Matthew 2:17-18
Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse isn't just a simple fulfillment of prophecy; it highlights how Scripture can speak to new, deeply painful situations. Jeremiah originally wrote about the sorrow of exile, but Matthew applies it to the massacre of infants in Bethlehem, showing how God's Word can resonate with and illuminate even the most heartbreaking human experiences with a profound, layered meaning.
After the wise men left, an angel warned Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt with Jesus and Mary because King Herod intended to kill the child. Herod, furious at being tricked by the Magi, then ordered the brutal massacre of all infant boys in Bethlehem and its surrounding areas. Matthew presents this horrific event as the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy about Rachel weeping for her lost children.
Did Jeremiah predict Jesus' birth, or something else entirely? How can Scripture be 'fulfilled' in unexpected ways?
When Matthew points to Jeremiah 31:15, he's not necessarily saying Jeremiah saw this exact event hundreds of years in advance. Instead, Matthew is highlighting how the words of Jeremiah, originally about the sorrow of the Babylonian exile, profoundly resonate with the pain of mothers weeping for their children in Bethlehem after Herod's massacre.
Think of it like this: A powerful song about heartbreak can speak to different people experiencing loss in their own lives, even if the songwriter wasn't thinking of those specific situations. Matthew shows us that Scripture has a depth and richness, allowing ancient words to capture and give voice to new, tragic realities. The prophecy found a new, deeper significance in the suffering surrounding Jesus' birth.
Why bring in Rachel, who died centuries before? And what does her weeping tell us about God's perspective on suffering?
The prophecy from Jeremiah uses Rachel, the matriarch whose tomb was near Bethlehem, as a symbol of maternal grief. She's personified, weeping for her lost children.
Matthew applies this image to the mothers in Bethlehem whose babies were slaughtered by Herod. This isn't just a historical report; it's an emotional and theological statement. By invoking Rachel, Matthew underscores:
Understand the original words
plēroō · Greek Verb
The accomplishment or realization of what was previously predicted or promised by God through the prophets. It highlights the continuity between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament events.
prophētēs · Greek Noun
A person chosen by God to speak His message, warning, or revelation to His people. They serve as the mouthpiece of God, with their words often carrying divine authority.
klauthmos · Greek Noun
A profound expression of deep grief, sorrow, or mourning, often associated with loss or divine judgment.
Rachel · Hebrew Proper Noun
The matriarch of Israel and wife of Jacob. She is symbolically depicted as grieving for the lost children of Israel, representing the inconsolable sorrow of the nation.
Matthew applies Jeremiah's prophecy about the Babylonian exile to the Massacre of the Innocents. While Jeremiah's original context was the sorrow of mothers during the exile, Matthew shows how this ancient lament finds a new, deeper significance in the grief over Bethlehem's children, highlighting Jesus's early suffering and God's faithfulness through overwhelming sorrow.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of many Israelites. This event marks a period of significant national trauma and displacement.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquer Judah, destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, and deport a large portion of the population to Babylon. This devastating event is a central theme in Jeremiah's prophecies.
c. 586 BC
Prophecy of Jeremiah concerning Rachel
Jeremiah delivers a prophecy of comfort and future restoration, using the imagery of Rachel weeping for her children deported in the Assyrian conquest. The prophecy is recorded in Jeremiah 31:15.
c. 597 BC
First deportation to Babylon
As part of the Babylonian conquest, King Jehoiachin and many other prominent citizens are deported to Babylon. This event, and the subsequent devastation, heavily influenced Jeremiah's writings.
This is the direct source of the quote Matthew is referencing, painting a vivid picture of grief and loss.
Genesis 35:16-18This passage describes Rachel's death near Bethlehem and the sorrow surrounding the birth of Benjamin, linking Rachel's grief to the region where Jesus' infancy massacre occurred.
Hosea 11:1Matthew 2:15 also quotes Hosea 11:1 ('Out of Egypt I called my son') in relation to Jesus' return from Egypt, showing a pattern of Old Testament events being echoed in Christ's life.
Lamentations 1:2This passage in Lamentations echoes the profound sorrow and desolation described in Jeremiah 31:15, highlighting the depth of grief associated with the destruction of God's people.
barnesMatthew 2:17: "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,"
Then was fulfilled - The word "fulfilled," here. is used evidently in the sense that the words in Jeremiah aptly express the event which Matthew was recording. Compare the notes at Matthew 1:22 . That which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet - Jeremiah. This quotation is taken from Jeremiah 31:15. The original design of the prophecy was to describe the sorrowful departure of the people of Israel into captivity…
pulpitMatthew 2:17: "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,"
Verses 17, 18. - Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by (διά) Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not (Jeremiah 31:15, from the Hebrew). Notice: (1) As to details. (a) The order in the Revised Version. A voice was heard in Ramah is more literal; the stress…
This verse isn't just a simple fulfillment of prophecy; it highlights how Scripture can speak to new, deeply painful situations. Jeremiah originally wrote about the sorrow of exile, but Matthew applies it to the massacre of infants in Bethlehem, showing how God's Word can resonate with and illuminate even the most heartbreaking human experiences with a profound, layered meaning.
After the wise men left, an angel warned Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt with Jesus and Mary because King Herod intended to kill the child. Herod, furious at being tricked by the Magi, then ordered the brutal massacre of all infant boys in Bethlehem and its surrounding areas. Matthew presents this horrific event as the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy about Rachel weeping for her lost children.
After the wise men left, an angel warned Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt with Jesus and Mary because King Herod intended to kill the child. Herod, furious at being tricked by the Magi, then ordered the brutal massacre of all infant boys in Bethlehem and its surrounding areas. Matthew presents this horrific event as the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy about Rachel weeping for her lost children.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Matthew 2:17-18 is available in the Sola app.
c. 4 BC— this verse
Herod the Great orders the Massacre of the Innocents
Upon learning of the birth of a new king, Herod the Great orders the execution of all male infants in Bethlehem and its vicinity, desperately trying to eliminate the prophesied Messiah.
c. 4 BC - 1 BC
Jesus's Flight to Egypt and stay
Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus flee to Egypt to escape Herod's murderous decree, staying there until Herod's death. This fulfills another prophecy from Hosea.
c. 4 BC
Herod the Great dies
Herod the Great dies, shortly after the Massacre of the Innocents. An angel then instructs Joseph and Mary to return from Egypt.
"Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”" — This verse isn't just a simple fulfillment of prophecy; it highlights how Scripture can speak to new, deeply painful situations. Jeremiah originally wrote about the sorrow of exile, but Matthew appli…
