Matthew 2:2 facts for kids

Matthew 2:2 is an important verse from the second chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament of the Bible. This verse describes a moment when wise travelers, known as the Magi, arrive in Jerusalem. They come to the court of King Herod and explain why they are there.

What the Verse Says

The Magi tell King Herod why they have traveled so far. They are looking for a special new king.

In the King James Version of the Bible, the verse says:

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.

The New International Version translates it as:

“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw

his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

This verse was even the theme for World Youth Day 2005. The theme was "We have come to worship Him."

The Magi Meet King Herod

The word "where" is the first thing spoken aloud in the Gospel of Matthew. King Herod will also use this word later in Matthew 2:4. The Gospel of Matthew often talks about places and geography. This might be to explain why the Messiah came from Nazareth. Nazareth was a small town in Galilee, a region where many non-Jewish people lived.

The Magi do not speak much in this story. Their quietness adds to their mysterious feeling. The title "King of the Jews" was a direct challenge to Herod. Herod was the king of Judea, and he was very suspicious of anyone who might try to take his place. He was especially worried about a new king from the family of King David.

The word "worship" in this verse can mean honoring a king or honoring God. It is not completely clear which meaning is intended here.

The Star of Bethlehem

The special star mentioned in this verse is called the Star of Bethlehem. Many people have tried to figure out what this star was. Some think it might have been a rare event in the sky. For example, the planets Jupiter and Saturn might have lined up in a special way around 7 BC.

The phrase "seen his star in the east" is a bit tricky. Some scholars think it means "seen his star rising." The original Greek word, anatole, can mean either "east" or "rising." It might have been a technical term used by astrologers.

Some early Christian thinkers, like John Chrysostom, believed the Star of Bethlehem was not a normal star. They thought a regular star could not point to an exact cave or manger. Also, stars usually move from east to west. But the Magi would have traveled from north to south to get to Palestine from Persia. So, Chrysostom thought the Star was a miracle. It was like the special cloud that led the Israelites out of Egypt.

In ancient times, people often believed that new stars appeared when important people were born. This was reported for figures like Alexander the Great and Augustus. Many people at the time would have expected a Messiah to be born with such a special sign in the sky.

The mention of the star suggests the Magi were astrologers. Astrology is the belief that stars and planets can affect human events. Some Christians have found this difficult because the Bible sometimes speaks against astrology. However, many scholars believe this passage shows how God can reach people where they are. It doesn't necessarily mean the Bible supports astrology. The author of Matthew does not focus on the details of astrology. Their main interest is elsewhere in the story.

Images for kids

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  The Magi before Herod in the Leiden St. Louis Psalter