Topical Encyclopedia The term "Wise Men" traditionally refers to the Magi, a group of distinguished foreigners who visited Jesus after His birth, as described in the Gospel of Matthew. The account of the Wise Men is found in Matthew 2:1-12, where they are depicted as coming from the East to Jerusalem, guided by a star, to worship the newborn King of the Jews.Biblical Account: In Matthew 2:1-2 , it is written: "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 'Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.'" This passage introduces the Wise Men as seekers of truth and worshipers of the Messiah, indicating their recognition of Jesus' divine kingship. Identity and Origin: The Wise Men are often associated with the Magi, a priestly caste from Persia known for their knowledge of astrology and interpretation of dreams. Their journey from the East suggests they may have come from regions such as Persia, Babylon, or Arabia. The term "Magi" implies they were scholars or priests with expertise in astronomy and possibly other sciences, which enabled them to interpret the significance of the star they followed. The Star: The star that guided the Wise Men is a significant element of the narrative. Matthew 2:9-10 states: "After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight." The nature of this star has been the subject of much speculation, with theories ranging from a supernatural phenomenon to a planetary conjunction or comet. Gifts and Symbolism: Upon finding Jesus, the Wise Men presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). These gifts hold symbolic significance: gold represents Jesus' kingship, frankincense His divinity, and myrrh His future suffering and death. The act of giving these gifts underscores the recognition of Jesus' multifaceted role as King, God, and Savior. Role in the Nativity: The visit of the Wise Men is an integral part of the Nativity account, highlighting the universal recognition of Jesus' birth. Their journey and homage to Jesus symbolize the acknowledgment of Christ by the Gentiles, fulfilling prophecies such as Isaiah 60:3 : "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." Herod's Reaction: King Herod's reaction to the Wise Men's inquiry is one of fear and deceit. Matthew 2:3-4 notes: "When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born." Herod's subsequent actions, including the massacre of the innocents, underscore the threat Jesus posed to earthly powers and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah's coming. Divine Guidance: The Wise Men were divinely warned in a dream not to return to Herod, as recorded in Matthew 2:12 : "And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route." This divine intervention highlights God's protection over Jesus and the Wise Men's obedience to divine guidance. The account of the Wise Men serves as a profound testament to the recognition of Jesus' divine nature and mission, illustrating the fulfillment of prophecy and the universal scope of His salvation. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Wise MenWISE MEN wiz'-men: In addition to the uses of "wise" specified in the article WISDOM, the adjective is employed occasionally as the technical description of men who are adepts in magic, divination, etc. (e.g. in Genesis 41:8 Exodus 7:11 Esther 1:13 Daniel 2:27; Daniel 5:15). Naturally, however, in the ancient world the boundary between genuine knowledge and astrology, etc., was exceedingly vague, and it was never denied that real knowledge could be gained along lines that we know to be futile. So the initiation of Moses into all the wisdom of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22) or of Daniel into all the learning of the Chaldeans (Daniel 1:4) met with no disapproval. These great men could be trusted to avoid the moral and religious pitfalls of such pursuits. For the ordinary Israelites, however the uncompromising prohibition of idolatry closed the door definitely to all studies of this kind. See ASTROLOGY; DIVINATION, etc. And for the Wise-men of Matthew 2 see MAGI. Smith's Bible Dictionary Wise Men[MAGI] Greek 4680. sophos -- skilled, wise ... clever. Word Origin a prim. word Definition skilled, wise NASB Word Usage wise (16), wise man (2), wise men (1), wiser (1). wise. Akin ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4680.htm - 6k 5429. phronimos -- practically wise, sensible 781. asophos -- unwise 3361. me -- not, that...not, lest (used for qualified negation) 243. allos -- other, another Strong's Hebrew 2450. chakam -- wise... skillful persons* (1), skillful* (3), unwise* (1), wailing women (1), who (1), who are wise (1), wise (64), wise man (21), wise man's (2), wise men (22), wise ... /hebrew/2450.htm - 6k 2445. chakkim -- a wise man Library The Wise Men's visit. The Wise Men and the Shepherds Against the Wise Men of the World, who Fancy that the Earthly ... The visit of the Wise Men. The Wise Men Bring Gifts to the Young Child Eastern Wise-Men, or Magi, visit Jesus, the New-Born King. The Longing of the Heathen for a Saviour. --The Star of the Wise ... In Regard to the Prophets among the Jews, Some of them were Wise ... When Amasis the King of Egypt Sent to the Wise Men of Greece A King's Strange Dream Resources Is it wise for Christian teens to be dating? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I get wisdom from God? | GotQuestions.org What is godly wisdom? | GotQuestions.org Wise: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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