Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024
the Week of Proper 24 / Ordinary 29
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Read the Bible

King James Version

Matthew 2:9

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Heathen;   Jesus, the Christ;   Magi;   Miracles;   Wisdom;   Wise Men;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bible Stories for Children;   Children;   Guidance, Divine;   Home;   Pleasant Sunday Afternoons;   Religion;   Stories for Children;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Prophecies Respecting Christ;   Stars, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Herod;   Magi or Wise Men;   Star in the East;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Edom;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Foreigner;   Jerusalem;   Magic;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hutchinsonians;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Herod the Great;   Jesus;   Magic;   Stars;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Archaeology and Biblical Study;   Bethlehem;   Epiphany;   Fall;   Antiochus IV;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Midrash;   Wisdom and Wise Men;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Herod;   Jesus Christ;   Magi;   Magic, Divination, and Sorcery;   Mss;   Star of the Magi;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Astrology;   Dates (2);   Flight;   Hearing;   Magi ;   Property (2);   Reverence;   Star (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Herod the Great;   Herod, Family of;   Magi ;   Star in the East;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Herodians;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Bethlehem;   Gospel;   Magi;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ma'gi;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Eclipse;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Chronology of the New Testament;   Innocents, Massacre of the;   Joseph, Husband of Mary;   Oath;   Star of the Magi;   Zoroastrianism;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
After the wise men heard the king, they left. They saw the same star they had seen in the east, and they followed it. The star went before them until it stopped above the place where the child was.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
When they had heard the kynge they departed: and lo the starre which they sawe in ye eeste went before them tyll it came and stode over the place where the chylde was.
International Standard Version
After listening to the king, they set out, and the star they had seen in the eastat its rising">[fn] went ahead of them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
New American Standard Bible
After hearing the king, they went on their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on ahead of them until it came to a stop over the place where the Child was to be found.
New Century Version
After the wise men heard the king, they left. The star that they had seen in the east went before them until it stopped above the place where the child was.
Update Bible Version
And they, having heard the king, went their way; and look, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and was standing over where the young child was.
Webster's Bible Translation
When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
Amplified Bible
After hearing the king, they went their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them [continually leading the way] until it came and stood over the place where the young Child was.
English Standard Version
After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
World English Bible
They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And having heard the king, they departed; and lo the star which they had seen in the East, moved on before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
Weymouth's New Testament
After hearing what the king said, they went to Bethlehem, while, strange to say, the star they had seen in the east led them on until it came and stood over the place where the babe was.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne thei hadden herd the kyng, thei wenten forth. And lo! the sterre, that thei siyen in the eest, wente bifore hem, til it cam, and stood aboue, where the child was.
English Revised Version
And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
Berean Standard Bible
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the Child was.
Contemporary English Version
The wise men listened to what the king said and then left. And the star they had seen in the east went on ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
American Standard Version
And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
Bible in Basic English
And after hearing the king, they went on their way; and the star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the young child was.
Complete Jewish Bible
After they had listened to the king, they went away; and the star which they had seen in the east went in front of them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
Darby Translation
And they having heard the king went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went before them until it came and stood over the place where the little child was.
Etheridge Translation
But they, when they had heard the king, went forth; and, lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, proceeded before them, until it came and stood over against where the child was.
Murdock Translation
And they, when they had heard from the king, went forward: and lo, the star they had seen in the east went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was.
King James Version (1611)
When they had heard the King, they departed, and loe, the Starre which they saw in the East, went before them, till it came and stood ouer where the young childe was.
New Living Translation
After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.
New Life Bible
After the king had spoken, they went on their way. The star they had seen in the East went before them. It came and stopped over the place where the young Child was.
New Revised Standard
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.
Geneva Bible (1587)
So when they had heard the King, they departed: and loe, the starre which they had seene in the East, went before them, till it came and stoode ouer the place where the babe was.
George Lamsa Translation
When they had heard from the king, they went away; and behold, the same star that they had seen in the east was going before them, until it came and stood just above the place where the infant boy was.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, they, hearing the king, went, and lo! the star which they had seen in the east, was going before them, until it went and stood over where the child was;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the East, went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was.
Revised Standard Version
When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
When they had hearde the kyng, they departed, and loe, the starre which they sawe in the east, went before them, tyl it came & stoode ouer [the place] wherin the young chylde was.
Good News Translation
And so they left, and on their way they saw the same star they had seen in the East. When they saw it, how happy they were, what joy was theirs! It went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
Christian Standard Bible®
After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was.
Hebrew Names Version
They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.
Lexham English Bible
After they listened to the king, they went out, and behold, the star which they had seen at its rising led them until it came and stood above the place where the child was.
Literal Translation
And having heard the king, they departed. And, behold! The star which they saw in the east went before them until it had come and stood over where the child was.
Young's Literal Translation
And they, having heard the king, departed, and lo, the star, that they did see in the east, did go before them, till, having come, it stood over where the child was.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
When they had heard the kynge, they departed: and lo, the starre which they sawe in the east, went before them, tyll it came, and stode ouer the place where the chylde was.
Mace New Testament (1729)
in obedience to the king, they departed, and immediately the star which they saw in the east, moved on before them, till it came to the place where the infant was, and then stood still.
THE MESSAGE
Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!
New English Translation
After listening to the king they left, and once again the star they saw when it rose led them until it stopped above the place where the child was.
New King James Version
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
Simplified Cowboy Version
The strangers rode hard and followed the light until it stopped over where Jesus was layin'.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now after hearing the king, they went their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, was going on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.

