Matthew 2 14

Matthew 2:14 kjv

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

Matthew 2:14 nkjv

When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,

Matthew 2:14 niv

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,

Matthew 2:14 esv

And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt

Matthew 2:14 nlt

That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother,

Matthew 2 verses

Matthew 2 14 Meaning

Matthew 2:14 describes Joseph's immediate and obedient response to the divine warning given by an angel in a dream. Acting decisively and discreetly, he took the infant Jesus and His mother Mary, fleeing under the cover of night to Egypt. This journey was undertaken to protect the young Messiah from Herod the Great's murderous intent, demonstrating God's sovereign hand guiding and protecting His Son.

Matthew 2 14 Context

Matthew chapter 2 portrays the turbulent immediate aftermath of Jesus’ birth. It contrasts the malicious intentions of King Herod the Great, who sought to destroy the prophesied "King of the Jews," with the divine protection supernaturally guided by God. Verse 14 specifically depicts Joseph's obedient and swift action following an angelic dream in verse 13, warning him of Herod's intent. This flight demonstrates God’s unwavering commitment to preserve His Son and secure the unfolding of His redemptive plan, ensuring the safety of the Christ child from early attempts to extinguish His life, and implicitly positioning Jesus as a new Israel and Moses figure through this re-enactment of Israel's historical descent and ascent from Egypt. This event directly confronts the malevolent forces attempting to thwart God's will from the very outset of the Messiah's life.

Matthew 2 14 Word analysis

• And he rose (καὶ ἐγερθεὶς - kai egertheis): Joseph is the implied subject. The Greek verb egeirō (here in its participial form) means to raise up, awake, or arise. This indicates Joseph’s immediate, decisive, and obedient action, showing he did not delay in responding to the divine instruction given in the dream. His promptness reflects faith and a keen awareness of the urgency and danger.
• took (παρέλαβεν - parelaben): From paralambanō, meaning to take alongside, to receive, or to take into one's care. This word highlights Joseph's responsible guardianship and carefulness in taking custody of both Jesus and Mary, signifying his role as protector for the nascent Holy Family.
• the child (τὸ παιδίον - to paidion): Refers to Jesus. This term for "child" or "infant" emphasizes Jesus's tender age and absolute vulnerability, making His divine protection and Joseph's indispensable role in it all the more significant. Despite being the Son of God, He was utterly dependent on His earthly parents.
• and his mother (τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ - tēn mētera autou): Mary. Her inclusion emphasizes that the divine warning and subsequent protection extended to both the child and His mother, recognizing their inseparable bond and shared danger.
• by night (νυκτὸς - nyktos): This temporal detail signifies the urgency, danger, and the need for absolute secrecy to evade King Herod's watchful eyes and agents. It highlights the perilous conditions under which they traveled and implicitly demonstrates that God's protective hand is effective even in the darkest hours.
• and departed (ἀνεχώρησεν - anechōrēsen): From anachōreō, meaning to withdraw, retreat, or go away, often implying an avoidance of danger or opposition. This verb is characteristic of Matthew's Gospel, frequently used to describe Jesus's or His family's strategic withdrawal, often fulfilling a prophetic purpose or signaling a spiritual contest with the forces of evil (e.g., withdrawal from conflict).
• to Egypt (εἰς Αἴγυπτον - eis Aigypton): Literally "into Egypt." This destination is profoundly significant, as Egypt was both a historical land of refuge for ancient Israelites (like Abraham and Jacob's family) and the notorious land of their bondage and miraculous liberation through the Exodus. The choice of Egypt creates crucial typological connections to the Old Testament, portraying Jesus as the New Israel and the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive actions. This flight shows God preserving His Messiah from earthly tyrants.

Word-group Analysis

• And he rose and took the child and his mother: This phrase emphasizes Joseph's immediate and comprehensive obedience to the divine command. His action is decisive and thorough, encompassing both Mary and Jesus, signifying his complete acceptance of his sacred responsibility. This demonstrates Joseph's deep faith and righteousness in responding to God's unexpected and challenging call.
• by night and departed to Egypt: The flight "by night" underscores the immediate peril posed by Herod and the necessary secrecy and speed of their escape. This clandestine departure highlights the true malevolence threatening Jesus's life from birth. Fleeing "to Egypt" connects Jesus's journey to the historical narrative of Israel, positioning Him as the new corporate Israel or a new Moses figure, destined to recapitulate and transcend Israel's national experience of exile, sojourn, and divine call "out of Egypt." This act signifies that God's sovereign plan of redemption would proceed even in defiance of earthly powers.

Matthew 2 14 Bonus section

The flight to Egypt underscores the profound theological truth that even the Son of God experienced vulnerability and persecution from birth, highlighting His full solidarity with humanity and preparing Him to be a suffering Messiah. Joseph’s complete and immediate obedience in abandoning all familiarity in Bethlehem for an unknown life in Egypt serves as an exemplary model of faithful submission and trust in God’s guidance, even when the path is uncertain or dangerous. This narrative element of early persecution and divine rescue foreshadows the ongoing opposition Jesus would face throughout His ministry, ultimately leading to His crucifixion, yet always under God's ultimate sovereign control for the redemption of humanity. It also sharply contrasts the true nature of God's Kingdom, protected by divine will, with the temporal, murderous power of earthly kings like Herod.

Matthew 2 14 Commentary

Matthew 2:14 profoundly illustrates divine providence at work to safeguard the Christ. Joseph's prompt and unquestioning obedience directly averted Herod's murderous scheme, ensuring the safety of Jesus. The flight "by night" emphasizes the genuine danger and the urgent nature of the divine command, while their destination "to Egypt" connects Jesus directly to the ancient story of Israel's deliverance from bondage. This echoes God's meticulous care for His people throughout history and foreshadows Jesus's future identification with Israel, acting as the quintessential "Son of God" who recapitulates and ultimately perfects the experience of His people. The verse is a testament to God’s meticulous orchestration of salvation history, ensuring that no human evil can thwart His eternal plan, and demonstrating that divine protection often involves human cooperation in discerning and obeying God's directives.