But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,
Parallel translations
- WEB But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
- KJV But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
- BSB After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.
- NKJV Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
- NLT When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
After Herod dies, an angel again appears to Joseph in Egypt. God's timing brings the danger to an end.
Overview
With the tyrant dead, the threat to the child passes, and God moves to bring the family home. The repeated angelic guidance shows God's continual care over every stage of Jesus' early life. Divine providence governs the seasons of danger and safety alike.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Matt 1:20But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
- Dan 8:25Through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and he shall destroy many in their security. He shall also stand up against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
- Isa 51:12“I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you, that you are afraid of man who shall die, and of the son of man who will be made as grass?
- Ps 76:10Surely the wrath of man praises you. The survivors of your wrath are restrained.
- Ps 139:7Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?
- Dan 11:45He shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one shall help him.
- Ezek 11:16“Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Whereas I have removed them far off among the nations, and whereas I have scattered them among the countries, yet I will be to them a sanctuary for a little while in the countries where they have come.”’
- Jer 30:10Therefore don’t you be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says Yahweh; neither be dismayed, Israel: for, behold, I will save you from afar, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, and no one shall make him afraid.
- Matt 2:22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee,
- Matt 2:12–13Being warned in a dream that they shouldn’t return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Pastoral
On the genealogy and the name Immanuel.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 2:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.