Bible Strands
Matthew 2:4
And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Herod summons the chief priests and scribes of the people immediately after hearing reports of a newborn king and feeling disturbed (Matthew 2:3). He asks this assembled group where the Christ is prophesied to be born.
The words — συναγαγὼν (sunagagōn) carries the literal sense of "having gathered together" and marks the completed action of convening the leaders. γραμματεῖς (grammateis) identifies the scribes, the trained recorders and interpreters of the Law, who are called alongside the chief priests.
The thread — The immediate context shows this gathering directly precedes the leaders' scriptural confirmation in Matthew 2:5. The text positions this consultation as the necessary step before any political or military response is formulated.
Why it lands — The verse records a ruler seeking official religious verification for a prophesied location before acting. It asks the reader to note how political authority initially depends on established textual experts to resolve uncertainty.
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 he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
Cross-references
- Acts 23:9 A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
- Jeremiah 8:8 How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the Law of the LORD is with us,’ when in fact the lying pen of the scribes has produced a deception?
- Matthew 7:29 because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
- Matthew 21:23 When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”
- Acts 6:12 So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,
- Psalms 2:2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:
- Luke 20:19 When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people.
- Luke 23:10 Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes stood there, vehemently accusing Him.
- John 3:10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and you do not understand these things?
- John 7:32 When the Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Jesus, they and the chief priests sent officers to arrest Him.