Matthew 2:13
What does Matthew 2:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 2:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 2:13 means
Following the Wise Men's departure, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, instructing him to flee immediately to Egypt with Mary and Jesus. The reason was clear and urgent: "Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." This divine warning underscores the severe danger Jesus faced from Herod's escalating paranoia and marks a critical turning point. God's direct intervention through an angel demonstrates His active protection of His Son and the plan of redemption.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Now when they were departed, behold, an 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 tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Now when they were departed, behold, an 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 tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when they had gone, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream, saying, Get up and take the young child and his mother, and go into Egypt, and do not go from there till I give you word; for Herod will be searching for the young child to put him to death.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And on their having withdrawn, lo, a messenger of the Lord doth appear in a dream to Joseph, saying, `Having risen, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and be thou there till I may speak to thee, for Herod is about to seek the child to destroy him.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Now, they having departed, behold, an angel of [the] Lord appears in a dream to Joseph, saying, Arise, take to [thee] the little child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there until I shall tell thee; for Herod will seek the little child to destroy it.
Context
This verse swiftly follows the Wise Men's departure and divine warning, providing the immediate next crisis and God's response. The angelic command to Joseph sets in motion the flight to Egypt, a crucial step in fulfilling Old Testament prophecy and safeguarding Jesus. This dream immediately precedes Joseph's obedient response and swift action.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 7:19
The same dealt craftily with our race, and ill-treated our fathers, that they should cast out their babes to the end they might not live.
- Exodus 2:2
And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
- Job 33:15
In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, In slumberings upon the bed;
- Daniel 3:25
He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of the gods.
- Matthew 2:16
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned of the Wise-men.
- Revelation 12:6
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
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