Matthew 2:13-15
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The angel's directive to "take the child and his mother" subtly highlights that Joseph's primary role here isn't as the child's father, but as a devoted guardian appointed by God, entrusted with protecting the Savior and Mary. This journey into Egypt, the very land of their ancestors' former bondage, becomes a divinely orchestrated refuge, demonstrating God's powerful ability to turn places of hardship into havens of safety.
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Fresh from the visit of the Magi, Joseph receives another divine message, this time a dream warning him of King Herod's deadly intent. The angel commands Joseph to immediately flee with Mary and the child Jesus to Egypt, a land both familiar to many Jews and outside Herod's jurisdiction, to escape the impending slaughter. This urgent flight underscores the immediate danger the infant Jesus faced and sets the stage for his early years spent in refuge.
Imagine the world as a dangerous place for the most precious treasure. For Jesus, that danger came swiftly and from the highest authority. This verse reveals God's immediate, protective plan.
The birth of Jesus was met with wonder, but also with deadly opposition. As soon as the wise men departed, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, commanding him to flee to Egypt with Mary and the child.
Strategic Sanctuary
This wasn't just an escape; it was a divinely orchestrated move to protect the Savior.
In a world that often feels chaotic, how does God communicate His will? For Joseph, a dream wasn't just a dream – it was a direct divine directive.
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This passage highlights the significant role dreams played in God's communication, particularly with Joseph. While dreams can be a source of personal insight or anxiety, in biblical narrative, they often serve as direct channels for God's guidance and commands.
A Father's Trust
God used this dream to ensure Jesus's safety and to test and strengthen Joseph's obedience.
Understand the original words
angelos · Greek Noun
A messenger of God sent to communicate His divine will to humanity. Angels are created spiritual beings who serve as agents of God’s intervention in history.
pheugō · Greek Verb
To escape or run away from danger, persecution, or judgment. Biblically, it often describes a divinely guided movement to safety or away from divine wrath.
apollymi · Greek Verb
To ruin, slay, or render useless. In this context, it refers to the intent of an oppressor to end a life or thwart God's sovereign plan.
prophētēs · Greek Noun
One who declares a message from God. Prophets were instruments of divine revelation, often pointing toward the Messiah and the ultimate unfolding of God's redemptive plan.
huios · Greek Noun
A male offspring. In a theological sense, this title identifies the unique relationship of the Messiah to God the Father, emphasizing His divinity, identity, and mission.
The flight to Egypt highlights Jesus' vulnerability from birth and places him in a land that historically mirrored Israel's own journey from oppression to freedom, fulfilling ancient prophecies.
c. 20-10 BC
Herod the Great's Reign
Herod the Great, a client king of Rome, ruled Judea with increasing paranoia and brutality, particularly as he aged and worried about succession.
c. 1 BC - AD 1
Birth of Jesus
Jesus is born in Bethlehem during the reign of Herod the Great, an event marked by celestial signs and visits from foreign dignitaries.
c. AD 1
Magi Visit and Herod's Inquiry
Wise men from the East visit the infant Jesus, prompting King Herod to question the chief priests and scribes about prophecies of the Messiah's birth.
c. AD 1— this verse
Angel Warns Joseph
An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, warning him of Herod's murderous intent and instructing him to flee with Jesus and Mary to Egypt.
c. AD 1
Herod's Massacre of the Innocents
Upon realizing the Magi have tricked him, Herod orders the brutal killing of all male infants in Bethlehem and its vicinity, hoping to eliminate the newborn King.
c. AD 1 - AD 4
Jesus' Exile in Egypt
The holy family resides in Egypt until Herod the Great's death, finding refuge among the large Jewish population there, fulfilling prophecy.
AD 4
Death of Herod the Great
Herod the Great dies, a brutal and unpopular ruler, after which his kingdom is divided among his sons, and an angel permits Joseph's return from Egypt.
This Old Testament passage is directly quoted in Matthew 2:15 as a fulfillment of prophecy concerning God calling His Son out of Egypt, highlighting the purposeful journey of Jesus to Egypt mirroring Israel's own exodus. It shows God's redemptive plan unfolding through historical parallels.
Exodus 4:19-20Similar to Joseph being warned in a dream to flee Egypt for his safety, Moses was also instructed by God to return to Egypt with his family. This parallel emphasizes God's protective care over His chosen leaders and His people, even in times of extreme danger.
1 Kings 11:40Jeroboam, a future king of Israel, fled to Egypt to escape the wrath of Solomon. This historical precedent shows Egypt serving as a refuge for those fleeing political persecution, just as it did for the young Jesus and His family.
Matthew 1:20-21The angel's message to Joseph in Matthew 2:13 echoes the dream Joseph received in Matthew 1:20-21. Both instances involve divine instruction via dreams to protect Jesus, showing a consistent pattern of God intervening to safeguard His Son.
barnesMatthew 2:13: "And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."
The angel appeareth to Joseph in a dream - See Matthew 1:20 . Flee into Egypt - Egypt is situated to the southwest of Judea, and is distant from Bethlehem perhaps about 60 miles. It was at this time a Roman province. The…
meyerMatthew 2:13: "And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."
Matthew 2:13 . Ἀναχωρ . δὲ αὐτῶν ] The divine direction and flight into Egypt must be conceived as taking place immediately after the departure of the Magi. Matthew 2:16 . φαίνεται ] historic present. The continuation of…
The angel's directive to "take the child and his mother" subtly highlights that Joseph's primary role here isn't as the child's father, but as a devoted guardian appointed by God, entrusted with protecting the Savior and Mary. This journey into Egypt, the very land of their ancestors' former bondage, becomes a divinely orchestrated refuge, demonstrating God's powerful ability to turn places of hardship into havens of safety.
Fresh from the visit of the Magi, Joseph receives another divine message, this time a dream warning him of King Herod's deadly intent. The angel commands Joseph to immediately flee with Mary and the child Jesus to Egypt, a land both familiar to many Jews and outside Herod's jurisdiction, to escape the impending slaughter. This urgent flight underscores the immediate danger the infant Jesus faced and sets the stage for his early years spent in refuge.
Fresh from the visit of the Magi, Joseph receives another divine message, this time a dream warning him of King Herod's deadly intent. The angel commands Joseph to immediately flee with Mary and the child Jesus to Egypt, a land both familiar to many Jews and outside Herod's jurisdiction, to escape the impending slaughter. This urgent flight underscores the immediate danger the infant Jesus faced and sets the stage for his early years spent in refuge.
"Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to des…" — The angel's directive to "take the child and his mother" subtly highlights that Joseph's primary role here isn't as the child's father, but as a devoted guardian appointed by God, entrusted with prot…
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Last reviewed October 2026
