Devine Scripture

Matthew 2:18

What does Matthew 2:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 2:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 2:18 means

This verse quotes Jeremiah 31:15, a lament traditionally associated with Rachel weeping for her children when they were taken into exile. Matthew re-applies this prophecy to the massacre of the Bethlehem infants. The imagery of "Rachel weeping for her children" powerfully conveys the profound sorrow, grief, and inconsolable loss experienced by the mothers. It highlights the immense suffering caused by Herod's cruelty and the tragic reality of human sin, even during the joyful season of the Messiah's birth.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she would not be comforted, because they are not.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

In 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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she would not be comforted, because they are not.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

In Ramah there was a sound of weeping and great sorrow, Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be comforted for their loss.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`A voice in Ramah was heard--lamentation and weeping and much mourning--Rachel weeping <FI>for<Fi> her children, and she would not be comforted because they are not.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

A voice has been heard in Rama, weeping, and great lamentation: Rachel weeping [for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Context

This verse is the specific prophetic quotation, completing the declaration made in the previous verse regarding the fulfillment of prophecy. It vividly describes the agonizing sorrow of the mothers following Herod's decree. This powerful image of inconsolable grief directly precedes the shift in the narrative to Herod's death and Joseph's return, marking the end of the immediate threat.

v.17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying,

v.18This passage

v.19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Genesis 35:16

    And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was still some distance to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor.

  • Genesis 42:36

    And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.

  • Ezekiel 2:10

    and he spread it before me: and it was written within and without; and there were written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

  • Jeremiah 31:15

    Thus saith Jehovah: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not.

  • Jeremiah 4:31

    For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that gaspeth for breath, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul fainteth before the murderers.

  • Revelation 8:13

    And I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a great voice, Woe, woe, woe, for them that dwell on the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, who are yet to sound.

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