MAT 2:1-12

The Pilgrimage of the Magi

1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Magi came from the east to Jerusalem,

2saying: "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage."

3And when Herod the king heard this, he was shaken to his core, and all Jerusalem with him.

4And having gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he was inquiring of them where the Anointed was to be born.

5And they said to him: "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written through the prophet:

6'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'"

7Then Herod, having secretly summoned the Magi, determined from them the exact time the star had appeared.

8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said: "Go and search carefully for the child, and when you find him, report back to me, so that I too may come and pay him homage."

9And having heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen at its rising went before them until it came and stood over the place where the child was.

10And seeing the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

11And coming into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and paid him homage; and opening their treasuries, they offered him gifts: gold and frankincense and myrrh.

12And having been divinely warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another route.

In the world it was spoken into

In the first century, the Magi were widely recognized as a priestly caste from Persia, known for their expertise in astrology and interpretation of celestial signs. Their journey to Jerusalem would have been seen as a significant event, as such figures were often associated with wisdom and divine insight. Herod the Great, a client king of Rome, ruled Judea with a reputation for paranoia and brutality, particularly toward perceived threats to his throne. His reaction to the Magi’s inquiry reflects his fear of losing power, a concern shared by the Jerusalem elite, who relied on Herod’s stability for their own security. The Magi’s use of the term 'King of the Jews' would have carried political weight, evoking messianic expectations among Jews and anxiety among Roman collaborators. Their act of (proskynēsai) toward Jesus, often translated as 'worship,' was a gesture of profound reverence, typical of homage paid to kings or deities. The divine warning they received underscores the narrative’s emphasis on divine intervention over human authority.

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How other translations render this

MAT 2:1

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,
BSB: After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
Koinōnos: Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Magi came from the east to Jerusalem,

MAT 2:2

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.
BSB: asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
Koinōnos: saying: "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.

MAT 2:3

KJV: When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
BSB: When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
Koinōnos: And when Herod the king heard this, he was shaken to his core, and all Jerusalem with him.

MAT 2:4

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.
BSB: And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
Koinōnos: And having gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he was inquiring of them where the Anointed was to be born.

MAT 2:5

KJV: And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
BSB: “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
Koinōnos: And they said to him: "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written through the prophet:

MAT 2:6

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.
BSB: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”
Koinōnos: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'

MAT 2:7

KJV: Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
BSB: Then Herod called the Magi secretly and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared.
Koinōnos: Then Herod, having secretly summoned the Magi, determined from them the exact time the star had appeared.

MAT 2:8

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.
BSB: And sending them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go and search carefully for the Child, and when you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.”
Koinōnos: And he sent them to Bethlehem and said: "Go and search carefully for the child, and when you find him, report back to me, so that I too may come and pay him homage.

MAT 2:9

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.
BSB: After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the Child was.
Koinōnos: And having heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen at its rising went before them until it came and stood over the place where the child was.

MAT 2:10

KJV: When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
BSB: When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight.
Koinōnos: And seeing the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

MAT 2:11

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.
BSB: On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Koinōnos: And coming into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and paid him homage; and opening their treasuries, they offered him gifts: gold and frankincense and myrrh.

MAT 2:12

KJV: And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
BSB: And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.
Koinōnos: And having been divinely warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another route.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

MAT 2:1

Magi:The word translated 'Magi' referred to a class of Persian priests and wise men, often associated with interpreting dreams and astrology, not necessarily magicians in the modern sense.

MAT 2:2

to worship:The term translated 'to worship' often involved prostrating oneself before a superior, indicating deep reverence, submission, or homage, not exclusively religious adoration.

MAT 2:3

he was troubled:The word translated 'he was troubled' suggests a deep inner disturbance, agitation, or even terror, indicating a profound emotional reaction beyond simple worry.

MAT 2:12

having been divinely warned:The phrase 'having been divinely warned' indicates a communication from God, often in the form of an oracle or a direct divine instruction, implying a clear and authoritative message.