Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Herod's cunning is revealed not just in his secrecy, but in his desire for "exact information" about when the star first appeared. He wasn't just curious; he was calculating, trying to pinpoint the child's age to ensure his murderous plan wouldn't miss the target.
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After learning from the Jewish leaders that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, Herod, the paranoid king, secretly summons the wise men. He wants to pinpoint the exact time the star appeared, believing this will reveal the child's age so he can plan his murderous decree.
The king’s friendly inquiry hides a sinister purpose. Why the secrecy, and what was Herod really trying to discover?
Herod, a ruler known for his cruelty and paranoia, didn't want his true intentions known.
Double Motive for Secrecy:
Herod wasn't just curious about the star; he needed exact details. What did the timing of the star reveal to him?
Herod's careful questioning, 'what time the star had appeared,' wasn't idle curiosity. He believed the star's first appearance directly correlated with the child's birth.
Calculating the Child's Age:
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This shows Herod's twisted logic and his desperate attempt to control destiny.
Herod thought he had it all figured out, but God had other plans. How did God thwart the king's scheme?
Despite Herod's cleverness and cruelty, his plot was doomed from the start. God actively intervened to protect the infant Jesus.
God's Protective Hand:
Understand the original words
magos · Greek Noun
Foreign scholars or astrologers who studied the heavens; in this context, they represent the Gentiles who recognize and seek the manifestation of the King of the Jews.
astēr · Greek Noun
A celestial body; symbolically, it represents a divine sign, herald, or light provided by God to guide individuals toward the presence of the Messiah.
Herod's secret questioning of the wise men reveals his deep-seated fear and cunning. As a ruler constantly worried about threats to his throne, especially from perceived rivals to the Messianic throne, he used the Magi's astronomical knowledge to try and eliminate Jesus before he could become a political threat.
c. 37 BC
Herod the Great becomes King
Herod, an Idumean, is appointed King of Judea by the Roman Senate, establishing a dynasty that rules under Roman authority. He is known for his building projects and political maneuvering but also for his cruelty.
c. 20 BC - 10 BC
Herod's building projects
Herod undertakes massive construction, including the expansion of the Jerusalem Temple and the building of Caesarea Maritima, showcasing his power and influence.
c. 10 BC - 4 BC
Herod's family intrigues and executions
As Herod ages, paranoia and suspicion lead to the execution of several of his own sons, including Antipater and Aristobulus, demonstrating his ruthless nature.
c. 6 BC - 4 BC— this verse
The birth of Jesus
According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is born in Bethlehem during the reign of Herod the Great. Magi from the East are led by a star to find the child.
c. 4 BC
Herod's Massacre of the Innocents
Upon learning from the Magi that the promised King has been born, Herod, in a fit of rage and fear, orders the execution of all male infants in Bethlehem up to two years old.
4 BC
Death of Herod the Great
Herod the Great dies, a figure whose reign was marked by both impressive accomplishments and brutal tyranny, leaving a kingdom in turmoil.
This passage speaks of Jesus' future kingdom and everlasting reign, which Herod was desperately trying to prevent by seeking to kill the infant king.
Psalm 2:1-4This psalm describes earthly rulers conspiring against God's anointed king, a theme mirrored in Herod's plotting against Jesus, who is indeed God's Son.
Isaiah 9:6-7This prophecy foretells the birth of a prince of peace whose government will be vast and everlasting, the very king Herod feared and sought to destroy.
John 1:10-11This passage highlights Jesus coming to his own people, who did not recognize or receive him, reflecting the rejection Herod embodied by seeking to kill him rather than welcome him.
Jeremiah 31:15This prophecy describes Rachel weeping for her children in Ramah, a sorrowful image directly fulfilled by Herod's brutal decree in Matthew 2:16-18, following his failed attempt to find Jesus.
bensonMatthew 2:7: "Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared."
Matthew 2:7 . Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, &c. — He thought it prudent to keep the matter as close as possible, lest the Jews, understanding the time of the birth of the Messiah, should, from thence, take occasion to rebel: for not having an hereditary right to the kingdom, and having been guilty of many acts of cruelty among them, he had no reason…
barnesMatthew 2:7: "Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared."
Privily - Secretly, privately. He did this to ascertain the time when Jesus was born. Diligently - Accurately, exactly. He took pains to learn the precise time when the star appeared. He did this because he naturally concluded that the star appeared just at the time of his birth, and he wished to know precisely how old the child was.
Herod's cunning is revealed not just in his secrecy, but in his desire for "exact information" about when the star first appeared. He wasn't just curious; he was calculating, trying to pinpoint the child's age to ensure his murderous plan wouldn't miss the target.
After learning from the Jewish leaders that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, Herod, the paranoid king, secretly summons the wise men. He wants to pinpoint the exact time the star appeared, believing this will reveal the child's age so he can plan his murderous decree.
After learning from the Jewish leaders that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, Herod, the paranoid king, secretly summons the wise men. He wants to pinpoint the exact time the star appeared, believing this will reveal the child's age so he can plan his murderous decree.
"Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared." — Herod's cunning is revealed not just in his secrecy, but in his desire for "exact information" about when the star first appeared. He wasn't just curious; he was calculating, trying to pinpoint the…
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Last reviewed October 2026