Matthew 2:14-15
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The phrasing "the young child and his mother" is significant, highlighting Mary's role as guardian rather than solely a mother, and emphasizing Jesus as the true focus of this urgent flight. This gentle, almost protective word choice underscores the vulnerability of the Holy Family and the profound reverence Joseph held for them.
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)
Joseph, alerted by an angel in a dream to King Herod’s murderous intent, immediately obeys by gathering Mary and the infant Jesus. They escape under the cover of darkness, fleeing to Egypt to avoid Herod's deadly search. This hurried flight and subsequent refuge in Egypt fulfill Old Testament prophecy, foreshadowing Jesus' own future experiences of rejection and reliance on God's protection.
Imagine the scene: a dream, a warning, and an immediate departure under the cloak of darkness. This wasn't a leisurely trip; it was an urgent escape.
Matthew tells us Joseph "rose and took the young child and his mother by night." This detail isn't just descriptive; it highlights Joseph's immediate and decisive obedience.
Swift Action
As soon as Joseph received the divine instruction in a dream, he acted. There was no hesitation, no questioning the command. The phrase "when he arose" signifies an immediate response.
Strategic Secrecy
The "by night" aspect emphasizes the need for stealth. Herod's murderous intent was clear, making a covert departure essential for the safety of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Night provided cover for their urgent flight.
Egypt. A land synonymous with slavery for Israel. Yet, God chose this very place as a sanctuary for His Son.
The choice of Egypt as a place of refuge is deeply symbolic and speaks volumes about God's sovereignty and redemptive plan.
Reclaiming a History
For centuries, Egypt had been a place of suffering and oppression for the Israelites. God's decision to send Jesus there flips this narrative. It's as if God is reclaiming that history, turning a place of past bondage into a place of present protection for His own Son.
Divine Purpose in All Places
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This demonstrates that no place is outside of God's ability to use. Even a land with a painful history for God's people could become a haven. It reminds us that God can work His purposes out in unexpected circumstances and locations.
Long before His public ministry, Jesus experienced firsthand the kind of danger and opposition He would face.
Jesus's flight into Egypt wasn't just a historical event; it was a prophetic foreshadowing of His life and ministry.
A Foretaste of Rejection
From the very beginning, Jesus was a target. Herod's murderous rage, which tragically led to the massacre of the Bethlehem boys, shows how early the opposition to God's kingdom began. Jesus's own life was immediately at risk.
Echoes of God's Servant
This experience highlights the suffering servant motif found throughout Scripture. Jesus's infancy was marked by flight and potential danger, mirroring the difficult path He would later walk, facing rejection and persecution for the sake of humanity's salvation.
The Sword Piercing Mary's Soul
This perilous journey and the threat to her child undoubtedly brought immense sorrow and anxiety to Mary, fulfilling Simeon's prophecy that a 'sword would pierce her own soul' (Luke 2:35).
Understand the original words
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 wasn't just about escaping a single threat; it was a strategic, divinely guided move within a complex political landscape, fulfilling ancient prophecies and echoing Israel's own history of refuge and deliverance.
c. 63 BC
Rome Establishes Control Over Judea
Rome conquers Judea, installing Herod the Great as client king. This sets the stage for Roman authority and Jewish political tension, crucial for understanding Herod's paranoia.
c. 4 BC
Herod the Great's Death
King Herod the Great dies. His death, marked by internal strife and division of his kingdom, is the key event triggering Joseph's return from Egypt.
c. 4 BC— this verse
Joseph and Mary Flee to Egypt
An angel warns Joseph in a dream about Herod's murderous intent. Joseph immediately takes Jesus and Mary to Egypt for safety, beginning their exile.
c. 4 BC - c. 1 BC
Jesus' Infancy in Egypt
The Holy Family resides in Egypt, a land with a large Jewish population. This period of refuge, though brief, fulfills prophecy and contrasts with Israel's past enslavement in Egypt.
c. 1 BC
Death of Archelaus
Herod's son, Archelaus, is removed by the Roman emperor. His deposition creates instability, prompting Joseph to consider returning to the land of Israel.
c. 1 AD
Settlement in Nazareth
Joseph, fearing Archelaus's successor, settles with his family in Nazareth, Galilee. This move fulfills another prophecy and establishes Jesus' upbringing in a region outside immediate Judean political turmoil.
This is the primary Old Testament passage Matthew is quoting, showing how Jesus' flight to Egypt was a divine echo of Israel's exodus from Egypt.
Exodus 2:10Just as Moses was hidden and preserved in Egypt to later deliver Israel, Jesus was hidden in Egypt to fulfill His redemptive mission.
Jeremiah 31:15Matthew 2:18 directly quotes Jeremiah's prophecy of Rachel weeping for her children, highlighting the immense sorrow and foreshadowing the loss of innocent lives in Bethlehem.
Luke 2:22-24This passage shows Joseph and Mary fulfilling the requirements of the Law by presenting Jesus at the Temple, a step they took before and after their flight to Egypt, emphasizing their obedience amidst danger.
bensonMatthew 2:14: "When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:"
Matthew 2:14-15 . When he arose — Viz., from his bed, he took the young child, &c. — He immediately obeyed the heavenly vision, and departed into Egypt — With as hasty a flight as their circumstances would allow. And was there until the death of Herod — Which happened a few months after. That it might be fulfilled — That is, fulfilled again, which was spoken by the prophet — Viz., Hosea, on…
barnesMatthew 2:14: "When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:"
When he arose - Having arisen; that is, he arose immediately after awaking from his dream, and prepared at once to obey the command, By night - Thus he showed his prompt obedience to the command, and at the same time so concealed his departure as to render himself and Mary and the child safe from pursuit.
The phrasing "the young child and his mother" is significant, highlighting Mary's role as guardian rather than solely a mother, and emphasizing Jesus as the true focus of this urgent flight. This gentle, almost protective word choice underscores the vulnerability of the Holy Family and the profound reverence Joseph held for them.
Joseph, alerted by an angel in a dream to King Herod’s murderous intent, immediately obeys by gathering Mary and the infant Jesus. They escape under the cover of darkness, fleeing to Egypt to avoid Herod's deadly search. This hurried flight and subsequent refuge in Egypt fulfill Old Testament prophecy, foreshadowing Jesus' own future experiences of rejection and reliance on God's protection.
Joseph, alerted by an angel in a dream to King Herod’s murderous intent, immediately obeys by gathering Mary and the infant Jesus. They escape under the cover of darkness, fleeing to Egypt to avoid Herod's deadly search. This hurried flight and subsequent refuge in Egypt fulfill Old Testament prophecy, foreshadowing Jesus' own future experiences of rejection and reliance on God's protection.
"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.”" — The phrasing "the young child and his mother" is significant, highlighting Mary's role as guardian rather than solely a mother, and emphasizing Jesus as the true focus of this urgent flight. This gen…
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Last reviewed October 2026
