The Gospel according to Matthew

Matthew 2

Who, what, why, when, where, and how — read the book introduction

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MATTHEW 2:1

TWMC

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of King Herod, Magi arrived in Jerusalem from the east.

KJV

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,

Greek

Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλεὲμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας, ἐν ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἰδού, μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν παρεγένοντο εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα,

Romanized Greek

Tou de Iēsou gennēthentos en Bēthleem tēs Ioudaias, en hēmerais Hērōdou tou basileōs, idou, magoi apo anatolōn paregenonto eis Hierosolyma,

MATTHEW 2:2

TWMC

They asked, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east, and we have come to worship Him.”

KJV

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Greek

λέγοντες, Ποῦ ἐστὶν ὁ τεχθεὶς βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων; Εἴδομεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ, καὶ ἤλθομεν προσκυνῆσαι αὐτῷ.

Romanized Greek

legontes, Pou estin ho techtheis basileus tōn Ioudaiōn? Eidomen gar autou ton astera en tē anatolē, kai ēlthomen proskynēsai autō.

MATTHEW 2:3

TWMC

When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed—and all Jerusalem with him.

KJV

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Greek

Ἀκούσας δὲ Ἡρῴδης ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐταράχθη, καὶ πᾶσα Ἱεροσόλυμα μετ’ αὐτοῦ∙

Romanized Greek

Akousas de Hērōdēs ho basileus etarachthē, kai pasa Hierosolyma met’ autou;

MATTHEW 2:4

TWMC

He gathered the chief priests and the experts in the Scriptures and asked them where the Christ was supposed to be born.

KJV

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

Greek

καὶ συναγαγὼν πάντας τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ γραμματεῖς τοῦ λαοῦ, ἐπυνθάνετο παρ’ αὐτῶν ποῦ ὁ χριστὸς γεννᾶται.

Romanized Greek

kai synagagōn pantas tous archiereis kai grammateis tou laou, epynthaneto par’ autōn pou ho christos gennatai.

MATTHEW 2:5

TWMC

“In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because the prophet wrote:

KJV

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

Greek

Οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ, Ἐν Βηθλεὲμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας∙ οὕτως γὰρ γέγραπται διὰ τοῦ προφήτου,

Romanized Greek

Hoi de eipon autō, En Bēthleem tēs Ioudaias; houtōs gar gegraptai dia tou prophētou,

MATTHEW 2:6

TWMC

‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are certainly not insignificant among Judah’s rulers,
because from you will come a Ruler
who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

KJV

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Greek

Καὶ σὺ Βηθλεέμ, γῆ Ἰούδα, οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ἰούδα∙ ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος, ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ἰσραήλ.

Romanized Greek

Kai sy Bēthleem, gē Iouda, oudamōs elachistē ei en tois hēgemosin Iouda; ek sou gar exeleusetai hēgoumenos, hostis poimanei ton laon mou ton Israēl.

MATTHEW 2:7

TWMC

Herod then met secretly with the Magi and carefully established when the star had first appeared.

KJV

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

Greek

Τότε Ἡρῴδης, λάθρᾳ καλέσας τοὺς μάγους, ἠκρίβωσεν παρ’ αὐτῶν τὸν χρόνον τοῦ φαινομένου ἀστέρος.

Romanized Greek

Tote Hērōdēs, lathra kalesas tous magous, ēkribōsen par’ autōn ton chronon tou phainomenou asteros.

MATTHEW 2:8

TWMC

He sent them to Bethlehem with these instructions:

“Go and make a careful search for the Child. When you find Him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship Him too.”

KJV

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Greek

Καὶ πέμψας αὐτοὺς εἰς Βηθλεὲμ εἶπεν, Πορευθέντες ἀκριβῶς ἐξετάσατε περὶ τοῦ παιδίου∙ ἐπὰν δὲ εὕρητε, ἀπαγγείλατέ μοι, ὅπως κἀγὼ ἐλθὼν προσκυνήσω αὐτῷ.

Romanized Greek

Kai pempsas autous eis Bēthleem eipen, Poreuthentes akribōs exetasate peri tou paidiou; epan de heurēte, apangeilate moi, hopōs kagō elthōn proskynēsō autō.

MATTHEW 2:9

TWMC

After hearing the king, they continued on their way. The star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it came to rest over the place where the Child was.

