Matthew Chapter 2
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
And they shall call his name Immanuel;
2
which is, being interpreted, God with us.
3
And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife;
4
and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS.
5
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,
6
Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
7
And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
8
And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.
9
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written through the prophet,
10
And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah,
11
Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah:
12
For out of thee shall come forth a governor,
13
Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel.
14
Then Herod privily called the Wise-men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared.
15
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when ye have found
16
him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him.
17
And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
18
And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
19
And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
20
And being warned
21
of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
22
Now when they were departed, behold, an 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 tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
23
And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt;
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
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.
13
Now, they having departed, behold, an angel of [the] Lord appears in a dream to Joseph, saying, Arise, take to [thee] the little child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there until I shall tell thee; for Herod will seek the little child to destroy it.
14
And, having arisen, he took to [him] the little child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.
15
And he was there until the death of Herod, that that might be fulfilled which was spoken by [the] Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
16
Then Herod, seeing that he had been mocked by the magi, was greatly enraged; and sent and slew all the boys which [were] in Bethlehem, and in all its borders, from two years and under, according to the time which he had accurately inquired from the magi.
17
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremias the prophet, saying,
18
A voice has been heard in Rama, weeping, and great lamentation: Rachel weeping [for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
19
But Herod having died, behold, an angel of [the] Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
20
Arise, take to [thee] the little child and its mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they who sought the life of the little child are dead.
21
And he arose and took to [him] the little child and its mother, and came into the land of Israel;
22
but having heard that 'Archelaus reigns over Judaea, instead of Herod his father,' he was afraid to go there; and having been divinely instructed in a dream, he went away into the parts of Galilee,
23
and came and dwelt in a town called Nazareth; so that that should be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, He shall be called a Nazaraene.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Cum ergo natus esset Iesus in Bethlehem Iuda in diebus Herodis regis, ecce Magi ab oriente venerunt Ierosolymam,
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dicentes: Ubi est qui natus est rex Iudæorum? vidimus enim stellam eius in oriente, et venimus adorare eum.
3
Audiens autem Herodes rex, turbatus est, et omnis Ierosolyma cum illo.
4
Et congregans omnes principes sacerdotum, et Scribas populi, sciscitabatur ab eis ubi Christus nasceretur.
5
At illi dixerunt: In Bethlehem Iudæ: Sic enim scriptum est per Prophetam:
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Et tu Bethlehem terra Iuda, nequaquam minima es in principibus Iuda: ex te enim exiet dux, qui regat populum meum Israel.
7
Tunc Herodes clam vocatis Magis diligenter didicit ab eis tempus stellæ, quæ apparuit eis:
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et mittens illos in Bethlehem, dixit: Ite, et interrogate diligenter de puero: et cum inveneritis, renunciate mihi, ut et ego veniens adorem eum.
9
Qui cum audissent regem, abierunt. et ecce stella, quam viderant in oriente, antecedebat eos, usquedum veniens staret supra, ubi erat puer.
10
Videntes autem stellam gavisi sunt gaudio magno valde.
11
Et intrantes domum, invenerunt puerum cum Maria matre eius, et procidentes adoraverunt eum: et apertis thesauris suis obtulerunt ei munera, aurum, thus, et myrrham.
12
Et responso accepto in somnis ne redirent ad Herodem, per aliam viam reversi sunt in regionem suam.
13
Qui cum recessissent, ecce angelus Domini apparuit in somnis Ioseph, dicens: Surge, et accipe puerum, et matrem eius, et fuge in Ægyptum, et esto ibi usque dum dicam tibi. Futurum est enim ut Herodes quærat puerum ad perdendum eum.
14
Qui consurgens accepit puerum, et matrem eius nocte, et secessit in Ægyptum:
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et erat ibi usque ad obitum Herodis: ut adimpleretur quod dictum est a Domino per Prophetam dicentem: Ex Ægypto vocavi filium meum.
16
Tunc Herodes videns quoniam illusus esset a Magis, iratus est valde, et mittens occidit omnes pueros, qui erant in Bethlehem, et in omnibus finibus eius a bimatu et infra secundum tempus, quod exquisierat a Magis.
