Section 2:13–15
Jesus’ family escaped to Egypt
In this section, Matthew showed how God protected Jesus by warning Joseph to take him to Egypt. Matthew also showed how the move to Egypt fulfilled scripture.
Egypt is a country to the south of Judea. 1,500 years before Jesus’ time, the people of Israel had lived in Egypt (Exodus 12:40). Then Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt. Many years later, God said, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son” (Hosea 11:1). This prophecy referred back to when God brought the nation of Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 12:41–42). This prophecy also referred ahead to the time when God would call his Son Jesus out of Egypt (Matthew 2:15).
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
Jesus’ Parents Take Him to Egypt (New Century Version)
-or-
The escape to Egypt
Paragraph 2:13–15
2:13a
When the Magi had gone: This section begins with a time clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as When the Magi had gone. This clause refers to the wise men leaving Mary and Joseph and Jesus to return to their own country.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
After they had left (Good News Translation)
-or-
After the wise men had gone (Contemporary English Version)
2:13b
The Greek of 2:13b begins with a words that is often translated as “behold.” It literally means “look” or “see.” This word focuses attention on what follows and indicates that it is important, unexpected, or amazing. In this passage, an angel unexpectedly appeared to Joseph in a dream. If you have a term that gets the attention of people that is natural in this context, you should consider using it here.
Here are some ways to translate this:
behold, (English Standard Version)
-or-
Unexpectedly
-or-
Then strangely
This same word occurs in 2:1c and 2:9b.
an angel of the Lord: The phrase an angel of the Lord refers here to an angel that the Lord (God) sent.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
an angel who came from the Lord God
-or-
an angel who was sent by God
This same phrase occurs in 1:20.
angel: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as angel means “messenger.” It refers to a supernatural, spiritual being who serves God.
Here are some ways to translate this term:
• Use a descriptive word or phrase. For example:
messenger ⌊from God⌋
-or-
⌊holy⌋ spirit-being
• Use a local term that fits the biblical meaning.
• In some areas the churches may already be using a borrowed term or a transliterated word for angel. Be sure that this term fits the biblical meaning. If some people do not understand the right meaning from this term, you may need to indicate the meaning in some way. For example:
an angelos messenger ⌊from God⌋
-or-
a sacred ⌊angelos⌋ spirit
See angel, Meaning 1, in the Glossary for more information.
the Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Lord refers here to God.
appeared to Joseph: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as appeared can also mean “became visible” or “was revealed.” The angel appeared to Joseph while he was dreaming. This indicates that in his dream, Joseph saw an angel.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
showed/revealed himself to Joseph
-or-
Joseph saw an angel
in a dream: Joseph was sleeping, and he saw the angel while he was dreaming.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
in a dream ⌊while he slept⌋
-or-
He dreamed that an angel of the Lord appeared to him
2:13c
In some languages, it may be more natural to put 2:13c after 2:13e. See the General Comment after 2:13e for an example.
Get up!: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Get up! refers to rising from a bed or rising after being asleep. Another way to translate this word is:
Get up (New International Version)
Take the Child and His mother: The phrase His mother refers to Jesus’ mother Mary.
Here are some ways to make this clearer:
take the child and the child’s mother
-or-
take the child and your wife
-or-
take Mary and Jesus
and flee: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as flee refers to moving quickly away from danger.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
escape (New International Version)
-or-
go quickly
-or-
hurry and go
to Egypt: The word Egypt is the name of a country located south and west of Judea. It was at least 240 kilometers from Bethlehem to the border of Egypt. It took more than a week to walk there.
Here is another way to translate this word:
⌊the country/land of⌋ Egypt
2:13d
In some languages, it may be more natural to put 2:13d after 2:13e. See the General Comment after 2:13e for an example.
Stay there until I tell you: The angel will one day tell Joseph to return. It may be more natural in your language to include that implied information. For example:
Stay there until I tell you to return (Contemporary English Version)
2:13e
In some languages, it may be more natural to put 2:13e before 2:13c–d. See the General Comment below for an example.
for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the basis for the command that they should flee to Egypt and stay there. 13c–dEscape to Egypt and stay there 13efor/because Herod wants to kill the child.
Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:
because
-or-
The reason is
Herod is going to search for the Child: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as is going to search for indicates that Herod intended to search soon for the Child. Herod would not do the actual searching, but would send his soldiers to do it for him.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
Herod intends to search for the child (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Herod is about ⌊to send his soldiers⌋ to search for the child
to kill Him: The phrase to kill Him means “in order to kill him.” It tells Herod’s purpose in searching for Jesus.
General Comment on 2:13c–e
In some languages, it may be more natural to put the basis (in 2:13e) before the command (in 2:13c–d). For example:
He said, 13e“Herod is going to search for the child to kill him. 13c⌊So⌋ get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. 13dStay there until I tell you.”
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