Matthew 2:19
New International Version
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt

New Living Translation
When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.

English Standard Version
But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Berean Standard Bible
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.

Berean Literal Bible
But of Herod having died, behold, an angel of the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

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

New King James Version
Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

New American Standard Bible
But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,

NASB 1995
But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,

NASB 1977
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,

Legacy Standard Bible
But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,

Amplified Bible
But when Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,

Christian Standard Bible
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

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

Contemporary English Version
After King Herod died, an angel from the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph while he was still in Egypt.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
After Herod was dead, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.

Good News Translation
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt

International Standard Version
But after Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.

Majority Standard Bible
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.

NET Bible
After Herod had died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt

New Heart English Bible
But when Herod was dead, look, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,

Webster's Bible Translation
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Weymouth New Testament
But after Herod's death an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said to him,

World English Bible
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Herod having died, behold, a messenger of the LORD appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Berean Literal Bible
But of Herod having died, behold, an angel of the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Young's Literal Translation
And Herod having died, lo, a messenger of the Lord in a dream doth appear to Joseph in Egypt,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Herod having died, behold a messenger of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, when Herod had passed away, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt,

New American Bible
When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt

New Revised Standard Version
When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When King Herod died, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But when Herodus The King died, The Angel of THE LORD JEHOVAH appeared in a dream to Yoseph in Egypt.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Godbey New Testament
And Herod having died, behold, the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in Egypt in a dream, saying;

Haweis New Testament
Now when Herod was dead, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Mace New Testament
But after the death of Herod, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Weymouth New Testament
But after Herod's death an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said to him,

Worrell New Testament
And, Herod having died, behold, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream in Egypt, saying,

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

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Return to Nazareth
18“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” 19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. 20“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.”…

Cross References
Exodus 4:19
Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who sought to kill you are dead.”

Hosea 11:1
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

Matthew 1:20
But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 2:13
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”

Acts 5:19-20
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying, / “Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.”

Genesis 46:3-4
“I am God,” He said, “the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. / I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will surely bring you back. And Joseph’s own hands will close your eyes.”

1 Kings 19:3-5
And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, / while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” / Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”

Luke 1:11-13
Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. / When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear. / But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

Luke 2:9-10
Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. / But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:

Acts 12:7-8
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. / “Get dressed and put on your sandals,” said the angel. Peter did so, and the angel told him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”

Judges 6:11-12
Then the angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. / And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.”

Genesis 31:11-13
In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Here I am.’ / ‘Look up,’ he said, ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled; for I have seen all that Laban has done to you. / I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a solemn vow to Me. Now get up, leave this land at once, and return to your native land.’”

Numbers 22:20
That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.”

1 Samuel 23:9-12
When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” / And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account. / Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD. ...

2 Kings 1:3-4
But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are on your way to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’ / Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘You will not get up from the bed on which you are lying. You will surely die.’” So Elijah departed.


Treasury of Scripture

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

Herod.

Psalm 76:10
Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

Isaiah 51:12
I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;

Daniel 8:25
And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

an.

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 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.

Psalm 139:7
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

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Matthew 2
1. The wise men from the east enquire after Jesus;
3. at which Herod is alarmed.
9. They are directed by a star to Bethlehem, worship him, and offer their presents.
13. Joseph flees into Egypt with Jesus and his mother.
16. Herod slays the children;
20. himself dies.
23. Jesus is brought back again into Galilee to Nazareth.














After Herod died
This phrase marks a significant turning point in the narrative. Herod the Great, known for his tyrannical rule and the infamous massacre of the innocents in Bethlehem, represents the oppressive powers of the world that stand against God's purposes. Historically, Herod's death in 4 B.C. is well-documented, and his passing signifies the end of a reign characterized by fear and violence. Theologically, this moment underscores the transient nature of earthly power in contrast to the eternal kingdom of God. Herod's death paves the way for the fulfillment of God's plan for Jesus to return to Israel, highlighting the divine orchestration of events.

an angel of the Lord
The appearance of an angel signifies divine intervention and guidance. In the Greek, "angelos" means messenger, indicating that this is a direct communication from God. Throughout Scripture, angels are often sent to deliver important messages or to provide protection and guidance to God's people. This divine messenger reassures Joseph, affirming that God is actively involved in the unfolding of His redemptive plan. The presence of the angel emphasizes God's sovereignty and His care for those who are obedient to His will.

appeared in a dream
Dreams in the biblical context are often a medium through which God communicates with His people. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, is particularly noted for receiving divine guidance through dreams, as seen earlier in Matthew 1:20 and 2:13. The use of dreams highlights the intimate and personal nature of God's communication with His faithful servants. It also reflects the fulfillment of Old Testament patterns, where God frequently used dreams to reveal His plans, as with Joseph in Genesis. This method of communication underscores the importance of spiritual discernment and obedience.

to Joseph
Joseph, a righteous man, is chosen by God to be the earthly guardian of Jesus. His role is crucial in the early life of Jesus, providing protection and guidance. Joseph's obedience to God's instructions, despite the challenges and uncertainties, exemplifies faithfulness and trust in God's plan. His character is a model of humility and dedication, as he consistently places God's will above his own. Joseph's actions demonstrate the importance of being receptive to God's guidance and the impact of faithful stewardship in fulfilling divine purposes.

in Egypt
Egypt serves as a place of refuge for the Holy Family, fulfilling the prophecy found in Hosea 11:1, "Out of Egypt I called My Son." Historically, Egypt was a common place of asylum for those fleeing danger in Judea, due to its relative proximity and political stability. Theologically, Egypt represents both a place of bondage and a place of deliverance, echoing the Exodus narrative. This dual symbolism highlights God's ability to transform places of oppression into places of protection and His power to deliver His people from peril. The sojourn in Egypt also emphasizes the fulfillment of prophecy and God's meticulous orchestration of events in salvation history.

Verses 19-23. - The return from Egypt and settlement in Nazareth. Verse 19. - But when Herod was dead. Does the repetition of the tenor of ver. 15 point to a different source? Behold, an angel (rightly; contrast Matthew 1:20, note) of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph (φαίνεται κατ ὄναρ, as in ver. 13). In both cases the stress is on the fact of the appearance, not on its mode. In Egypt. The evangelist will leave no room for doubt as to where Joseph then was (cf. note at head of chapter).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
After
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

Herod
Ἡρῴδου (Hērōdou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2264: Compound of heros and eidos; heroic; Herod, the name of four Jewish kings.

died,
Τελευτήσαντος (Teleutēsantos)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5053: To end, finish, die, complete. From a presumed derivative of teleo; to finish life, i.e. Expire.

an angel
ἄγγελος (angelos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 32: From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor.

of [the] Lord
Κυρίου (Kyriou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

appeared
φαίνεται (phainetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5316: Prolongation for the base of phos; to lighten, i.e. Show.

in
κατ’ (kat’)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

a dream
ὄναρ (onar)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3677: A dream. Of uncertain derivation; a dream.

to
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Joseph
Ἰωσὴφ (Iōsēph)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2501: Joseph, a proper name. Of Hebrew origin; Joseph, the name of seven Israelites.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

Egypt.
Αἰγύπτῳ (Aigyptō)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 125: Egypt. Of uncertain derivation.


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