Matthew 2

1 After Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] was born in Bethlehem [the house of bread, a town in Palestine] in Judea [a region in southern Palestine], during the time [in the days, under the reign] of King Herod [a sovereign ruler, a Jewish king], Magi [wise men, sages, or magicians] from the east [the direction of the rising sun, a new beginning] arrived [came, appeared publicly] in Jerusalem [the capital of Palestine], word study 2 asking, “Where [in what location] is the One [this specific person] who has been born [brought into existence] King [sovereign ruler] of the Jews [people of Judah]? We saw [perceived with our eyes] His star [celestial body] in the east [the direction of sunrise] and have come [traveled to this place] to worship [bow down in reverence] Him [this person].” word study 3 When King [ruler, sovereign] Herod [the Great, a Jewish king] heard [and understood, gave heed to] this, he was [deeply] disturbed [troubled, stirred up], and all [every part of, the whole city of] Jerusalem [the capital of Palestine] with [accompanied by, in association with] him. word study 4 And when he had assembled [gathered together] all the chief priests [high-priest, top Jewish leaders] and scribes [scholars, teachers of the law] of the people [a specific nation, a group of individuals], he asked [inquired, demanded] them where [in what location, at what place] the Christ [anointed, Messiah] was to be born [to be begotten, brought into existence]. word study 5 “In Bethlehem [the house of bread, a town in Palestine] in Judea [a region in southern Palestine],” they replied, “for this is what the prophet [one who speaks forth God’s will] has written [thus it is recorded, as it is said]: word study 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem [a small town, in the land of Judea], in the land of Judah [a region in Palestine], are by no means [not at all, in no way] least [the smallest, insignificant] among the rulers [leaders, governors] of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler [a leader, a governor] who will be the shepherd [a caretaker, a guide] of My people [My nation, those I care for] Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people].’ ” word study 7 Then [at that specific point in time] Herod [the king, a ruler with authority] called [invited, summoned] the Magi [wise men, sages] secretly [privately, in a hidden manner] and learned [discovered, found out] from them [the wise men, the Magi] the exact [precise, detailed] time [period, interval] the star [a celestial body, a heavenly sign] had appeared [been seen, become visible]. word study 8 And sending [dispatching, directing] them to Bethlehem [the house of bread], he said: “Go and search [inquire, investigate] carefully [exactly, diligently] for the Child [young one, infant], and when you find [discover, meet] Him, report [announce, declare] to me, so that I too [also, myself] may go [come, proceed] and worship [bow down, pay homage] Him [the Messiah, the Savior].” word study 9 After they had heard [listened to and obeyed] the king, they went on their way, and the star [a celestial body, a sign from God] they had seen in the east [the direction of the rising sun, a new beginning] went ahead of them until it stood [came to rest, remained stationary] over the place where the Child [a young one, the Messiah] was. word study 10 When they saw [perceived, attended to] the star [a celestial body, a sign], they rejoiced [felt deep joy, were extremely glad] with great [exceeding, very] delight [joy, happiness, a deep and lasting happiness]. word study 11 On coming [arriving, entering] to the house [home, dwelling place], they saw [perceived, gazed upon] the Child [young one, infant] with His mother [parent, caregiver] Mary [the mother of Jesus], and they fell down [prostrated themselves, bowed] and worshiped [paid homage, revered] Him [as the Messiah, the King]. Then they opened [unlocked, revealed] their treasures [storehouses, riches] and presented [offered, gave] Him with gifts [offerings, tokens of reverence] of gold [a precious metal] and frankincense [an aromatic resin] and myrrh [a fragrant spice]. word study 12 And having been warned [in a divine dream, by God] in a dream [a vision or revelation] not to return [to turn back, to go again] to Herod [the king, a ruler], they withdrew [left, departed] to their country [their own land, region] by another [a