MAT 2:13-15

The Flight to Egypt

13Now after they had departed, behold, a messenger of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying: "Rise, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to seek the child to destroy him."

14And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and withdrew to Egypt,

15and remained there until the death of Herod — so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: "Out of Egypt I called my son."

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Roman Empire, Egypt was a common refuge for those fleeing political persecution, particularly for Jews. It was outside Herod’s jurisdiction and had a significant Jewish population, making it a practical sanctuary. Herod’s reputation for eliminating perceived threats to his throne was well-known; he had executed members of his own family to secure his power. The mention of an (angel/messenger) appearing in a dream would have resonated with Jewish audiences familiar with divine interventions in their history, such as Joseph’s dreams in Genesis. The term (child) underscores Jesus’ vulnerability, heightening the narrative’s tension. The urgency of fleeing (by night) reflects the immediate danger, as nocturnal travel was often associated with secrecy and peril. The reference to Hosea 11:1, 'Out of Egypt I called my son,' would have evoked Israel’s exodus story, framing Jesus’ flight as a recapitulation of Israel’s deliverance.

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How other translations render this

MAT 2:13

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.
BSB: When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
Koinōnos: Now after they had departed, behold, a messenger of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying: "Rise, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to seek the child to destroy him.

MAT 2:14

KJV: When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
BSB: So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt,
Koinōnos: And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and withdrew to Egypt,

MAT 2:15

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.
BSB: where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
Koinōnos: and remained there until the death of Herod — so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: "Out of Egypt I called my son.

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

Translator's notes

MAT 2:13

an angel:The word translated 'an angel' literally means 'a messenger.' While it can refer to a divine being, its primary sense is one who delivers a message or acts as an envoy.
Child:The term used here for 'Child' specifically refers to a young child, often up to about seven years old, emphasizing infancy or early childhood rather than a general sense of offspring.
to destroy:The word translated 'to destroy' carries the strong sense of utterly ruining, causing to perish, or bringing to an end, often with a connotation of complete loss or annihilation.

MAT 2:14

by night:The phrase 'by night' uses a word that refers to the period of darkness, often emphasizing the secrecy, urgency, or hidden nature of actions taken during this time.