2:17

Then: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then introduces the result of Herod’s action (2:16). Herod killed the baby boys (2:16), and as a result the words of the prophet were fulfilled (2:17).

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

In this way (Good News Translation)
-or-
So (Contemporary English Version)

what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: The clause what was spoken through the prophet is very similar to the clause “what the Lord had spoken through the prophet” (in 2:15b). It refers to the words/message that the Lord God told the prophet Jeremiah to tell the people. Jeremiah then spoke these words to the people. He also wrote them down.

This clause is passive.

Here are some ways to translate this clause:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

the words spoken through the prophet Jeremiah (God’s Word)

• Use an active verb. For example:

what God had said through the prophet Jeremiah (New Century Version)
-or-
the words that ⌊the Lord⌋ told the prophet Jeremiah to say to the people

was fulfilled: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was fulfilled means “came true” or “happened.” God spoke the words of 2:18 hundreds of years before Jesus was born. And now those words came true.

The verb was fulfilled is passive. Here are some ways to translate this verb:

• As a passive verb. For example:

Then was fulfilled (Revised Standard Version)

• As an active verb. For example:

Herod’s brutal action fulfilled (New Living Translation (2004))

• As a stative verb. For example:

Then the words spoken through the prophet Jeremiah came true (God’s Word)

The same verb occurs in 2:15b.

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