Matthew 2:15

Matthew 2:15, in plain English

Jesus stayed in Egypt until Herod died. Matthew sees this as fulfilling an old prophecy: 'Out of Egypt I called My Son.' Jesus was living out Israel's story in miniature.

Why it's here

Just as God brought His people out of Egypt long ago, He would bring His Son out of Egypt too. History was repeating itself, on purpose.

Who's speaking

Matthew connects Jesus's return from Egypt to the prophet Hosea.

Where it sits in the story

Jesus walks the same path Israel walked, but He gets it right. He's the faithful Son that Israel was always meant to be.

The scholarly reading

Matthew cites Hosea 11:1, which originally described Israel's Exodus from Egypt. By applying this to Jesus, Matthew employs typological interpretation: Jesus recapitulates Israel's national experience, becoming the true 'Son' who succeeds where Israel failed.

Language and setting

Hosea 11:1 was not a predictive prophecy but a historical reference. Matthew's use represents typological fulfillment: Jesus relives and redeems Israel's story.

Voice

Matthew, providing his fulfillment commentary quoting Hosea.

Significance

Jesus's sojourn in Egypt and return mirrors the Exodus, establishing Him as the new Moses and the true Israel.

13When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”

14So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt,

15where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

16When 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.

17Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

Read all of Matthew 2 — Foreign stargazers arrive bearing gifts while a jealous king plots murder. From the start, following Jesus means danger.