But
when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “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.” He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
Matthew 2:19-23
Matthew 2 [18.] “A voice was heard in Ramah,
lamentation, weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she wouldn’t be comforted,
because they are no more.”
Matthew 2 [19.] But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “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.”
Matthew 2 [21.] He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
Matthew 3 [1.] In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
make ready the way of the Lord.
Make his paths straight.”
Meaning:
Herod had tried to kill the newborn King, and the boys of Bethlehem had died in his place (Matthew 2:16-18). Meanwhile Joseph, Mary and the young child waited in Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15). Now Herod himself dies, and God brings the family home. These verses close Matthew’s account of Jesus’ childhood and explain why the Messiah from Bethlehem grew up in the obscure town of Nazareth.
- “But when Herod was dead”
Herod the Great died in about 4 BC. The tyrant who had seemed all-powerful was gone, while the child he tried to destroy was alive. Once again an angel spoke to Joseph in a dream. His words, “those who sought the young child’s life are dead”, echo God’s word to Moses: “Go, return into Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead” (Exodus 4:19). Like Moses, Jesus escaped a murderous king as a child and returned to carry out God’s saving plan.
- “He arose and took the young child and his mother”
For the third time Joseph obeys without delay (Matthew 1:24; Matthew 2:14). His faithfulness provided the safe home in which Jesus could grow up. Luke records that in Nazareth Jesus “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).
- “Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father”
After Herod’s death his kingdom was divided among his sons. Archelaus received Judea and quickly became known for his brutality; the Romans removed him after about ten years. Joseph had good reason to be afraid. Warned again in a dream, he went north to Galilee, which was ruled by another son, Herod Antipas. God guided Joseph step by step, often through his own sensible fears. As the proverb says, “A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
- “He will be called a Nazarene.”
Nazareth was a small, unimportant village. When Nathanael first heard of Jesus he asked, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). No single Old Testament verse says “He will be called a Nazarene”, and Matthew says it was spoken “through the prophets”, summarising more than one passage. Many see a link with Isaiah’s promise, “A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit” (Isaiah 11:1), because the Hebrew word for “branch”, netzer, sounds like Nazareth. The prophets also foretold that the Messiah would be humble and despised: “He was despised, and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3). Growing up in a despised village was part of that humble path. At the end, Pilate’s sign over the cross would read, “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS” (John 19:19).
The Significance of Matthew 2:19-23
- God outlasts every tyrant
Herod is remembered for cruelty, and his power ended with his death. Jesus, the child he tried to kill, reigns for ever. No earthly power can overturn God’s purposes.
- God guides through ordinary means
Joseph was guided by dreams, but also by news about Archelaus and his own reasonable fear. God often leads his people through circumstances and wise decisions as well as through his word.
- Greatness in humble places
The Son of God grew up in a small town with a poor reputation. God “chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise” (1 Corinthians 1:27). No one is too ordinary for God to use.
Cross-References:
Exodus 4:19: "Go, return into Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead." The parallel with Moses.
Isaiah 11:1: "A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit." The Branch from Jesse.
Isaiah 53:3: "He was despised, and rejected by men;" The humble Servant.
John 1:46: "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Nazareth’s lowly reputation.
Conclusion: Matthew 2:19-23 tells how, after Herod’s death, an angel told Joseph to return to Israel. Afraid of Herod’s son Archelaus, Joseph was guided to Galilee and settled in Nazareth. Matthew sees this as fulfilling the prophets: the Messiah would be the Branch from Jesse and would come from humble, despised beginnings, called a Nazarene.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible