Then Herod secretly called for the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.
- KJV Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
- BSB Then Herod called the Magi secretly and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared.
- ESV Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.
- NKJV Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.
- NLT Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
Herod secretly summons the wise men to learn exactly when the star appeared. His secrecy hints at his murderous intent.
Overview
Herod's private inquiry into the star's timing betrays a calculating plan rather than genuine interest in worship. By pinpointing the time, he prepares for the atrocity he will later commit. The verse reveals the deceit lurking beneath his outward show of curiosity.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Exod 1:10Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies, and fight against us, and escape out of the land.”
- Ps 55:21His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
- Ps 64:4–6to shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly.
- Isa 7:5–7Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have plotted evil against you, saying,
- 1 Sam 18:21Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David, “You shall today be my son-in-law a second time.”
- Ps 83:3–4They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones.
- Rev 12:1–5A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
- Ps 10:9–10He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless, when he draws him in his net.
- Ezek 38:10–11Thus says the Lord Yahweh: It shall happen in that day, that things shall come into your mind, and you shall devise an evil device:
- Rev 12:15The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream.
- Matt 26:3–5Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Pastoral
On the genealogy and the name Immanuel.
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 2:7 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.