KJV

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

Greek

Οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπορεύθησαν∙ καὶ ἰδού, ὁ ἀστήρ, ὃν εἶδον ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ, προῆγεν αὐτούς, ἕως ἐλθὼν ἔστη ἐπάνω οὗ ἦν τὸ παιδίον.

Romanized Greek

Hoi de akousantes tou basileōs eporeuthēsan; kai idou, ho astēr, hon eidon en tē anatolē, proēgen autous, heōs elthōn estē epanō hou ēn to paidion.

MATTHEW 2:10

TWMC

When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy.

KJV

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

Greek

Ἰδόντες δὲ τὸν ἀστέρα, ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα.

Romanized Greek

Idontes de ton astera, echarēsan charan megalēn sphodra.

MATTHEW 2:11

TWMC

They entered the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother. They fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

KJV

¶ And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Greek

Καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ Μαρίας τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα, χρυσὸν καὶ λίβανον καὶ σμύρναν.

Romanized Greek

Kai elthontes eis tēn oikian, eidon to paidion meta Marias tēs mētros autou, kai pesontes prosekynēsan autō, kai anoixantes tous thēsaurous autōn prosēnenkan autō dōra, chryson kai libanon kai smyrnan.

MATTHEW 2:12

TWMC

God warned them in a dream not to return to Herod, so they traveled back to their own country by another route.

KJV

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Greek

Καὶ χρηματισθέντες κατ’ ὄναρ μὴ ἀνακάμψαι πρὸς Ἡρῴδην, δι’ ἄλλης ὁδοῦ ἀνεχώρησαν εἰς τὴν χώραν αὐτῶν.

Romanized Greek

Kai chrēmatisthentes kat’ onar mē anakampsai pros Hērōdēn, di’ allēs hodou anechōrēsan eis tēn chōran autōn.

MATTHEW 2:13

TWMC

After they left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.

“Get up,” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you otherwise, because Herod is about to hunt for the Child in order to destroy Him.”

KJV

And when they were departed, behold, the 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 bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

Greek

Ἀναχωρησάντων δὲ αὐτῶν, ἰδού, ἄγγελος κυρίου φαίνεται κατ’ ὄναρ τῷ Ἰωσήφ, λέγων, Ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ φεῦγε εἰς Αἴγυπτον, καὶ ἴσθι ἐκεῖ ἕως ἂν εἴπω σοί∙ μέλλει γὰρ Ἡρῴδης ζητεῖν τὸ παιδίον, τοῦ ἀπολέσαι αὐτό.

Romanized Greek

Anachōrēsantōn de autōn, idou, angelos kyriou phainetai kat’ onar tō Iōsēph, legōn, Egertheis paralabe to paidion kai tēn mētera autou, kai pheuge eis Aigypton, kai isthi ekei heōs an eipō soi; mellei gar Hērōdēs zētein to paidion, tou apolesai auto.

MATTHEW 2:14

TWMC

Joseph got up that very night, took the Child and His mother, and left for Egypt.

KJV

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

Greek

Ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ νυκτός, καὶ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον,

Romanized Greek

Ho de egertheis parelaben to paidion kai tēn mētera autou nyktos, kai anechōrēsen eis Aigypton,

MATTHEW 2:15

TWMC

They remained there until Herod died. In this way, what the Lord had spoken through the prophet was fulfilled:

“Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

KJV

And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Greek

καὶ ἦν ἐκεῖ ἕως τῆς τελευτῆς Ἡρῴδου∙ ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου, λέγοντος, Ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἐκάλεσα τὸν υἱόν μου.

Romanized Greek

kai ēn ekei heōs tēs teleutēs Hērōdou; hina plērōthē to rhēthen hypo tou kyriou dia tou prophētou, legontos, Ex Aigyptou ekalesa ton huion mou.

MATTHEW 2:16

TWMC

When Herod realized that the Magi had outwitted him, he became furious. He ordered the killing of all the boys in Bethlehem and the surrounding area who were two years old and younger, using the timing he had learned from the Magi.

