Matthew 2 · Verse 20

Matthew 2:20

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.
Matthew 2:20, King James Version

Matthew 2:20 in other translations

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.”
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.”
ASVArise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the young child’s life.
YLTsaying, ‘Having risen, take the child and his mother, and be going to the land of Israel, for they have died--those seeking the life of the child.'
DARBYArise, take to thee the little child and its mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they who sought the life of the little child are dead.
BBESaying, Get up and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: because they who were attempting to take the young child's life are dead.
WebsterSaying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead who sought the young child's life.

What does Matthew 2:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel--not to the land of Judea, for he was afterward expressly warned not to settle there, nor to Galilee, for he only went thither when he found it unsafe to settle in Judea but to "the land of Israel," in its most general sense; meaning the Holy Land at large--the particular province being not as yet indicated. So Joseph and the Virgin had, like Abraham, to "go out, not knowing whither they went," till they should receive further direction. for they are dead which sought the young child's life--a common expression in most languages where only one is meant, who here is Herod. But the words are taken from the strikingly analogous case in Ex 4:19, which probably suggested the plural here; and where the command is given to Moses to return to Egypt for the same reason that the greater than Moses was now ordered to be brought back from it--the death of him who sought his life. Herod died in the seventieth year of his age, and thirty-seventh of his reign.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 20. They are dead which sought, etc. This either refers to Herod alone, as is not uncommon, using the plural number for the singular; or it may refer to Herod and his son Antipater. He was of the same cruel disposition as his father, and was put to death by his father about five days before his own death.

(f) "they are dead" Ex 4:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 They are dead - Both Herod and Antipater his son; though some think the plural is here used for the singular, and that the death of Herod alone is here intended. But as Herod's son Antipater was at this time heir apparent to the throne, and he had cleared his way to it by procuring the death of both his elder brothers, he is probably alluded to here, as doubtless he entered into his father's designs. They are dead - Antipater was put to death by his father's command, five days before this execrable tyrant went to his own place. See Josephus, Antiq. xvi. 11; xvii. 9.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 2:19-23

Egypt may serve to sojourn in, or take shelter in, for awhile, but not to abide in. Christ was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, to them he must return. Did we but look upon the world as our Egypt, the place of our bondage and banishment, and heaven only as our Canaan, our home, our rest, we should as readily arise and depart thither, when we are called for, as Joseph did out of Egypt. The family must…

Read the full comment on Matthew 2:19-23 →

Matthew 2:20 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.

λέγων·legōnsaying;G3004
ἐγερθεὶςegertheisHaving arisenG1453
παράλαβεparalabedo takeG3880
τὸtotheG3588
παιδίονpaidionChildG3813
καὶkaiandG2532
τὴνtēntheG3588
μητέραmēteramotherG3384
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
καὶkaiandG2532
πορεύουporeuoudo goG4198
εἰςeisintoG1519
γῆνgēn[the] landG1093
Ἰσραήλ·Israēlof Israel;G2474
τεθνήκασινtethnēkasinthey have diedG2348
γὰρgarforG1063
οἱhoithoseG3588
ζητοῦντεςzētountesseekingG2212
τὴνtēntheG3588
ψυχὴνpsuchēnlifeG5590
τοῦtouof theG3588
παιδίου.¶paidiouChild.G3813

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

Cross references for Matthew 2:20

  • Exodus 4:19

    And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.

  • 1 Kings 12:1-3

    And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,

  • 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.

  • 1 Kings 11:21

    And 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.

  • 1 Kings 11:40

    Solomon 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.

  • Proverbs 3:5-6

    Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
arise.
13; Pr 3:5,6
for.
Ex 4:19; 1Ki 11:21,40; 12:1-3

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

Context

  • Matthew 2:19

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

  • Matthew 2:20

    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.

  • Matthew 2:21

    And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

Read all of Matthew 2

Matthew 2:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Diciendo: Levántate, y toma al niño y á su madre, y vete á tierra de Israel; que muertos son los que procuraban la muerte del niño.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		disant: Lève-toi et prends le petit enfant et sa mère, et va dans la terre d’Israël; car ceux qui cherchaient la vie du petit enfant sont morts.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und spricht: Stehe auf, nimm das Kindlein und seine Mutter zu dir und ziehe in das Land Israel; denn sie sind gestorben, die dem Kindlein nach dem Leben trachteten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		dicens: Surge, et accipe puerum, et matrem ejus, et vade in terram Israël: defuncti sunt enim qui quærebant animam pueri.