And sending them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go and search carefully for the Child, and when you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.”
Parallel translations
- WEB He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”
- KJV And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
- NKJV And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
- NASB And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”
- NLT Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”
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 sends the wise men to Bethlehem, feigning a desire to worship the child. His pious words mask a deadly scheme.
Overview
Under the guise of devotion, Herod tries to use the magi as informants to locate his perceived rival. His hypocrisy contrasts sharply with the genuine worship the wise men intend. The episode warns that false piety can cloak the darkest motives.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- 1 Cor 3:19–20For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
- Luke 20:20–21So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.
- Jer 41:5–7eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their garments, and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria, carrying grain offerings and frankincense for the house of the LORD.
- Ps 12:2–3They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.
- Prov 21:30There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
- Lam 3:37Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?
- 1 Kgs 19:2So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like the lives of those you killed!”
- Job 5:12–13He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.
- Ezra 4:1–2When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,
- Matt 26:48–49Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.”
- Ps 33:10–11The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.
- 2 Sam 17:14Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
- Prov 26:24–25A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
- 1 Sam 23:22–23Please go and prepare further. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning.
- 2 Kgs 10:18–19Then Jehu brought all the people together and said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot.
- Ps 55:11–15Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
- 2 Sam 15:7–12After four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD.
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 2:8 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.