Matthew 2:1
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,
Original Language Analysis
Τοῦ
G3588
Τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 20
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰησοῦ
when Jesus
G2424
Ἰησοῦ
when Jesus
Strong's:
G2424
Word #:
3 of 20
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
γεννηθέντος
was born
G1080
γεννηθέντος
was born
Strong's:
G1080
Word #:
4 of 20
to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 20
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰουδαίας
of Judaea
G2449
Ἰουδαίας
of Judaea
Strong's:
G2449
Word #:
8 of 20
the judaean land (i.e., judaea), a region of palestine
ἡμέραις
the days
G2250
ἡμέραις
the days
Strong's:
G2250
Word #:
10 of 20
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 20
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
βασιλέως
the king
G935
βασιλέως
the king
Strong's:
G935
Word #:
13 of 20
a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively)
μάγοι
wise men
G3097
μάγοι
wise men
Strong's:
G3097
Word #:
15 of 20
a magian (magi), i.e., oriental scientist; by implication, a magician
ἀπὸ
from
G575
ἀπὸ
from
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
16 of 20
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
ἀνατολῶν
the east
G395
ἀνατολῶν
the east
Strong's:
G395
Word #:
17 of 20
a rising of light, i.e., dawn (figuratively); by implication, the east (also in plural)
παρεγένοντο
there came
G3854
παρεγένοντο
there came
Strong's:
G3854
Word #:
18 of 20
to become near, i.e., approach (have arrived); by implication, to appear publicly
Cross References
Micah 5:2But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.John 7:42Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?Luke 2:11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.Isaiah 11:10And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.Genesis 49:10The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.Matthew 1:25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.Matthew 2:5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,Genesis 25:6But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.Luke 2:15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.1 Kings 4:30And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
Historical Context
Herod the Great ruled Judea 37-4 BC under Roman authority. Known for paranoid cruelty, he killed his own wife and sons. Bethlehem was David's ancestral town, making Jesus' birth there a fulfillment of both prophecy and royal heritage.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the Magi's diligent search for Christ challenge your own pursuit of knowing Him?
- What does it cost you to worship Jesus as the Magi did?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The mention of 'Bethlehem of Judaea' fulfills Micah 5:2's prophecy about the Messiah's birthplace. The 'wise men from the east' (Greek: magoi) were likely Persian or Arabian astrologers who studied prophecy, possibly influenced by Daniel's legacy in Babylon. Their arrival 'in the days of Herod the king' dates Jesus' birth to before 4 BC when Herod died.