Matthew 2:7

Matthew 2:7

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

a. NLT:  Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared.

b. NIV: Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.

c. Young’s Literal Translation: Then Herod, privately having called the mages, did inquire exactly from them the time of the appearing star,

d. Amplified Bible: Then Herod sent for the wise men [astrologers] secretly, and accurately to the last point ascertained from them the time of the appearing of the star [that is, how long the star had made itself visible since its rising in the east].

e. Worrell Translation: Then Herod, having privately called the wise men, ascertained from them exactly the time the star appeared;

1. “Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men…”

a. then [5119 * tote] [Strong: from (the neuter of) 3588 and 3753; the when, i.e. at the time that (of the past or future, also in consecution):--that time, then.

b. Herod [2264 * Herodes] [Strong: compound of heros (a "hero") and 1491; heroic; Herod, the name of four Jewish kings:--Herod.]

c. privily [2977 * lathra] [Strong: adverb from 2990; privately:--privily, secretly.]

d. called [2564 * kaleo] [Strong: akin to the base of 2753; to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise):--bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-)name (was (called)).]

e. wise men [3097 * magos] [Strong:  of foreign origin (7248); a Magian, i.e. Oriental scientist; by implication, a magician:--sorcerer, wise man.]

1). This Greek word is found 5 times in the New Testament, three times surrounding the birth of Christ and two other times in Acts concerning a an opponent of the gospel. The Scriptural evidence backs up the knowledge that there were different sort of sects within the magi. Some were better than others.

a). Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

b). Matthew 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

c). Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

d). Acts 13:6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

e). Acts 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation ) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

2. “…enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.”

a. enquired [198 * akriboo] [Strong: from the same as 196; to be exact, i.e. ascertain:--enquire diligently.]

b. of [3844 * para] [Strong: a primary preposition; properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of):--above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to, X friend, from, + give (such things as they), + that (she) had, X his, in, more than, nigh unto, (out) of, past, save, side...by, in the sight of, than, (there-)fore, with. In compounds it retains the same variety of application.]

c. them [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

d. diligently [198 * akriboo] See “enquired” above.

e. what time [5550 * chronos] [Strong: of uncertain derivation; a space of time (in general, and thus properly distinguished from 2540, which designates a fixed or special occasion; and from 165, which denotes a particular period) or interval; by extension, an individual opportunity; by implication, delay:--+ years old, season, space, (X often-)time(-s), (a) while.]

f. star [792 * aster] [Strong: probably from the base of 4766; a star (as strown over the sky), literally or figuratively:--star.]

g. appeared [5316 * phaino] [Strong: prolongation for the base of 5457; to lighten (shine), i.e. show (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative):-- appear, seem, be seen, shine, X think.]

1). Herod was asking when the star first appeared to them and it was about two years.

a). Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof,  from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

b). Since he had all the children in the Bethlehem area from two years old and under killed we can figure out that Christ at this time was about two years old. Add to this the family were living in a house and the fact that Christ at this time was a “young child” we can faithfully say the wise men did not arrive on the night Jesus was born but about two years later.