Matthew 2 · Verse 12

Matthew 2:12

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Matthew 2:12, King James Version

Matthew 2:12 in other translations

BSBAnd having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.
WEBBeing warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
ASVAnd being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
YLTand having been divinely warned in a dream not to turn back unto Herod, through another way they withdrew to their own region.
DARBYAnd being divinely instructed in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
BBEAnd it was made clear to them by God in a dream that they were not to go back to Herod; so they went into their country by another way.
WebsterAnd being warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

What does Matthew 2:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed--or, "withdrew." to their own country another way--What a surprise would this vision be to the sages, just as they were preparing to carry the glad news of what they had seen to the pious king! But the Lord knew the bloody old tyrant better than to let him see their face again.

Mt 2:13-23. The Flight into Egypt--The Massacre at Bethlehem--The Return of Joseph and Mary with the Babe, after Herod's Death, and Their Settlement at Nazareth. ( = Lu 2:39).

The Flight into Egypt (Mt 2:13-15).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. Warned of God, etc. This was done, doubtless, because, if they had given Herod precise information where he was, it would have been easy for him to send forth and slay him. And from it we learn that God will watch over those whom he loves; that he knows how to foil the purposes of the wicked, and to deliver his own out of the hands of those who would destroy them.

In a dream. Mt 1:20.

(a) "in a dream" Mt 1:20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 2:9-12

What joy these wise men felt upon this sight of the star, none know so well as those who, after a long and melancholy night of temptation and desertion, under the power of a spirit of bondage, at length receive the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with their spirits that they are the children of God. We may well think what a disappointment it was to them, when they found a cottage was his palace, and his own poor…

Read the full comment on Matthew 2:9-12 →

Matthew 2:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
χρηματισθέντεςchrēmatisthenteshaving been divinely warnedG5537
κατ᾽kat᾽inG2596
ὄναρonara dreamG3677
μὴmēnotG3361
ἀνακάμψαιanakampsaito returnG344
πρὸςprostoG4314
Ἡρῴδην,HērōdēnHerod,G2264
δι᾽di᾽throughG1223
ἄλληςallēsanotherG243
ὁδοῦhodourouteG3598
ἀνεχώρησανanechōrēsanthey withdrewG402
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὴνtēntheG3588
χώρανchōrancountryG5561
αὐτῶν.¶autōnof them.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 2:12

  • Matthew 2:22

    But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

  • Matthew 2:19

    But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

  • Matthew 2:13

    And 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.

  • Matthew 27:19

    When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

  • Matthew 1:20

    But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

  • Genesis 31:24

    And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

  • Genesis 20:6-7

    And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

  • Acts 5:29

    Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

  • Acts 4:19

    But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

  • Daniel 2:19

    Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

  • Exodus 1:17

    But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

  • Hebrews 11:7

    By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
warned.
22; 1:20; 27:19; Ge 20:6,7; 31:24; Job 33:15-17; Da 2:19
they departed.
Ex 1:17; Ac 4:19; 5:29; 1Co 3:19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 2:11

    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.

  • Matthew 2:12

    And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

  • Matthew 2:13

    And 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.

Read all of Matthew 2

Matthew 2:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y siendo avisados por revelación en sueños que no volviesen á Herodes, se volvieron á su tierra por otro camino.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et étant avertis divinement, en songe, de ne pas retourner vers Hérode, ils se retirèrent dans leur pays par un autre chemin.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und als sie im Traum eine göttliche Weisung empfangen hatten, nicht wieder zu Herodes zurückzukehren, zogen sie auf einem anderen Wege hin in ihr Land.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et responso accepto in somnis ne redirent ad Herodem, per aliam viam reversi sunt in regionem suam.