PrevMatthew 2:17Next

Matthew 2

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,

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

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.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

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

And when they were departed, behold, 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, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

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

And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

What does Matthew 2:17 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 2:17 refers to an event in the New Testament of the Bible, where the author of the Gospel According to Matthew indicates that an Old Testament prophecy has been fulfilled.

The verse falls in the part of Matthew where King Herod orders the massacre of all boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under. This event is known as the Massacre of the Innocents.

The verse follows immediately after the description of the atrocity and states that this occurrence fulfilled a prophecy made by the prophet Jeremiah.

The deeper meaning behind this reference to Jeremiah is that Matthew, the Gospel writer, seeks to underline the Messiahship of Jesus by drawing parallels between his life and the Hebrew Scriptures.

Matthew presents Jesus's life as the fulfillment of the prophecies and expectations of the Jewish people.

The saying by Jeremiah presumably refers to the heartbreaking loss and mourning that would feel similar to the past sorrows of Israel, but now pointing to Herod's brutal act as a foreshadowing of the suffering that Jesus would endure.

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Matthew was written for a predominantly Jewish audience, likely between 80 and 90 A.D.

During this time, the early Christian community was eager to understand Jesus's life and death within the context of the Hebrew Bible.

By showing how Jesus's life fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies, the author sought to prove Jesus's legitimacy as the promised Messiah.

The historical event alluded to takes inspiration from the reign of King Herod the Great, known for his ruthless measures to protect his throne.

Although there is no extra-biblical historical evidence for this specific massacre, it is consistent with Herod's character and actions as recorded by other historical accounts, particularly by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints approach this verse in various ways:

Traditional Christian theology sees this verse as a clear indication of divine prophecy fulfillment, as the author of Matthew consistently aims to connect the events of Jesus's life with Old Testament scripture.
Some critics argue that Matthew may have been using typology rather than direct prophecy fulfillment, meaning that rather than claiming Jeremiah predicted this exact event, Matthew might suggest that the lamentation in Jeremiah was a type or a pattern that finds a greater, more complete expression in the events of Jesus's childhood.
Others may see this verse skeptically, questioning the historicity of the massacre and thus challenging the claim of prophecy fulfillment.
This verse is also important for discussions on theodicy, as it raises questions about why a good and powerful God would allow innocent children to die.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can be applied in daily life in several ways:

Comfort in suffering: The verse can offer solace, indicating that God’s plans often include facing and persevering through trials and tribulations.
Trust in providence: Christians might find in it a call to trust that God's purposes are being worked out, even in the midst of apparent chaos and evil.
Reflection on the cost of salvation: The passage can inspire believers to ponder the heavy price that accompanies the fulfillment of God's redemptive plans.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 31:15: This is the direct prophecy to which Matthew 2:17 refers.
Revelation 12:1-4: Symbolic passage depicting the dragon waiting to devour the child who is to rule all nations, which can be seen as an echo of Herod's action against the infants.
Matthew 2:18: Continues the reference, explicitly quoting Jeremiah.
Hosea 11:1: Another fulfillment citation in Matthew that relates to the experiences of Jesus's early life.

Language Study

The original Greek text uses the term "ἐπληρώθη," which is translated as "was fulfilled." This is a key word because it indicates the author's intention to mark the correspondence between event and prophecy.

The term "ῥηθὲν" (spoken) is also pivotal as it signifies the authority of the prophetic words attributed to Jeremiah.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In examining cultural and religious comparisons, one could analyze the common theme of child sacrifice in ancient cultures, which is abhorrent in the Hebrew tradition.

For instance, the horrific act of Pharaoh killing Hebrew infants in the time of Moses could be compared with Herod's massacre in Matthew's Gospel, with both narratives highlighting the vulnerability and significance of children in the context of divine plans.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the study of this verse is more related to the disciplines of archaeology and anthropology rather than natural sciences.

While there is no archeological evidence for the Massacre of the Innocents, it is scientifically plausible given what is known about Herod's reign and typical monarchal practices of the time to secure a throne.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry’s Commentary acknowledges the verse as a fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy, emphasizing the sovereignty of God in the midst of human cruelty.
The New Jerome Biblical Commentary might be more critical, possibly highlighting the lack of historical corroboration for the massacre and discussing the literary techniques used in the Gospel.
The MacArthur Bible Commentary tends to take a conservative interpretation, seeing this verse as a literal fulfillment of prophecy and as evidence for the inerrancy of Scripture.

Matthew 2

Matthew 2

What does Matthew 2:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 2:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?