New King James Version
Matthew 2:1
1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
Matthew 2:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
- New International Version (NIV)After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,
- New Living Translation (NLT)Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,
Context of Matthew 2:1
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Read all of Matthew 2Matthew 2:1 word by word
Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλέεμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἐν ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου τοῦ βασιλέως ἰδοὺ μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν παρεγένοντο εἰς ἹεροσόλυμαRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Now whenδέde · thenG1161
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- was bornγεννάωgennaō · to begetG1080
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- BethlehemΒηθλεέμBēthleem · BethlehemG965
- of JudeaἸουδαίαIoudaia · JudeaG2449
- the daysἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
- of HerodἩρώδηςHērōdēs · HerodG2264
- the kingβασιλεύςbasileus · kingG935
- beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- there cameπαραγίνομαιparaginomai · to comeG3854
- wise menμάγοςmagos · sageG3097
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the eastἀνατολήanatolē · eastG395
- toεἰςeis · towardG1519
- JerusalemἹεροσόλυμαHierosoluma · JerusalemG2414
Cross-references for Matthew 2:1
- Matthew 1:25and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
- Luke 2:4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
- Matthew 2:5So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
- Micah 5:2“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
- Luke 2:11For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
- John 7:42Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”
- Matthew 2:3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
- Genesis 49:10The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
- Daniel 9:24“Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.
- Haggai 2:6“For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land;
- Genesis 10:30And their dwelling place was from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.
- Genesis 25:6But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east.
- 1 Kings 4:30Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.
- Job 1:3Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.
- Psalms 72:9Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him, And His enemies will lick the dust.
- Isaiah 11:10“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.”
Commentaries on Matthew 2:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Bethlehem of Judea - This city is mentioned in Judges 17:7, and must be distinguished from another of the same name in the tribe of Zebulon, Joshua 19:15. It is likewise called Ephrath, Genesis 48:7, or Ephratah, Micah 5:2, and its inhabitants Ephrathites, Rth 1:2; 1 Samuel 17:12. It is situated on the declivity of a hill, about six miles from Jerusalem. לחם בית Beth -lechem, in Hebrew, signifies the house of bread. And the name may be considered as very…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1When Jesus was born - See the full account of his birth in Genesis 35:19; Rth 4:11 ; Psalm 132:6. It was called the city of David Luke 2:4, because it was the city of his nativity, 1 Samuel 16:1, 1 Samuel 16:18. It was called Bethlehem of Judea, to distinguish it from a town of the same name in Galilee, Joshua 19:15. The soil of Bethlehem was noted for its fertility. Ancient travelers frequently spoke of its productions. The town is situated on an…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The wise men's search after Christ. (1-8) The wise men worship Jesus. (9-12) Jesus carried into Egypt. (13-15) Herod causes the infants of Bethlehem to be massacred. (16-18) Death of Herod, Jesus brought to Nazareth. (19-23) Verses 1-8 Those who live at the greatest distance from the means of grace often use most diligence, and learn to know the most of Christ and his salvation. But no curious arts, or mere human learning, can direct men unto him. We must…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Bethlehem was King David’s hometown (1 Samuel 16:1–13; John 7:42). King Herod was also called "Herod the Great." He had a rapid increase in power. He went from being the governor of Galilee to the king of Galilee, Judea, and Samaria. He was king from 37–4 BC. He was very loyal to Rome. He was famous for impressive building projects. This included a major renovation of the Temple in Jerusalem. His rule also included family conflicts, suspicion, and the…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-12The Wise Men Reach Jerusalem--The Sanhedrim, on Herod's Demand, Pronounce Bethlehem to Be Messiah's Predicted Birthplace (Mt 2:1-6). 1. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea--so called to distinguish it from another Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulun, near the Sea of Galilee (Jos 19:15); called also Beth-lehem-judah, as being in that tribe (Jud 17:7); and Ephrath (Ge 35:16); and combining both, Beth-lehem Ephratah (Mi 5:2). It lay about six miles…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 2:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries