Bible Strands
Matthew 2:17
Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Matthew records this statement immediately after Herod orders the execution of boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity. The evangelist uses the formula to link the recent massacre to an established prophetic utterance.
The words — ἐπληρώθη (eplērōthē) translates literally as "was fulfilled," and ῥηθὲν (rhēthen) means "having been spoken." These terms construct a passive divine action where prior speech directly governs subsequent historical events.
The thread — The quoted lament originates in Jeremiah 31:15, where Rachel mourns children taken into exile. Matthew explicitly extends this reference in verse 18 to complete the fulfillment citation.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to interpret present violence through the lens of recorded prophecy rather than isolated historical accident. It demands acceptance that Scripture provides the structural framework for understanding current events.
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
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,