different, alternate] route [road, path]. word study 13 When the Magi had gone, an angel [messenger of God] of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream [vision during sleep]. “Get up [arise, wake up]!” he said. “Take the Child [young one, Jesus] and His mother and flee [escape, run away] to Egypt [a foreign land, a place of refuge]. Stay there until I tell you [inform, command you], for Herod [the king, a ruler] is going to search [look for, seek] for the Child to kill [destroy, take the life of] Him.” word study 14 So he got up [arose, woke up], took the Child [young boy, Jesus] and His mother [Mary, the Virgin] by night [in the darkness, secretly], and withdrew [departed, left] to Egypt [the land of the Nile, a place of refuge], word study 15 where he stayed [remained, dwelt] until the death [end of life, passing away] of Herod [the king, ruler]. This fulfilled [completed, brought to pass] what the Lord [God, Master] had spoken [said, uttered] through the prophet [one who speaks for God]: “Out of Egypt [the land of the Nile, a place of refuge] I called [summoned, invited] My Son [the Messiah, Jesus].” word study 16 When Herod [the ruthless king] saw that he had been outwitted [tricked, deceived] by the Magi [wise men, sages], he was filled with rage [exceeding anger, furious]. Sending orders, he put to death [killed, slew] all the boys [male children, infants] in Bethlehem [the house of bread, a town in Palestine] and its vicinity [surrounding regions, borders] who were two years old [at the age of two] and under [younger than two], according to the time [period, interval] he had learned [discovered, enquired] from the Magi [wise men, astronomers]. word study 17 Then [at that specific point in time] what was spoken [said, uttered] through [by, under the authority of] the prophet [one who speaks forth God’s will] Jeremiah [a prophet of God, a spokesperson for the divine] was fulfilled [completed, made full, satisfied]: word study 18 “A voice [sound of lamentation, cry of sorrow] is heard in Ramah [a city in Palestine, a place of historical significance], weeping [intense crying, mourning] and great mourning [deep sorrow, lamentation], Rachel [the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, a key figure in Israel’s history] weeping for her children [the descendants of Israel, her spiritual offspring], and refusing [would not, unwilling] to be comforted [consoled, reassured], because they are no more [have perished, are not alive].” word study 19 After Herod [the king, a ruler of the Jews] died, an angel [a heavenly messenger, a spirit sent by God] of the Lord [the supreme God, the ruler of all] appeared [was seen, became visible] in a dream [a vision during sleep, a prophetic message] to Joseph [the son of Jacob, a righteous man] in Egypt [a foreign land, a place of refuge]. word study 20 “Get up [arise, wake up]!” he said. “Take [receive, make a part of your life] the Child [young one, Jesus] and His mother [Mary, the one who bore Him] and go [travel, journey] to the land [earth, soil] of Israel [the chosen people, descendants of Jacob], for those [they, the ones] seeking [looking for, trying to find] the Child’s [Jesus’] life [soul, breath of life] are now [have] dead [passed away, perished].” word study 21 So Joseph got up [arose, stood up], took the Child [young boy, babe] and His mother [Mary, the mother of Jesus], and went [came, returned] to the land [earth, soil] of Israel [the chosen people, Jacob’s descendants]. word study 22 But when he learned [heard and understood, became aware] that Archelaus [a Jewish king, son of Herod] was reigning [ruling with authority, in power] in Judea [a region in southern Palestine] in place of [instead of, succeeding] his father Herod, he was afraid [filled with fear, apprehensive] to go [to depart, to travel] there [to that place, Judea]. And having been warned [informed, given notice] in a dream [a vision, a divine message], he withdrew [turned aside, departed] to the district [region, area] of Galilee [a region in northern Palestine, where Jesus ministered], word study 23 and he went [came and settled] and lived [dwelt, resided] in a town [city] called [named] Nazareth [a city in Palestine, Jesus’ hometown]. So was fulfilled what was spoken [prophesied, foretold] through [by means of] the prophets [God’s messengers, spokesmen]: “He will be called [named, known as] a Nazarene [a resident of Nazareth, a Christian].” word study