Matthew 2:13 - Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
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What does "Matthew 2:13" mean?
This verse from Matthew 2:13 describes a pivotal moment in the nativity story, where divine intervention protects the infant Jesus from imminent danger. Let's break down the meaning:
"Now when they had departed...": This refers to the departure of the wise men (Magi) who had come to worship Jesus after following the star. Their visit had alerted Herod to the potential rise of a new king.
"...behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream...": An angel, a messenger of God, appears to Joseph, Jesus' adoptive father, in a dream. This emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the message. Dreams were often considered a legitimate way God communicated with people in biblical times.
"...saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”": The angel delivers a clear and urgent warning:
"Arise and take the young child and his mother...": Joseph is instructed to immediately act. He needs to take Jesus (the "young child") and Mary, his mother.
"...and flee into Egypt...": They must escape to Egypt, a foreign land outside of Herod's jurisdiction. Egypt was a common refuge at that time and had a large Jewish population.
"...and stay there until I tell you...": They are to remain in Egypt until further instruction from God. This implies a period of exile and reliance on divine guidance.
"...for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”: This is the reason for the flight: King Herod, driven by fear and paranoia, intends to kill Jesus, whom he perceives as a threat to his throne. This paints Herod as a ruthless and power-hungry ruler.
In essence, the verse means:
God intervenes to protect Jesus from Herod's murderous intentions.
Joseph is divinely instructed to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to escape the coming persecution.
The verse foreshadows the danger and opposition Jesus will face throughout his life and the need for divine protection.
It also highlights Joseph's obedience and willingness to follow God's commands, even when it involves a significant and unexpected hardship.
This event is often seen as mirroring the Old Testament story of the Exodus, where the Israelites fled from Egypt to escape Pharaoh's persecution. It links Jesus to the lineage of the Israelites and foreshadows his role as a deliverer.
Matthew 2:13 - Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
What does "Matthew 2:13" mean?
This verse from Matthew 2:13 describes a pivotal moment in the nativity story, where divine intervention protects the infant Jesus from imminent danger. Let's break down the meaning:
"Now when they had departed...": This refers to the departure of the wise men (Magi) who had come to worship Jesus after following the star. Their visit had alerted Herod to the potential rise of a new king.
"...behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream...": An angel, a messenger of God, appears to Joseph, Jesus' adoptive father, in a dream. This emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the message. Dreams were often considered a legitimate way God communicated with people in biblical times.
"...saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”": The angel delivers a clear and urgent warning:
"Arise and take the young child and his mother...": Joseph is instructed to immediately act. He needs to take Jesus (the "young child") and Mary, his mother.
"...and flee into Egypt...": They must escape to Egypt, a foreign land outside of Herod's jurisdiction. Egypt was a common refuge at that time and had a large Jewish population.
"...and stay there until I tell you...": They are to remain in Egypt until further instruction from God. This implies a period of exile and reliance on divine guidance.
"...for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”: This is the reason for the flight: King Herod, driven by fear and paranoia, intends to kill Jesus, whom he perceives as a threat to his throne. This paints Herod as a ruthless and power-hungry ruler.
In essence, the verse means:
God intervenes to protect Jesus from Herod's murderous intentions.
Joseph is divinely instructed to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to escape the coming persecution.
The verse foreshadows the danger and opposition Jesus will face throughout his life and the need for divine protection.
It also highlights Joseph's obedience and willingness to follow God's commands, even when it involves a significant and unexpected hardship.
This event is often seen as mirroring the Old Testament story of the Exodus, where the Israelites fled from Egypt to escape Pharaoh's persecution. It links Jesus to the lineage of the Israelites and foreshadows his role as a deliverer.