Breakdown of Matthew 2:13-15

"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…" — Though Joseph is directed to flee, the angel's instruction to stay "until I tell you" highlights God's ongoing guidance. This isn't just about escaping danger, but about Joseph learning to trust in G…

Matthew 2:13-15 Meaning Explained

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Matthew 2:13-15

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)

Though Joseph is directed to flee, the angel's instruction to stay "until I tell you" highlights God's ongoing guidance. This isn't just about escaping danger, but about Joseph learning to trust in God's continuous direction, even when the full plan isn't revealed at once.

What Matthew 2:13-15 means

The wise men have just departed after visiting Jesus, and now Joseph receives an urgent divine warning in a dream: King Herod intends to kill the child. This prompts Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to flee to Egypt, a land familiar to many Jewish people and outside of Herod's immediate authority, marking the start of their dangerous exile to protect the young King.

God's Protection Amidst Evil

Jesus' life started with a death threat. Yet, God's plan unfolded with immediate protection, even when it meant exile.

From the very beginning, Jesus' life was under threat. King Herod, paranoid and ruthless, heard about the birth of a new king and immediately sought to kill Him.

A Swift and Secret Command

God didn't wait for Joseph to figure things out. An angel appeared to him in a dream, giving a direct command: 'Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt.' This wasn't a suggestion; it was an urgent directive.

Purposeful Exile

Egypt, though a foreign land, was a safe haven. It was outside of Herod's jurisdiction, and importantly, it was a place where many Jewish people lived. This wasn't just about physical safety; it was a divinely orchestrated move that would later be seen as fulfilling prophecy, turning a place of past suffering for Israel into a place of refuge for their King.

Trust and Obedience

Joseph and Mary, though likely bewildered and facing immense hardship, obeyed. Their faith in God's protection, even when His plan involved fleeing to a foreign land, is a powerful example for us. God's protection isn't always about avoiding trouble, but about guiding us through it.

Dreams: God's Direct Line

Joseph's dreams weren't just random nighttime thoughts; they were crucial divine interventions that guided the Holy Family through critical moments.

Dreams played a vital role in God's communication with Joseph, acting as direct instructions during times of immense uncertainty.

More Than Just Sleep

In biblical times, dreams could be significant channels for divine revelation. While not all dreams are from God, the Bible records numerous instances where God used dreams to speak His will, warn of danger, or reveal His plans. Joseph experienced this firsthand even before Jesus' birth, being warned in a dream not to divorce Mary (Matthew 1:20).

Understand the original words

Original language

angelἄγγελος

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.

fleeφεύγω

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.

destroyἀπόλλυμι

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.

prophetπροφήτης

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.

Historical context

Written: Likely in the 50s or 60s AD.
Author: Matthew the Apostle, traditionally understood as the author, though modern scholarship debates this.
Location: Written from Galilee, likely while Matthew was in the region of Judea or Galilee.
Genre: Gospel (narrative biblical account), featuring a unique literary element of fulfilling Old Testament prophecy.

Historical background

This verse situates Jesus's infancy within the dangerous political climate of Herod the Great's final years. The flight to Egypt, a land outside Herod's direct jurisdiction, highlights God's immediate and powerful protection of His Son, mirroring Israel's own exodus from Egyptian bondage and fulfilling prophecy.

c. 73 BC
Herod the Great Appointed Governor
Herod, a non-Jewish Idumean, was appointed governor of Judea by the Roman Republic. This marked the beginning of his powerful and often brutal reign over the region.
c. 40 BC
Herod Declared King of the Jews
The Roman Senate declared Herod the ruler of Judea, solidifying his power. This period saw increasing Roman influence and Herod's consolidation of authority, often through ruthless means.
c. 37 BC
Herod Captures Jerusalem
Herod finally captured Jerusalem, ending the Hasmonean dynasty and establishing his own line. His reign, though bringing some prosperity and building projects, was marked by suspicion and cruelty.
c. 6 BC - 4 BC— this verse
Birth of Jesus
Jesus is born in Bethlehem during the reign of Herod the Great. The Magi's visit and Herod's subsequent actions occur shortly after.

Key themes

01Divine protection of Jesus
02God's unexpected refuge
03Obedience through dreams
04Early life danger

Cross-references

Hosea 11:1

This verse is directly quoted in Matthew 2:15, as God calls Israel out of Egypt, paralleling Jesus' own journey to Egypt as a refuge and then back, fulfilling this prophetic pattern.

Exodus 4:19-23

Similar to Joseph being warned in a dream to flee Egypt for his safety with Moses, an angel now warns Joseph to flee *to* Egypt to protect the infant Jesus from a tyrannical ruler.

1 Kings 11:40

Just as Jeroboam fled from Solomon to Egypt for refuge, Jesus and his family find safety in Egypt, highlighting how God uses the same places for different purposes of protection throughout history.

Jeremiah 43:5-7

This passage shows a group of fearful Israelites fleeing to Egypt after the destruction of Jerusalem; similarly, Jesus' family flees to Egypt, demonstrating how God's people have historically sought refuge there from political turmoil and danger.

Scholarly commentary

Matthew 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…
barnes

Matthew 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…
meyer

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What Matthew 2:13-15 means

Original language

angelἄγγελος

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.

fleeφεύγω

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.

destroyἀπόλλυμι

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.

prophetπροφήτης

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.

Historical context

Written: Likely in the 50s or 60s AD.
Author: Matthew the Apostle, traditionally understood as the author, though modern scholarship debates this.
Location: Written from Galilee, likely while Matthew was in the region of Judea or Galilee.
Genre: Gospel (narrative biblical account), featuring a unique literary element of fulfilling Old Testament prophecy.

Historical background

c. 73 BC

Herod the Great Appointed Governor

Herod, a non-Jewish Idumean, was appointed governor of Judea by the Roman Republic. This marked the beginning of his powerful and often brutal reign over the region.

c. 40 BC

Herod Declared King of the Jews

The Roman Senate declared Herod the ruler of Judea, solidifying his power. This period saw increasing Roman influence and Herod's consolidation of authority, often through ruthless means.

c. 37 BC

Herod Captures Jerusalem

Herod finally captured Jerusalem, ending the Hasmonean dynasty and establishing his own line. His reign, though bringing some prosperity and building projects, was marked by suspicion and cruelty.

c. 6 BC - 4 BC— this verse

Birth of Jesus

Jesus is born in Bethlehem during the reign of Herod the Great. The Magi's visit and Herod's subsequent actions occur shortly after.