| Mt ch 2 | Mt 2:1 | Mt 2:2 | Mt 2:3 | Mt 2:4 | Mt 2:5 | Mt 2:6 | Mt 2:7 |
| Mt 2:8 | Mt 2:9 | Mt 2:10 | Mt 2:11 | Mt 2:12 | Mt 2:13 | Mt 2:14 | Mt 2:15 |
| Mt 2:16 | Mt 2:17 | Mt 2:18 | Mt 2:19 | Mt 2:20 | Mt 2:21 | Mt 2:22 | Mt 2:23 |
Bible references
Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. (Matthew 2:20 KJV)
Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the young child’s life. (Matthew 2:20 ASV)
Saying, Get up and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: because they who were attempting to take the young child’s life are dead. (Matthew 2:20 BBE)
Arise, take to [thee] the little child and its mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they who sought the life of the little child are dead. (Matthew 2:20 DBY)
“Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.” (Matthew 2:20 WEB)
saying, `Having risen, take the child and his mother, and be going to the land of Israel, for they have died–those seeking the life of the child.'(Matthew 2:20 YLT)
Interlinear
Mt 2:20 Saying, /lego/ Arise, /egeiro/ and take /paralambano/ the young child /paidion/ and /kai/ his /autos/ mother, /meter/ and /kai/ go /poreuomai/ into /eis/ the land /ge/ of Israel: /Israel/ for /gar/ they are dead /thnesko/ which /ho/ sought /zeteo/ the young child’s /paidion/ life. /psuche/
Albert Barnes’ Commentary
Verse 20. They are dead which sought, etc. This either refers to Herod alone, as is not uncommon, using the plural number for the singular; or it may refer to Herod and his son Antipater. He was of the same cruel disposition as his father, and was put to death by his father about five days before his own death.
{f} “they are dead” Ex 4:19
The Fourfold Gospel
Arise. Happy Joseph! His path was ordered of God. Let us also seek such ordering. “In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths” (Pr 3:6).
Go into the land of Israel. The phrase “land of Israel” originally meant all Palestine, but during the period of the kingdom of the ten tribes it was restricted to their portion of the country. After the captivities and the return of Judah from Babylon the phrase resumed its original meaning, and hence it is here used to include all Palestine. As Jesus was “not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt 15:24), it was fitting that he return thither from Egypt.
For they. “They” is doubtless the plural of majesty; though it may include others unknown to us, who were employed by him or advised him.
Are dead that sought the young child’s life. How prophetic the words! Christ’s enemies die, but he lives on. How innumerable this host of opposers! Persecutors, oppressors, infidels, critics, literatures, organizations, principalities, and powers, a vast and motley array of forces, have sought the life of Jesus, have made a great noise in the world, and died away in silence. Pharoahs, Neros, Diocletians, many a Charles, Torquemada and Bloody Mary have come up and gone down, but the king of Israel lives on.
(TFG 53-54)