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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 2:9 mean?

Explanation

The verse in question, Matthew 2:9, describes a moment in the biblical account of the birth of Jesus Christ.

According to the Gospel of Matthew, wise men (or magi) from the East are guided by a star to the location of Jesus, who is referred to here as "the young child." The star is described as moving ahead of them until it stops over the place where Jesus was.

This verse captures the culmination of the wise men's journey and serves to highlight the divine guidance provided to them.

The star's behavior in this passage is miraculous, not conforming to natural astronomical phenomena, as it is described as moving and then stopping to mark a specific location.

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Historical Context

Matthew's Gospel, written approximately in the late first century AD, speaks to a Jewish audience familiar with prophecies of a coming Messiah.

The star mentioned could be an allusion to Numbers 24:17 ("a star shall come out of Jacob"), which was traditionally interpreted as a messianic prophecy.

The magi's visit represents the recognition of Jesus not only by the Jewish people but also by the Gentile world.

The exact nature of the star and its historical existence have been a subject of debate among scholars, with various theories regarding possible astronomical events that could explain the phenomenon.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse is often seen as evidence of God's sovereign guidance. The star symbolizes divine intervention and direction to the magi.

From a Christian perspective, it represents Jesus as the light to the Gentiles, fulfilling prophecies of the Messiah being a universal savior and not just for the Jewish people.

Different denominations may emphasize certain aspects of this event: some view the magi themselves as symbolic of the broader world acknowledging Christ, while others focus on the miraculous nature of the star as a testament to the truth of the Gospel narrative.

Practical Applications

Matthew 2:9 presents a message of faith and divine guidance that believers can apply in their daily lives.

It suggests that one should be attentive to the signs of God’s presence and direction in their own journey. Just as the wise men followed the star to find Jesus, individuals can seek guidance in prayer, scripture, and communal worship.

Cross-References

Numbers 24:17: "There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel..."
Isaiah 60:3: "And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."
Luke 2:32: "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of this verse include:

"ἀναχθέντες" (anachthentes): translated as "departed," which implies being led upward or being led by taking away from a place.
"ἰδοὺ" (idou): "lo," a demonstrative particle used frequently in the New Testament to command attention.
"προῆγεν" (proēgen): meaning "went before," suggesting the act of leading with authority or precedence.
"ἐστάθη" (estathē): "stood," the verb implies coming to a stop or being established in a place.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Ancient civilizations often attached significant religious and cultural meaning to astronomical occurrences, seeing them as omens or messages from the gods.

Similar stories of stars or celestial bodies marking significant events or individuals can be found across cultures.

In Zoroastrianism, for instance, stars have an essential role in the prophecy and can symbolize divine light or wisdom.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern astronomical science could potentially provide explanations for the star of Bethlehem, such as a planetary conjunction, a comet, or a supernova.

However, no conclusive evidence has been identified to explain the biblical account in purely naturalistic terms.

The description of the star's behavior in Matthew, moving and stopping, does not correspond to any known natural astronomical phenomenon and is generally regarded as a miraculous event within the Christian faith.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have offered various interpretations of this verse:

William Barclay suggests that the star is part of the poetry of the story rather than a literal astronomical event.
John Calvin emphasizes the sovereignty of God in guiding the wise men and points to the incarnation of Christ being for all people, not just the Jews.
Modern evangelical scholars, such as Craig Keener and R.T.

France, often see the star as a supernatural sign specifically provided by God for this event.

Matthew 2

Matthew 2

What does Matthew 2:9 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 2:9 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?