Wise men (Magi) — Meaning in the Bible
Learned visitors "from the east" who followed a star to find the child Jesus and worship him.
Tradition often says three kings, but Matthew names three gifts, not three people, and does not call them kings.
What it means
Matthew says wise men came from the east to Jerusalem asking for the newborn King of the Jews, because they had seen his star. They found the child with Mary and gave gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:1–2Matthew 2:11
Matthew does not say how many there were, or that they were kings. Matthew 2:1
Key passages
- Matthew 2:1–12 — The visit of the wise men
- Micah 5:2 — The prophecy about Bethlehem quoted to Herod
Original language
μάγος magos
Greek · Strong’s G3097 · gloss: “sage”
The Greek word "magos" was used for learned men of the east who studied the stars and dreams. Matthew 2:1
A Strong’s number is a reference identifier, not a complete definition: what a word means in a passage depends on its context. Lexical data: STEPBible.org, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
How translations differ
- Most English Bibles say "wise men"; some say "Magi", from the Greek word. Matthew 2:1
For children
The wise men were visitors from a faraway land in the east. They followed a star to find Jesus and brought him gifts. Matthew 2:1–2Matthew 2:11