Matthew 2:8
New International Version
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

New Living Translation
Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

English Standard Version
And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

Berean Standard Bible
And sending them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go and search carefully for the Child, and when you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.”

Berean Literal Bible
And having sent them to Bethlehem, he said, "Having gone, search carefully for the Child; and when You shall have found Him, bring word back to me, so that I also having come, may worship Him."

King James Bible
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

New King James Version
And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

New American Standard Bible
And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”

NASB 1995
And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”

NASB 1977
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, that I too may come and worship Him.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”

Amplified Bible
Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”

Christian Standard Bible
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find Him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship Him.”

American Standard Version
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him.

Contemporary English Version
He told them, "Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, let me know. I also want to go and worship him."

English Revised Version
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out carefully concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As he sent them to Bethlehem, he said, "Go and search carefully for the child. When you have found him, report to me so that I may go and worship him too."

Good News Translation
Then he sent them to Bethlehem with these instructions: "Go and make a careful search for the child; and when you find him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship him."

International Standard Version
and sent them to Bethlehem. He told them, "As you go, search carefully for the child. When you find him, tell me so that I, too, may go and worship him."

Majority Standard Bible
And sending them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go and search carefully for the Child, and when you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.”

NET Bible
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well."

New Heart English Bible
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child, and when you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him."

Webster's Bible Translation
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go, and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Weymouth New Testament
He then directed them to go to Bethlehem, adding, "Go and make careful inquiry about the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and do him homage."

World English Bible
He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and having sent them to Beth-Lehem, he said, “Having gone—inquire exactly for the Child, and whenever you may have found, bring me back word, that I also having come may worship Him.”

Berean Literal Bible
And having sent them to Bethlehem, he said, "Having gone, search carefully for the Child; and when You shall have found Him, bring word back to me, so that I also having come, may worship Him."

Young's Literal Translation
and having sent them to Beth-Lehem, he said, 'Having gone -- inquire ye exactly for the child, and whenever ye may have found, bring me back word, that I also having come may bow to him.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And having sent them to Bethlehem, he said, Having gone, examine thoroughly concerning the child; and when ye should find, announce ye to me, so that I also, having gone, will worship him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go and diligently inquire after the child, and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I also may come to adore him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And sending them into Bethlehem, he said: “Go and diligently ask questions about the boy. And when you have found him, report back to me, so that I, too, may come and adore him.”

New American Bible
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said to them, Go and enquire very carefully concerning the boy, and when you have found him, come back and let me know, so that I also may go and worship him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he sent them to Bethlehem and said to them, “Go inquire about The Boy very carefully and when you find him, come show me, so that I also may go worship him.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and sending them to Bethlehem, he said: Go, make strict inquiry for the young child: and when you have found him, bring me word, that I also may go and do him homage.

Godbey New Testament
and sending them to Bethlehem he said; Having gone search diligently for the young child; and when you may find Him, notify me, in order that I, having gone, may worship Him also.

Haweis New Testament
and sending them to Bethlehem said, Go, and procure the most exact information respecting this child; and when you have found him, bring me intelligence, that I may come, and pay him homage also.

Mace New Testament
and he sent them to Bethlehem, go, said he, make an exact enquiry about the young child, and when ye have found him, let me know it, that I too may come and pay my adorations to him.

Weymouth New Testament
He then directed them to go to Bethlehem, adding, "Go and make careful inquiry about the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and do him homage."

Worrell New Testament
and, sending them to Bethlehem, he said, "Having gone, inquire ye exactly concerning the Child; and, when ye find Him, bring me word, that I, too, having come, may worship Him."

Worsley New Testament
and sending them to Bethlehem, he said, Go and make diligent search for the child, and when ye have found Him, let me know, that I also may come and worship Him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Pilgrimage of the Magi
7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8And sending them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go and search carefully for the Child, and when you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.” 9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the Child was.…

Cross References
Matthew 2:12
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.

Matthew 2:16
When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.

Luke 2:15
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

Luke 2:7
And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.

Jeremiah 31:15
This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Hosea 11:1
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

Numbers 24:17
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.

Isaiah 60:3
Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Psalm 72:10-11
May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. / May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

1 Kings 10:1-2
Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions. / She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind.

Genesis 49:10
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.

John 7:42
Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”

Acts 7:9-10
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him / and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.

Revelation 12:4
His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky, hurling them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, ready to devour her child as soon as she gave birth.


Treasury of Scripture

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

go.

1 Samuel 23:22,23
Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly…

2 Samuel 17:14
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

1 Kings 19:2
Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

that.

Matthew 26:48,49
Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast…

2 Samuel 15:7-12
And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron…

2 Kings 10:18,19
And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much…

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Matthew 2
1. The wise men from the east enquire after Jesus;
3. at which Herod is alarmed.
9. They are directed by a star to Bethlehem, worship him, and offer their presents.
13. Joseph flees into Egypt with Jesus and his mother.
16. Herod slays the children;
20. himself dies.
23. Jesus is brought back again into Galilee to Nazareth.














