Devine Scripture

Matthew 2:4

What does Matthew 2:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 2:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 2:4 means

Herod, unsettled by the Wise Men's inquiry, convened the chief priests and scribes, the religious and legal scholars of the time. His question, "where the Christ should be born," reveals his focus on identifying the Messiah's birthplace, not out of reverence, but out of a cunning plot. This consultation highlights the irony of the religious leaders possessing crucial scriptural knowledge about the Messiah yet failing to recognize Him upon arrival. Herod, a Gentile ruler, compels Israel's spiritual guides to reveal messianic prophecy.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he got together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, questioning them as to where the birth-place of the Christ would be.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he was inquiring from them where the Christ is born.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and, assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.

Context

This verse demonstrates Herod's immediate and deceptive strategic response to the threat of a new king. By consulting the Jewish religious leaders, he seeks scriptural authority to locate his perceived rival. This action directly precedes their prophetic answer regarding Bethlehem, providing the critical geographical detail Herod needs to advance his sinister plans.

v.3And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

v.4This passage

v.5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written through the prophet,

Cross references

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

  • Malachi 2:7

    For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of hosts.

  • Nehemiah 12:7

    Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.

  • 1 Chronicles 24:4

    And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers’ houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ houses, eight.

  • Jeremiah 8:8

    How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of Jehovah is with us? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes hath wrought falsely.

  • Luke 23:10

    And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.

  • Ezra 7:6

    this Ezra went up from Babylon. And he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Jehovah, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Jehovah his God upon him.

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