Saying, 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.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”
- BSB “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those seeking the Child’s life are now dead.”
- NKJV saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.”
- NASB “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.”
- NLT “Get up!” the angel said. “Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.”
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
The angel tells Joseph to return to Israel, for those seeking the child's life are dead. The way home is now safe.
Overview
The angel's words echo God's command to Moses to return to Egypt (Exodus 4:19), again linking Jesus with Israel's history. With Herod gone, Joseph is called to bring the child back to the promised land. God's protective plan moves from refuge to return.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Exod 4:19And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.
- Matt 2:13And 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.
- 1 Kgs 12:1–3And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
- 1 Kgs 11:40Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.
- 1 Kgs 11:21And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.
- Prov 3:5–6Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 2:20 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.