17
Tunc adimpletum est quod dictum est per Ieremiam prophetam dicentem:
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Vox in Rama audita est ploratus, et ululatus multus: Rachel plorans filios suos, et noluit consolari, quia non sunt.
19
Defuncto autem Herode, ecce angelus Domini apparuit in somnis Ioseph in Ægypto,
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dicens: Surge, et accipe puerum, et matrem eius, et vade in terram Israel: defuncti sunt enim, qui quærebant animam pueri.
21
Qui consurgens, accepit puerum, et matrem eius, et venit in terram Israel.
22
Audiens autem quod Archelaus regnaret in Iudæa pro Herode patre suo, timuit illo ire: et admonitus in somnis, secessit in partes Galilææ.
23
Et veniens habitavit in civitate quæ vocatur Nazareth: ut adimpleretur quod dictum est per Prophetas: Quoniam Nazaræus vocabitur.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,
2
“Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”
3
When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4
Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born.
5
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,
6
‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah; for out of you shall come a governor who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’”
7
Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.
8
He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”
9
They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was.
10
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
11
They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12
Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
13
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
14
He arose and took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt,
15
and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.
17
Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,
18
“A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.”
19
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
20
“Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”
21
He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22
But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee,
23
and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets that he will be called a Nazarene.
wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM
1
του δε ιησου γεννηθεντος εν βηθλεεμ της ιουδαιας εν ημεραις ηρωδου του βασιλεως ιδου μαγοι απο ανατολων παρεγενοντο εις ιεροσολυμα
2
λεγοντες που εστιν ο τεχθεις βασιλευς των ιουδαιων ειδομεν γαρ αυτου τον αστερα εν τη ανατολη και ηλθομεν προσκυνησαι αυτω
3
ακουσας δε ο βασιλευς ηρωδης εταραχθη και πασα ιεροσολυμα μετ αυτου
4
και συναγαγων παντας τους αρχιερεις και γραμματεις του λαου επυνθανετο παρ αυτων που ο χριστος γενναται
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οι δε ειπαν αυτω εν βηθλεεμ της ιουδαιας ουτως γαρ γεγραπται δια του προφητου
6
και συ βηθλεεμ γη ιουδα ουδαμως ελαχιστη ει εν τοις ηγεμοσιν ιουδα εκ σου γαρ εξελευσεται ηγουμενος οστις ποιμανει τον λαον μου τον ισραηλ
7
τοτε ηρωδης λαθρα καλεσας τους μαγους ηκριβωσεν παρ αυτων τον χρονον του φαινομενου αστερος
8
και πεμψας αυτους εις βηθλεεμ ειπεν πορευθεντες εξετασατε ακριβως περι του παιδιου επαν δε ευρητε απαγγειλατε μοι οπως καγω ελθων προσκυνησω αυτω
9
οι δε ακουσαντες του βασιλεως επορευθησαν και ιδου ο αστηρ ον ειδον εν τη ανατολη προηγεν αυτους εως ελθων εσταθη επανω ου ην το παιδιον
10
ιδοντες δε τον αστερα εχαρησαν χαραν μεγαλην σφοδρα
11
και ελθοντες εις την οικιαν ειδον το παιδιον μετα μαριας της μητρος αυτου και πεσοντες προσεκυνησαν αυτω και ανοιξαντες τους θησαυρους αυτων προσηνεγκαν αυτω δωρα χρυσον και λιβανον και σμυρναν
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και χρηματισθεντες κατ οναρ μη ανακαμψαι προς ηρωδην δι αλλης οδου ανεχωρησαν εις την χωραν αυτων
13
αναχωρησαντων δε αυτων ιδου αγγελος κυριου φαινεται κατ οναρ τω ιωσηφ λεγων εγερθεις παραλαβε το παιδιον και την μητερα αυτου και φευγε εις αιγυπτον και ισθι εκει εως αν ειπω σοι μελλει γαρ ηρωδης ζητειν το παιδιον του απολεσαι αυτο
14
ο δε εγερθεις παρελαβεν το παιδιον και την μητερα αυτου νυκτος και ανεχωρησεν εις αιγυπτον
15
και ην εκει εως της τελευτης ηρωδου ινα πληρωθη το ρηθεν υπο κυριου δια του προφητου λεγοντος εξ αιγυπτου εκαλεσα τον υιον μου
16