And sending them to Bethlehem
The phrase "And sending them to Bethlehem" indicates King Herod's directive to the Magi. Bethlehem, a small town in Judea, holds significant historical and prophetic importance. It is the prophesied birthplace of the Messiah, as foretold in Micah 5:2. The Greek word for "sending" (πέμπω, pempō) implies a deliberate action, reflecting Herod's cunning plan. Historically, Bethlehem is known as the City of David, linking Jesus to the Davidic line, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah's lineage.

he said
The phrase "he said" introduces Herod's deceitful instructions. The Greek word for "said" (εἶπεν, eipen) is often used in the New Testament to denote authoritative speech. Herod's words are laced with duplicity, as his true intention is not to worship but to eliminate a perceived threat to his throne. This highlights the theme of opposition to God's plan, a recurring motif in Scripture.

Go and search carefully for the Child
"Go and search carefully for the Child" reflects Herod's manipulative strategy. The Greek word for "search carefully" (ἀκριβῶς, akribōs) suggests a thorough and diligent investigation. Herod's feigned interest in worshiping the Child masks his sinister motives. The term "Child" (παιδίον, paidion) emphasizes Jesus' vulnerability and innocence, contrasting with Herod's malevolence. This phrase underscores the spiritual battle between good and evil, a central theme in the Gospel narrative.

When you find Him
"When you find Him" implies an expectation of success in the Magi's quest. The Greek word for "find" (εὑρίσκω, heuriskō) suggests discovery or revelation. This reflects the divine guidance the Magi receive, leading them to the Christ Child. The phrase also foreshadows the revelation of Jesus as the Savior to the Gentiles, represented by the Magi, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his seed.

report to me
"Report to me" reveals Herod's desire for control and information. The Greek word for "report" (ἀπαγγέλλω, apangellō) means to announce or declare. Herod's request is a facade, as he seeks to use the Magi as unwitting agents in his plot. This phrase highlights the theme of falsehood versus truth, a dichotomy present throughout the Gospel.

so that I too may go and worship Him
"So that I too may go and worship Him" is the climax of Herod's deceit. The Greek word for "worship" (προσκυνέω, proskuneō) denotes reverence and adoration, often used in the context of divine worship. Herod's insincere claim contrasts with the genuine worship of the Magi. This phrase serves as a reminder of the true purpose of Jesus' coming: to be worshiped as King and Savior. It challenges believers to discern true worship from false pretenses and to remain steadfast in their faith amidst opposition.

(8) Bethlehem was but a short six miles from Jerusalem. "Diligently," better, as before, exactly. So far as the mission became known, it would impress the people with the belief that he too shared their hopes, and was ready to pay his homage to the new-born King.

Verse 8. - And he sent them to Bethlehem. Thus answering their question (ver. 2). And said, Go and search diligently for the young Child; and search out carefully concerning, Revised Version; ἐξετάσατε ἀκριβῶς περί. Herod bade them make precise inquiry as to all particulars about the Child. The more details he could obtain, the more easily he could make away with him. And when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also; the Revised Version rightly joins, I also - I as well as you; I the king. It might well be at a secret conference with the Magi that Herod said this, for no Jew would have believed him. Worship; ver. 2, note.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

sending
πέμψας (pempsas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3992: To send, transmit, permit to go, put forth.

them
αὐτοὺς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

Bethlehem,
Βηθλέεμ (Bēthleem)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 965: Bethlehem, a town of Judea. Of Hebrew origin; Bethleem, a place in Palestine.

he said:
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Go,
Πορευθέντες (Poreuthentes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4198: To travel, journey, go, die.

search
ἐξετάσατε (exetasate)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1833: To examine, question, inquire at, search out. From ek and etazo; to test thoroughly, i.e. Ascertain or interrogate.

carefully
ἀκριβῶς (akribōs)
Adverb
Strong's 199: Carefully, exactly, strictly, distinctly. Adverb from the same as akribestatos; exactly.

for
περὶ (peri)
Preposition
Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Child,
παιδίου (paidiou)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3813: Neuter diminutive of pais; a childling, i.e., an infant, or a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature Christian.

and
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

when
ἐπὰν (epan)
Conjunction
Strong's 1875: After, when, as soon as. From epi and an; a particle of indefinite contemporaneousness; whenever, as soon as.

you find [Him],
εὕρητε (heurēte)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2147: A prolonged form of a primary heuro, which heureo is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find.

report
ἀπαγγείλατέ (apangeilate)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 518: To report (from one place to another), bring a report, announce, declare. From apo and the base of aggelos; to announce.

to me,
μοι (moi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

so that
ὅπως (hopōs)
Conjunction
Strong's 3704: From hos and pos; what(-ever) how, i.e. In the manner that (as adverb or conjunction of coincidence, intentional or actual).

I too
κἀγὼ (kagō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2504: To also, I too, but I. From kai and ego; so also the dative case kamoi, and accusative case kame and I, me.

may go
ἐλθὼν (elthōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

[and] worship
προσκυνήσω (proskynēsō)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 4352: From pros and a probable derivative of kuon; to fawn or crouch to, i.e. prostrate oneself in homage.

Him.”
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 2:8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said (Matt. Mat Mt)
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