Matthew 2:13-15

Matthew 2:13-15
Narrative Lectionary 104

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13 Now after they had left,A, B an angelC of the LordD

Notes on verse 13a

A “left” = anachoreo. 14x in NT. From ana (up, again, back, among, anew) + choreo (to make space, receive, have room for, progress, depart so as to make room; figuratively, living open-heartedly); {from choros (a particular space or place); from chora (space, land, region, fields, open area); from chasma (gap, gulf, chasm, open space); from chasko (to gape, yawn)}.  This is to withdraw, depart, retire, or leave. It can give a sense of seeking safety from harm or of retiring.
B {untranslated} = idou. From eido (to be aware, see, know, remember, appreciate). This is see! Lo! Behold! Look! Used to express surprise and or draw attention to the statement.
C “angel” = aggelos. Probably from ago (to lead, bring, carry, guide) + agele (flock, herd, drove); {also from ago (see above)}. This is angel or messenger. Properly, it is one sent with news or to perform a specific task. This messenger can be human or an angel from heaven. More commonly, it is used for angels in the New Testament.
D “Lord” = Kurios. From kuros (authority, supremacy). This is a respectful address meaning master or sir. It refers to one who has control or power greater than one’s own. So, it was also applied to God and Jesus as Master or Lord.

appearedE to JosephF in a dreamG and said, “Get up,H takeI

Notes on verse 13b

E “appeared” = phaino. This is to bring light, cause to appear, shine, become visible or clear. This is show in a literal or figurative sense.
F “Joseph” = Ioseph. From Hebrew Yoseph (he increases; Joseph); from yasaph (to add, increase, continue, exceed). This is Joseph, meaning “he increases.”
G “dream” = onar. 6x in NT– 4x of Joseph, father of Jesus, dreaming; 1x of the Wise Men dreaming, and 1x of Pilate’s wife. This is a dream as part of sleep and not a daydream.
H “get up” = egeiro. This is to awake, raise up or lift up. It can be to get up from sitting or lying down, to get up from sleeping, to rise from a disease or from death. Figuratively, it can be rising from inactivity or from ruins.
I “take” = paralambano. From para (beside, by, in the presence of) + lambano (active acceptance/taking of what is available or what has been offered; emphasizes the choice and action of the individual). This is to receive, take, acknowledge, associate with. It can also mean to take on an office or to learn.

the childJ and his mother,K and fleeL to Egypt,M and remainN there until I tell you,

Notes on verse 13c

J “child” = paidion. From pais (child, youth, servant, slave); perhaps from paio (to strike or sting). This is a child as one who is still being educated or trained. Perhaps one seven years old or younger. Used figuratively for an immature Christian.
K “mother” = meter. This is mother in a literal or figurative sense.
L “flee” = pheugo. This is to run away in a literal or figurative sense. It can also be to flee, escape, shun, or vanish.
M “Egypt” = Aiguptos. From Egyptian ḥwt-kꜣ-ptḥ (Egypt; literally “the temple of the ka of Ptah in Memphis, Egypt”); from ḥwt (hut, large structure, palace, temple, estate) + ka (“a spiritual part of the soul in Egyptian mythology, which survived after death”; “something like ‘life-force’; the part of the soul which the living have and the dead do not…goodwill – especially of the king) + ptah (“a god of creativity and craftsmen, sometimes also identified with gods of death and the birth of the sun”; “Ptah, creator god and patron of craftsmen, worshipped at Memphis”). This is Egypt, meaning “the temple of the ka of Ptah.” See https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Egypt
N “remain” = eimi. This is to be, exist.

for HerodO is aboutP to searchQ for the child, to destroyR him.” 

Notes on verse 13d

O “Herod” = Herodes. Perhaps from heros (hero, warrior) + oide (song, ode, legend, tale); {from aoide (song, ode, legend, tale); {from aeido (to sing) + e (this is added to verbs to make them nouns)}} OR from hera (Hera) + oide (same as above). This is Herod, perhaps “hero’s song,” “Hera’s song,” or “heroic.” See https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Herod
P “about” = mello. Perhaps from melo (something that one is worried or concerned about, something one pays attention to or thinks about). Properly, this is ready, about to happen, to intend, delay, or linger. This is just on the point of acting.
Q “search” = zeteo. This is to seek, search for, desire. It is searching for something by inquiring or investigation. It can be seek in a literal or figurative sense. There is a Hebrew figure of speech “to seek God’s face” so it can also mean to worship God. Alternately, you could seek someone’s life i.e. plot to kill them.
R “destroy” = apollumi. From apo (from, away from) + ollumi (to destroy or ruin; the loss that comes from a major ruination). This is to destroy, cut off, to perish – perhaps violently. It can also mean to cancel or remove.

14 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night,S and wentT to Egypt 15 and remained there until the deathU of Herod.

Notes on verses 14-15a

S “night” = nux. This is night in a literal or figurative sense.
T “went” = anachoreo. Same as “left” in v13. See note A above.
U “death” = teleute. 1x in NT. From teleutao (to complete or come to the end/end goal; to finish life or to meet one’s ultimate fate in heaven or hell); from teleute (end, finishing, consummation; can also be used for death); from teleo (to complete, fulfill, accomplish, end); from telos (an end, aim, purpose, completion, end goal, consummation, tax; going through the steps to complete a stage or phase and then moving on to the next one).. This is finishing or consummation. Figuratively, it refers to the end, which is to say death.

This was to fulfillV what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet,W “Out of Egypt I have calledX my son.”Y

Notes on verse 15b

V “fulfill” = pleroo. From pleres (to be full, complete, abounding in, occupied with). This is to fill, make full or complete. Properly, this is filling something up to the maximum extent that it can be filled – an appropriate amount for its individual capacity. So, this is used figuratively for furnish, influence, satisfy, finish, preach, perfect, and fulfill.
W “prophet” = prophetes. Related to “appeared” in v13. From pro (before, in front of, earlier than) + phemi (to declare, say, use contrasts in speaking to shed light on one point of view); {from phao (to shine) or phaino (see note E above)}. This is a prophet or poet – one who speaks with inspiration from God.
X “called” = kaleo. Related to keleuo (to command, order, direct); from kelomai (to urge on). This is to call by name, invite, to name, bid, summon, call aloud.
Y “son” = huios. This is son, descendant – a son whether natural born or adopted. It can be used figuratively for other forms of kinship.


Image credit: “Flight into Egypt” by Gabriel Chabrat, from 1986-1989.

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