2:10
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight: There are two ways to interpret this clause:
(1) The wise men were overjoyed when they saw the star reappear. The Good News Translation shows that it follows this interpretation by reordering 2:9–10:
9band on their way they saw the same star…. 10When they saw it, how happy they were, what joy was theirs! 9bIt went ahead of them… (Good News Translation)
(Good News Translation)
(2) The wise men were overjoyed when they saw the star stop over the place where Jesus was. For example:
When they saw that the star had stopped (New Revised Standard Version)
(New Revised Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Most English versions are ambiguous and it is not possible to tell which interpretation they follow. But most commentators follow interpretation (1).
When they saw the star: Evidently, the wise men had not seen the star for some time. Then it appeared and they saw it again.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
When they saw the star ⌊appear⌋
-or-
When they saw the star ⌊again⌋
they rejoiced with great delight: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as they rejoiced with great delight means “they became extremely happy.”
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
they were filled with joy! (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
they were very happy
General Comment on 2:9–10
In some languages, it may be more natural to put 2:10 in the middle of 2:9. For example:
9aSo after hearing what the king said, they left. 9bOn their way they saw the same star that they had seen rise. 10When they saw it, they were extremely happy. 9bThe star continued going ahead of them. 9cIt moved on until it stopped over the place where the young child was.
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