Matthew 2:15
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)
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The verse highlights that Matthew is quoting directly from the Hebrew text of Hosea, not the Greek translation, specifically using the singular "my Son" instead of the plural "his children." This subtle but significant choice emphasizes that Jesus, in his unique experience of being called out of Egypt, is seen as the true fulfillment of God's relationship with Israel.
After fleeing Bethlehem to escape Herod's murderous rage, Joseph and Mary stayed in Egypt with the infant Jesus until Herod died. Matthew points out this move fulfilled a prophecy from Hosea, drawing a parallel between God calling Israel out of Egypt as His son and calling Jesus out of Egypt as His Son. This highlights the idea that Jesus' life often mirrored the experiences of God's people.
Why does Matthew connect Jesus' flight to Egypt with a verse about Israel's exodus?
Matthew highlights a profound parallel between Jesus and the nation of Israel. The Old Testament prophet Hosea spoke of God calling Israel, His 'son,' out of Egypt. In Matthew's view, Jesus' own journey into and out of Egypt wasn't just a safety measure; it was a divine echo of Israel's foundational experience.
Echoes of Exodus
Was Jesus going to Egypt just a historical 'coincidence' that happened to match an Old Testament verse?
The phrase 'that it might be fulfilled' in Matthew isn't just about finding a clever match between prophecy and event. For Matthew, these fulfillments point to the deliberate hand of God orchestrating history.
Divine Orchestration
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.
c. 7-4 BC— this verse
Death of Herod the Great
Herod the Great, the client king of Judea under Rome, dies after a brutal and lengthy reign. His death led to a period of instability and division of his kingdom among his sons.
c. 6-4 BC
Jesus' Family Flees to Egypt
Fearing for the infant Jesus' life after the Magi's visit and Herod's murderous decree, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus flee to Egypt, a common refuge for Jews escaping persecution.
c. 4 BC - AD 1
Jesus' Sojourn in Egypt
The Holy Family resides in Egypt until Herod the Great's death, fulfilling ancient prophecies and allowing Jesus to escape immediate danger.
c. AD 1
Return to Nazareth
Following Herod's death and the subsequent political turmoil, Joseph, guided by a dream, leads his family back from Egypt, settling in Nazareth.
This is the direct source of the prophecy Matthew quotes, originally referring to Israel's exodus from Egypt, highlighting how Matthew saw Jesus' experience as a profound parallel to the nation's. It shows the pattern of God calling His people, and now His Son, out of difficult circumstances.
Exodus 4:22-23This passage from Exodus describes God calling Israel 'my son, my firstborn,' from Egypt, directly linking to the concept used in Hosea. It underscores the idea of God's special relationship with Israel, a relationship that Matthew finds echoed in Jesus' own call out of Egypt.
Matthew 2:19-20These verses immediately follow the one in question, detailing Herod's death and the angel's instruction for Joseph to return to Israel. This shows the practical fulfillment of the prophecy—Jesus being called 'out' of Egypt in response to a change in circumstances, just as Israel was called out previously.
Psalm 2:7This Psalm, often understood as Messianic, speaks of God declaring 'You are my Son; today I have begotten you,' and Jewish thought sometimes connected the idea of God's Son with national deliverance, like the Exodus. This adds a layer to why calling Jesus 'my Son' in the context of Egypt would resonate.
barnesMatthew 2:15: "And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son."
The death of Herod - Herod died in the thirty-seventh year of his reign. It is not certainly known in what year he began his reign, and hence it is impossible to determine the time that Joseph remained in Egypt. The best chronologers have supposed that he died somewhere between two and four years after the birth of Christ, but…
pulpitMatthew 2:15: "And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son."
Verse 15. - And was there until the death of Herod. The Revised Version rightly joins this with the preceding, not with the following, clause. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying (Matthew 1:22, notes), Out of Egypt have I called (Revised Version, did I call) my Son (Hosea 11:1, "When…
The verse highlights that Matthew is quoting directly from the Hebrew text of Hosea, not the Greek translation, specifically using the singular "my Son" instead of the plural "his children." This subtle but significant choice emphasizes that Jesus, in his unique experience of being called out of Egypt, is seen as the true fulfillment of God's relationship with Israel.
After fleeing Bethlehem to escape Herod's murderous rage, Joseph and Mary stayed in Egypt with the infant Jesus until Herod died. Matthew points out this move fulfilled a prophecy from Hosea, drawing a parallel between God calling Israel out of Egypt as His son and calling Jesus out of Egypt as His Son. This highlights the idea that Jesus' life often mirrored the experiences of God's people.
After fleeing Bethlehem to escape Herod's murderous rage, Joseph and Mary stayed in Egypt with the infant Jesus until Herod died. Matthew points out this move fulfilled a prophecy from Hosea, drawing a parallel between God calling Israel out of Egypt as His son and calling Jesus out of Egypt as His Son. This highlights the idea that Jesus' life often mirrored the experiences of God's people.
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"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 verse highlights that Matthew is quoting directly from the Hebrew text of Hosea, not the Greek translation, specifically using the singular "my Son" instead of the plural "his children." This sub…
