Matthew 2:1-12

1 Now Jesus having been born in Bethlehem of Judaea, in the days of Herod the king, behold magi from the east arrived at Jerusalem, saying,
2 Where is the king of the Jews that has been born? for we have seen his star in the east, and have come to do him homage.
3 But Herod the king having heard [of it], was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
4 and, assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.
5 And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judaea; for thus it is written through the prophet:
6 And *thou* Bethlehem, land of Juda, art in no wise the least among the governors of Juda; for out of thee shall go forth a leader who shall shepherd my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, having secretly called the magi, inquired of them accurately the time of the star that was appearing;
8 and having sent them to Bethlehem, said, Go, search out accurately concerning the child, and when ye shall have found [him] bring me back word, so that *I* also may come and do him homage.
9 And they having heard the king went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went before them until it came and stood over the place where the little child was.
10 And when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And having come into the house they saw the little child with Mary his mother, and falling down did him homage. And having opened their treasures, they offered to him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And being divinely instructed in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Images for Matthew 2:1-12

Footnotes 7

  • [a]. Lit. 'begotten,' but used for 'born.' In ver. 2 it is the fact of being brought forth -- of course strictly of the mother. It was the actual fact of his being born or brought forth that the magi refer to.
  • [b]. See ch. 1.22.
  • [c]. Mic. 5.2.
  • [d]. Hostis, 'who is such as:' see ch. 7.24.
  • [e]. Or 'learned:' so ver. 16.
  • [f]. It is evident that the star had not been all the way, but now reappeared: see ver. 10. 'The time' is practically when it appeared; 'how long since?'
  • [g]. It signifies an answer after consultation, as ver. 22; hence an oracular or divine answer, not merely warning.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.