Contextual Overview

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the star: Matthew 2:2, Psalms 25:12, Proverbs 2:1-6, Proverbs 8:17, 2 Peter 1:19

Reciprocal: Luke 2:15 - Let

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
Genesis 2:9
And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 3:3
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Deuteronomy 6:25
And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.
Proverbs 3:18
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Isaiah 44:25
That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
Isaiah 47:10
For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.
Ezekiel 31:16
I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

When they had heard the king,.... With great care and attention, what he had told them of the birth place of the young child; the strict charge he had given them to search diligently for him, and then return to him with an account of the whole affair; and his expressions of respect to the new born prince, which they took to be said in great sincerity,

they departed; took their leave of Herod and his court, and set forward on their journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem:

and lo, to their great surprise and joy,

the star, which they saw in the east, then appeared; for, it seems, it had for some time disappeared: it looks as if it had been only seen at the time of Christ's birth, and when they were in their own country; for both here, and in Matthew 2:2 they are only said to have seen it "in the east", that is, when they were in the east country; so that it seems from that time they had had no sight of it, not while they were on their journey, nor at Jerusalem; nor was it necessary they should. When they saw it in their own country, according to their best observation, it was over the land of Judea, and they were persuaded of it, that it was a certain sign that the king of the Jews was born: they therefore determine upon and prepare for a journey to Jerusalem, the metropolis of the nation, and where the king kept his court, to inquire for him; nor needed they the guidance of the star to direct them to a place so well known; but being in quest of him in an obscure place, and without any guide, this star appears to them; and, which is something very extraordinary,

went before them, till it came, and stood over, where the young child was. This star had a motion, kept pace with them, and was a guide unto them, till it and they came to the place where Christ was; and then it stood directly over the house, so that they had no need to inquire of any person for him. It is certain from hence, that this star was indeed a very unusual one; its being seen in the daytime, its motion and standing still, its situation, which must be very low, and its use to point out the very house where Christ was, show it to be so; but though it was an unusual appearance, it should not be thought incredible. a Varro relates, that

"from the time Aeneas went from Troy, he saw the star Venus in the daytime, day after day, till he came to the field of Laurentum, where he saw it no more, by which he knew that those lands were fatal.''

The appearing of this star, and then its disappearing for a time, agree, in some measure, with the account the Jews give of the star which they expect will be seen at the coming of the Messiah; for they b say,

"after seven days that star shall be hid, and the Messiah shall be hid for twelve months--when he shall descend, the pillar of fire shall be seen as before, in sight, and afterwards the Messiah shall be revealed, and many people shall be gathered to him.''

a Apud Servium in Virgil Aeneid. l. 1. p. 471. Ed. Basil. 1586. b Zohar in Exod. fol. 3, 4. & 71. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The star ... went before them - From this it appears that the star was a luminous meteor, perhaps at no great distance from the ground. It is not unlikely that they lost sight of it after they had commenced their journey from the East. It is probable that it appeared to them first in the direction of Jerusalem. They concluded that the expected King had been born, and immediately commenced their journey to Jerusalem. When they arrived there, it was important that they should be directed to the very place where he was, and the star again appeared. It was for this reason that they rejoiced. They felt assured that they were under a heavenly guidance, and would be conducted to the new-born King of the Jews. And this shows:

  1. That the birth of Jesus was an event of great moment, worthy of the divine interposition in directing these men to find the place of his nativity.
  2. God will guide those who are disposed to find the Saviour. Even if for a time the light should be withdrawn, yet it will again appear, and direct us in the way to the Redeemer.
  3. Our being led to Christ should fill us with joy. He is the way, the truth, and the life; the Saviour, the friend, the all in all; there is no other way of life, and there is no peace to the soul until he is found. When we are guided to him, therefore, our hearts should overflow with joy and praise; and we should humbly and thankfully follow every direction that leads to the Son of God, John 12:35-36.



Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 2:9. In the east — Or, at its rise. Matthew 2:2; Matthew 2:2.

Stood over where the young child was.Super caput pueri, Over the head of the child, as the OPUS IMPERFECTUM, on this place, has it. See Griesbach's Var. Lect. So it appears to have been a simple luminous meteor in a star-like form, and at a very short distance from the ground, otherwise it could not have ascertained the place where the child lay. But the last quoted reading, from the Opus Imperfectum, justifies the opinion that the luminous appearance which had hitherto directed them now encompassed the head of the child; and probably this gave the first idea to the ancient painters, of representing Christ in the manger, with a glory surrounding his head. This glory, or nimbus, is usually given also to saints and eminent persons, especially in the Roman Church, by all Roman Catholic painters.


 
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