwart it. This phrase highlights God's omniscience and omnipotence over human evil.
  • "to Herod": Specifies the dangerous person to be avoided. Herod's craftiness and power were considerable, making divine intervention essential.
• they departed (ἀνεχώρησαν - anechōrēsan):
  • "departed": This verb implies withdrawal or retreat, often to a safer place. It emphasizes their immediate obedience to the divine warning, underscoring their faith and respect for God's directive, even if it meant defying a powerful king. This was an act of deliberate evasion.
• into their own country: Their place of origin, likely a region east of Judea, such as Persia or Babylonia. They were to go back where they came from.
• another way (ἄλλην ὁδόν - allēn hodon):
  • "another way": Signifies a route different from the one they had used to travel to Jerusalem/Bethlehem, or a route that would bypass Herod's court entirely. This action was crucial for frustrating Herod's plan. It implies a conscious, obedient decision to diverge from the expected path, effectively escaping any surveillance Herod might have placed. It highlights a tactical evasion enabled by divine foresight.

Matthew 2 12 Bonus section

• The detail of "another way" shows God's intricate providence, not just providing a general escape, but a specific instruction to ensure complete circumvention of Herod's spies or tracking.
• The incident foreshadows the broader conflict between God's kingdom and worldly powers throughout Jesus' life and ministry, demonstrating from His infancy that He is beyond the reach of human tyranny.
• It highlights the unique role of dreams in biblical narratives as legitimate vehicles of divine communication, especially when human agents needed clear, direct guidance to act according to God's will.
• This act of divine intervention set the stage for Joseph's subsequent dream-warnings in Matthew 2, confirming a pattern of God's direct guidance and protection for the Holy Family during this crucial early period.

Matthew 2 12 Commentary

Matthew 2:12 is a concise yet profoundly significant verse, revealing the immediate and direct intervention of God to protect His Son. Following the profound act of worship by the wise men, God, through a simple dream, directly countermands the dangerous command of a powerful, murderous king. The prompt and decisive obedience of the wise men underscores their profound faith and responsiveness to divine instruction, preventing them from unknowingly becoming instruments of Herod's evil. This passage beautifully illustrates several theological truths: God's sovereign protection over His Anointed One, His ability to frustrate the plans of the wicked through unexpected means, and His constant vigilance over His redemptive purposes. It reinforces the theme that no earthly power, however formidable, can thwart God's divine will or prevail against His chosen Messiah.