Matthew 2

King James Version · 23 verses · 535 cross-references linking it to 278 other chapters

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1Now 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,41 cross-references: Micah 5:2, John 7:42, Luke 2:4–7, Luke 2:11, Psalms 72:9–12
2Saying, 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.49 cross-references: Numbers 24:17, Jeremiah 23:5, Revelation 22:16, Zechariah 9:9, Isaiah 9:6–7
3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.26 cross-references: Acts 17:6–7, John 11:47–48, Matthew 23:37, Matthew 8:29, Acts 4:2
4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.32 cross-references: Matthew 21:23, Matthew 7:29, Acts 6:12, Acts 23:9, John 3:10
5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet,15 cross-references: John 7:42, Ruth 1:1, 1 Samuel 16:1, Ruth 2:4, Ruth 4:11
6And 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.42 cross-references: Ezekiel 34:23–25, Micah 5:2, John 7:42, Isaiah 9:6–7, Genesis 49:10
7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.13 cross-references: Psalms 55:21, 1 Samuel 18:21, Revelation 12:1–5, Isaiah 7:5–7, Psalms 10:9–10
8And 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.23 cross-references: 1 Corinthians 3:19–20, Jeremiah 41:5–7, Luke 20:20–21, 1 Kings 19:2, Ezra 4:1–2
9When 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.6 cross-references: Matthew 2:2, 2 Peter 1:19, Psalms 25:12, Proverbs 8:17, Proverbs 2:1–6
10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.8 cross-references: Psalms 105:3, Luke 2:20, Luke 2:10, Romans 15:9–13, Psalms 67:4
11And 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.56 cross-references: Isaiah 60:6, Psalms 72:10, Matthew 2:2, Luke 2:16, Psalms 95:6
12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.26 cross-references: Matthew 2:19, Matthew 2:22, Matthew 2:13, Matthew 27:19, Genesis 31:24
13And 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.46 cross-references: Exodus 1:22, Acts 5:19, Acts 10:7, Matthew 2:12, Acts 12:11
14When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:4 cross-references: Acts 26:21, Matthew 2:20–21, Matthew 1:24
15And 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.25 cross-references: Hosea 11:1, Exodus 4:22, Numbers 24:8, Luke 24:44, Matthew 1:22
16Then 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.51 cross-references: Isaiah 59:7, Proverbs 28:15, Daniel 3:19–20, 2 Kings 8:12, Judges 16:10
17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
18In 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.17 cross-references: Jeremiah 31:15, Jeremiah 9:17–21, Jeremiah 4:31, Genesis 35:16–20, Ezekiel 2:10
19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,22 cross-references: Matthew 1:20, Daniel 8:25, Matthew 2:22, Isaiah 51:12, Matthew 2:12–13
20Saying, 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.14 cross-references: Exodus 4:19, Matthew 2:13, 1 Kings 11:21, 1 Kings 11:40, Proverbs 3:5–6
21And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.2 cross-references: Hebrews 11:8, Genesis 6:22
22But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea 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:24 cross-references: Isaiah 48:17–18, Luke 2:39, John 7:52, Psalms 73:24, Matthew 1:20
23And 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.38 cross-references: Judges 13:5, John 1:45–46, Mark 1:24, Matthew 26:71, Matthew 1:22

Explained connections

A star out of Jacob Numbers 24:17 and Matthew 2:2
The foreign seer Balaam sees a star rising from Jacob and a sceptre from Israel — read in Jewish tradition as a messianic king. Matthew's eastern magi follow a star to find the newborn King of the Jews; Matthew does not quote Numbers, but the echo of a Gentile seer and a royal star is widely noted.
Gold and frankincense Isaiah 60:6 and Matthew 2:11
Isaiah sees nations streaming to Zion's light, bringing gold and frankincense. Matthew's magi from the east arrive with gold, frankincense and myrrh; without quoting Isaiah, the scene recalls the prophecy of Gentile worship.
Rachel weeping for her children Jeremiah 31:15 and Matthew 2:18
Jeremiah pictures Rachel weeping at Ramah as Israel's children go into exile — followed immediately by a promise of return. Matthew applies it to Herod's slaughter of Bethlehem's infants; the choice of a text that leads into hope suggests the grief is not the end.
Out of Egypt I called my son Hosea 11:1 and Matthew 2:15
Hosea looks back on the exodus: God called Israel, his son, out of Egypt. Matthew applies it to the holy family's return from Egypt, seeing Jesus as embodying Israel's story — a typological fulfilment rather than a predictive one.
Out of Bethlehem Micah 5:2 and Matthew 2:6
Micah names little Bethlehem Ephrathah as the birthplace of a ruler whose origins are from of old. Herod's scholars cite it when the magi ask where the King of the Jews is born — the prophecy that led the search to the right town.
A tyrant kills the baby boys Exodus 1:22 and Matthew 2:16
Pharaoh orders every Hebrew baby boy drowned; Moses escapes. Herod orders Bethlehem's boys killed; Jesus escapes. Matthew tells Jesus' infancy so it mirrors the birth of Moses, the first deliverer.
Those who sought the child's life are dead Exodus 4:19 and Matthew 2:20
God tells Moses to return to Egypt because all who sought his life are dead. The angel tells Joseph almost identical words about returning from Egypt — one of Matthew's clearest Moses parallels.

Matthew 2

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