The Greek magoi originally referred to Persian Zoroastrian «priests who were experts in astrology and in the interpretation of dreams. But the word may also be used in a derogatory sense of ‘magician’ or ‘charlatan,’ a meaning which it has in its only other New Testament occurrences outside Matthew’s nativity narrative (Acts 13:6,8). Matthew most likely has Babylonian astrologers in mind.» (Source: Newman / Stine; see also this interview .)

While most English translations either transliterate this as «magi» or translate it as «wise men,» most German versions (with the exceptions of Luther and Menge [publ. 1909]) use Sterndeuter, an old-fashioned term for astrologer. The Pfälzisch translation by Walter Sauer (publ. 2012) uses Sternegugger, also an old-fashioned term for astrologer with the verbatim meaning of «star watchers.» In Luxembourgish, it is translated as weis Astronomen or «wise astronomers.» (Source: Zetzsche)

In Kwakum it is translated as «guardians of religious rites who look up at the starts to see the things to come” or “guardians of religions rites.” (Source: Stacey Hare in this post )

In Cherokee it is translated as aniktani or «knowledgeable ones.» Aniktani (ᎠᏂᎫᏔᏂ) «appear in Cherokee oral history as a former priestly society.» (Source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 47)

See also complete verse (Matthew 2:1) and who know the laws.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: The Magi .