Bible Strands
Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Magi, having followed the star from the east, arrive at a house and see the Child with Mary. This is the climax of their journey, immediately before they are warned in a dream not to return to Herod.
The words — παιδίων (paidion), a diminutive of παις (pais, "child"), renders not "infant" or "baby" but "little child," suggesting a child of some months rather than a newborn.
The thread — The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh echo the tribute of distant kings foretold in Isaiah 60:6 and Psalms 72:10. Luke 2:16 offers a sharp contrast: the shepherds find the same child in a manger, not in a house.
Why it lands — The Magi prostrate themselves before a child, an act that is either worship of a divine person or the height of absurdity. The reader must decide which, and the text offers no hedge.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 60:6 Caravans of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah, and all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
- Psalms 72:10 May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
- Luke 2:16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger.
- Matthew 2:2 asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
- Psalms 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
- Numbers 7:14 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;
- 1 Kings 10:2 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.
- Psalms 72:15 Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him; may they bless him all day long.
- Acts 10:25 As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.
- John 5:22 Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,