Matthew 2:9 kjv
When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
Matthew 2:9 nkjv
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
Matthew 2:9 niv
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
Matthew 2:9 esv
After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
Matthew 2:9 nlt
After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.
Matthew 2 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 24:17 | "A Star shall come forth from Jacob..." | Prophecy of the Messiah as a star. |
| Isa 60:3 | "Nations shall come to your light..." | Gentiles drawn to Messiah's light/glory. |
| Exod 13:21-22 | "The LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud... and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light." | Divine, continuous guidance by a visible sign. |
| Ps 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." | Divine guidance through God's truth. |
| Jn 8:12 | "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness." | Jesus as the ultimate divine guide and light. |
| Matt 2:1 | "Wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.'" | The Magi's initial sighting and purpose. |
| Matt 2:8 | "Go and search carefully for the young Child... and when you have found Him, bring back word to me." | Herod's instruction before their departure. |
| Matt 2:10-11 | "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they came into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother." | Their joy upon seeing the star's precise guidance and their arrival. |
| Gen 1:14 | "Let there be lights in the firmament... and let them be for signs..." | Stars designed by God for purpose, including signs. |
| Ps 19:1 | "The heavens declare the glory of God..." | Heavenly bodies manifesting God's handiwork. |
| 2 Pet 1:19 | "We have the prophetic word confirmed... a light that shines in a dark place." | Prophetic revelation as a guiding light. |
| Ps 32:8 | "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go..." | God's promise to guide His people. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | "Trust in the LORD with all your heart... And He shall direct your paths." | God's faithfulness in guiding trusting hearts. |
| Lk 2:16 | "They found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger." | Contrast in immediate post-birth location (manger) vs. the "house" here. |
| Neh 9:19 | "You did not forsake them in the wilderness; The pillar of cloud did not depart from them by day... nor the pillar of fire by night." | Continuous divine guidance in the wilderness. |
| Job 9:7 | "He commands the sun, and it does not rise; He seals off the stars." | God's sovereign control over celestial bodies. |
| Isa 42:16 | "I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known." | God's miraculous guidance for the unknowing. |
| Ps 37:23 | "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD..." | God directs the specific steps of believers. |
| Zech 14:7 | "But at evening time it shall happen that it will be light." | Foreshadows divine light in unique ways, separate from natural cycle. |
| Rev 22:16 | "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." | Jesus himself as the true "star," fulfilling prophecy and giving light. |
| Dan 12:3 | "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; And those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever." | Wisdom and guidance related to shining like stars. |
Matthew 2 verses
Matthew 2 9 Meaning
Matthew 2:9 describes the journey of the Magi as they resumed their quest to find the young child Jesus, guided by a re-appearing or newly observed celestial phenomenon. Having received instruction from King Herod to go to Bethlehem, they departed. At that moment, a specific star, the same one they had initially seen in the East, became actively engaged in guiding them. This unique star led them precisely to the very dwelling place where the young child was located, eventually coming to a halt directly over it. This verse signifies divine guidance and confirmation to the sincere seekers.
Matthew 2 9 Context
Matthew 2 details the aftermath of Jesus' birth, specifically focusing on the arrival of the Magi, or wise men, from the East. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, their question about the newborn "King of the Jews" (Matt 2:2) troubled King Herod. Herod, fearing a challenge to his throne, convened the chief priests and scribes who confirmed from Micah 5:2 that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Herod then secretly instructed the Magi to find the child and return with His location. It is within this tense atmosphere, after hearing Herod's deceptive instructions, that the Magi resumed their journey to Bethlehem, and the divine guidance of the star re-manifested to lead them directly to Jesus. The star's guidance served as a precise divine counterpoint to Herod's political maneuverings.
Matthew 2 9 Word analysis
- When they had heard the king, they departed: This highlights the Magi's obedience to the immediate command of Herod, perhaps unaware of his sinister intentions at this point, or trusting in a higher purpose. Their departure also signifies a resumption of their divinely purposed journey.
- and, lo, (ἰδοὺ - idou): This Greek interjection signifies "Behold!" or "Look!". It signals a sudden, startling, or highly significant occurrence. It draws immediate attention to the remarkable appearance or action of the star, emphasizing the direct, miraculous intervention of God at this pivotal moment. It indicates a sense of relief, surprise, and renewed confidence for the Magi after the uncertainty in Jerusalem.
- the star, (ἀστὴρ - astēr): Refers to the celestial phenomenon. Its supernatural characteristics are implied: it appears or becomes active precisely when needed, moves directionally, and precisely identifies a specific house. This was no ordinary astronomical event. It links to Numbers 24:17 prophecy of "a Star from Jacob."
- which they saw in the east: This phrase confirms that it was the same type of star, or possibly a re-activated phenomenon, that they had initially observed which led them from their homeland. It assures the reader of its unique, recognizable nature for the Magi.
- went before them (προῆγεν - proēgen): The Greek imperfect tense emphasizes the continuous and active nature of the star's movement, demonstrating its function as an active guide, leading the way for them, step by step. This indicates a personal, moment-by-moment divine guidance, much like the pillar of cloud/fire for Israel.
- till it came and stood over (ἔστη - estē): The Greek aorist tense highlights a decisive, definitive action. The star ceased its movement and positioned itself with precise, undeniable clarity directly above a specific location. This eliminates any doubt or need for interpretation, functioning as a pinpoint indicator.
- where the young child (παιδίον - paidion) was: Paidion can refer to a young child from infant up to perhaps seven years old. Given Herod's subsequent decree targeting children two years old and younger (Matt 2:16) and the detail that they entered a "house" (Matt 2:11) rather than a manger, it suggests Jesus was likely no longer an infant, but a toddler at this point. This detail distinguishes the Magi's visit from the shepherds' visit immediately after the birth.
- "heard the king, they departed": This shows the Magi acting on Herod's public instruction while simultaneously demonstrating a deeper obedience to the divine calling that brought them. Their departure was critical for God's further, direct guidance to manifest.
- "lo, the star... went before them, till it came and stood over": This phrase captures the essence of divine intervention and precise guidance. The emphatic "lo" marks the dramatic re-emergence of the sign, which then actively and continuously led them (not just observed by them from a distance) until it pointed specifically and unequivocally to the Messiah's dwelling, underscoring the star's supernatural and purpose-driven nature.
Matthew 2 9 Bonus section
The star guiding the Magi demonstrates God's multi-faceted ways of revealing Himself and His purposes, even to those from a pagan background. It highlights God's readiness to guide sincere seekers from any nation, aligning with the Old Testament prophetic vision of Gentiles coming to the light of the Messiah (Isa 60:3). This divine guidance ensured the exact fulfillment of prophecy regarding the Messiah's birthplace. The meticulous accuracy of the star, moving and then stopping directly over the house, further underlines its supernatural origin, distinguishing it from any known astronomical event and presenting it as a direct act of divine will, ensuring the Magi's faithful completion of their divinely inspired mission of worship.
Matthew 2 9 Commentary
Matthew 2:9 illustrates the profound blend of human journey and divine intervention. Having received the Bethlehem prophecy from Herod's advisors, the Magi continued their quest. At this juncture, God provided renewed, clear, and unambiguous guidance through the re-emergence and active direction of the star. This was not a passive sign, but one that actively moved before them, showing the precise way, confirming their destination and easing their anxiety after the distressing encounter with Herod. The star's specific action of stopping "over where the young child was" points to the extraordinary nature of God's leading, ensuring the Magi could find the Messiah without any doubt, directly contravening Herod's deceitful plans and highlighting God's sovereign control over even celestial phenomena to achieve His purposes.