τοτε ηρωδης ιδων οτι ενεπαιχθη υπο των μαγων εθυμωθη λιαν και αποστειλας ανειλεν παντας τους παιδας τους εν βηθλεεμ και εν πασιν τοις οριοις αυτης απο διετους και κατωτερω κατα τον χρονον ον ηκριβωσεν παρα των μαγων
17
τοτε επληρωθη το ρηθεν δια ιερεμιου του προφητου λεγοντος
18
φωνη εν ραμα ηκουσθη κλαυθμος και οδυρμος πολυς ραχηλ κλαιουσα τα τεκνα αυτης και ουκ ηθελεν παρακληθηναι οτι ουκ εισιν
19
τελευτησαντος δε του ηρωδου ιδου αγγελος κυριου φαινεται κατ οναρ τω ιωσηφ εν αιγυπτω
20
λεγων εγερθεις παραλαβε το παιδιον και την μητερα αυτου και πορευου εις γην ισραηλ τεθνηκασιν γαρ οι ζητουντες την ψυχην του παιδιου
21
ο δε εγερθεις παρελαβεν το παιδιον και την μητερα αυτου και εισηλθεν εις γην ισραηλ
22
ακουσας δε οτι αρχελαος βασιλευει της ιουδαιας αντι του πατρος αυτου ηρωδου εφοβηθη εκει απελθειν χρηματισθεις δε κατ οναρ ανεχωρησεν εις τα μερη της γαλιλαιας
23
και ελθων κατωκησεν εις πολιν λεγομενην ναζαρετ οπως πληρωθη το ρηθεν δια των προφητων οτι ναζωραιος κληθησεται
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And Jesus having been born in Beth-Lehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, lo, mages from the east came to Jerusalem,
2
saying, `Where is he who was born king of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and we came to bow to him.'
3
And Herod the king having heard, was stirred, and all Jerusalem with him,
4
and having gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he was inquiring from them where the Christ is born.
5
And they said to him, `In Beth-Lehem of Judea, for thus it hath been written through the prophet,
6
And thou, Beth-Lehem, the land of Judah, thou art by no means the least among the leaders of Judah, for out of thee shall come one leading, who shall feed My people Israel.'
7
Then Herod, privately having called the mages, did inquire exactly from them the time of the appearing star,
8
and having sent them to Beth-Lehem, he said, `Having gone--inquire ye exactly for the child, and whenever ye may have found, bring me back word, that I also having come may bow to him.'
9
And they, having heard the king, departed, and lo, the star, that they did see in the east, did go before them, till, having come, it stood over where the child was.
10
And having seen the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy,
11
and having come to the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and having fallen down they bowed to him, and having opened their treasures, they presented to him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh,
12
and having been divinely warned in a dream not to turn back unto Herod, through another way they withdrew to their own region.
13
And on their having withdrawn, lo, a messenger of the Lord doth appear in a dream to Joseph, saying, `Having risen, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and be thou there till I may speak to thee, for Herod is about to seek the child to destroy him.'
14
And he, having risen, took the child and his mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt,
15
and he was there till the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled that was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, `Out of Egypt I did call My Son.'
16
Then Herod, having seen that he was deceived by the mages, was very wroth, and having sent forth, he slew all the male children in Beth-Lehem, and in all its borders, from two years and under, according to the time that he inquired exactly from the mages.
17
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
18
`A voice in Ramah was heard--lamentation and weeping and much mourning--Rachel weeping <FI>for<Fi> her children, and she would not be comforted because they are not.'
19
And Herod having died, lo, a messenger of the Lord in a dream doth appear to Joseph in Egypt,
20
saying, `Having risen, take the child and his mother, and be going to the land of Israel, for they have died--those seeking the life of the child.'
21
And he, having risen, took the child and his mother, and came to the land of Israel,
22
and having heard that Archelaus doth reign over Judea instead of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither, and having been divinely warned in a dream, he withdrew to the parts of Galilee,
23
and coming, he dwelt in a city named Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled that was spoken through the prophets, that `A Nazarene he shall be called.'
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).