KJV

¶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

Greek

Τότε Ἡρῴδης, ἰδὼν ὅτι ἐνεπαίχθη ὑπὸ τῶν μάγων, ἐθυμώθη λίαν, καὶ ἀποστείλας ἀνεῖλεν πάντας τοὺς παῖδας τοὺς ἐν Βηθλεὲμ καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτῆς, ἀπὸ διετοῦς καὶ κατωτέρω, κατὰ τὸν χρόνον ὃν ἠκρίβωσεν παρὰ τῶν μάγων.

Romanized Greek

Tote Hērōdēs, idōn hoti enepaichthē hypo tōn magōn, ethymōthē lian, kai aposteilas aneilen pantas tous paidas tous en Bēthleem kai en pasin tois horiois autēs, apo dietous kai katōterō, kata ton chronon hon ēkribōsen para tōn magōn.

MATTHEW 2:17

TWMC

Then the words spoken through Jeremiah the prophet were fulfilled:

KJV

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

Greek

Τότε ἐπληρώθη τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ Ἰερεμίου τοῦ προφήτου, λέγοντος,

Romanized Greek

Tote eplērōthē to rhēthen hypo Ieremiou tou prophētou, legontos,

MATTHEW 2:18

TWMC

“A voice was heard in Ramah—
lamentation, weeping, and deep mourning.
Rachel weeps for her children
and refuses to be comforted,
because they are gone.”

KJV

In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Greek

Φωνὴ ἐν Ῥαμᾶ ἠκούσθη, θρῆνος καὶ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὀδυρμὸς πολύς, Ῥαχὴλ κλαίουσα τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν παρακληθῆναι, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσίν.

Romanized Greek

Phōnē en Rhama ēkousthē, thrēnos kai klauthmos kai odyrmos polys, Rhachēl klaiousa ta tekna autēs, kai ouk ēthelen paraklēthēnai, hoti ouk eisin.

MATTHEW 2:19

TWMC

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in Egypt in a dream.

KJV

¶ But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Greek

Τελευτήσαντος δὲ τοῦ Ἡρῴδου, ἰδού, ἄγγελος κυρίου κατ’ ὄναρ φαίνεται τῷ Ἰωσὴφ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ,

Romanized Greek

Teleutēsantos de tou Hērōdou, idou, angelos kyriou kat’ onar phainetai tō Iōsēph en Aigyptō,

MATTHEW 2:20

TWMC

“Get up,” the angel said. “Take the Child and His mother and return to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to take the Child’s life are dead.”

KJV

Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.

Greek

λέγων, Ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ πορεύου εἰς γῆν Ἰσραήλ∙ τεθνήκασιν γὰρ οἱ ζητοῦντες τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ παιδίου.

Romanized Greek

legōn, Egertheis paralabe to paidion kai tēn mētera autou, kai poreuou eis gēn Israēl; tethnēkasin gar hoi zētountes tēn psychēn tou paidiou.

MATTHEW 2:21

TWMC

Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and returned to the land of Israel.

KJV

And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

Greek

Ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς γῆν Ἰσραήλ.

Romanized Greek

Ho de egertheis parelaben to paidion kai tēn mētera autou, kai ēlthen eis gēn Israēl.

MATTHEW 2:22

TWMC

But when Joseph learned that Archelaus was ruling Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to settle there. After God warned him in another dream, he withdrew into Galilee.

KJV

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

Greek

Ἀκούσας δὲ ὅτι Ἀρχέλαος βασιλεύει ἐπὶ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἀντὶ Ἡρῴδου τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, ἐφοβήθη ἐκεῖ ἀπελθεῖν∙ χρηματισθεὶς δὲ κατ’ ὄναρ, ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὰ μέρη τῆς Γαλιλαίας,

Romanized Greek

Akousas de hoti Archelaos basileuei epi tēs Ioudaias anti Hērōdou tou patros autou, ephobēthē ekei apelthein; chrēmatistheis de kat’ onar, anechōrēsen eis ta merē tēs Galilaias,

MATTHEW 2:23

TWMC

He settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way, what had been spoken through the prophets was fulfilled:

“He will be called a Nazarene.”

KJV

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Greek

καὶ ἐλθὼν κατῴκησεν εἰς πόλιν λεγομένην Ναζαρέτ∙ ὅπως πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν, ὅτι Ναζωραῖος κληθήσεται.

Romanized Greek

kai elthōn katōkēsen eis polin legomenēn Nazaret; hopōs plērōthē to rhēthen dia tōn prophētōn, hoti Nazōraios klēthēsetai.