It is common in Christmastime Nativity scenes to include camels and richly dressed figurines, which represents the wise men who came to worship the newborn Christ child. But who were the wise men of the Bible? This visit of these wise foreigners, sometimes referred to as “three kings,” to see Baby Jesus is recorded at the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. The wise men and their famous appearance have become part of the traditional Christmas story.
Who Were the Wise Men In the Bible? — The Account of Matthew
Matthew’s Gospel is the only one of the four Gospels that record the account of the wise men to see the Son of God. Not long after the birth of Jesus Christ and during the time of King Herod (before 4 B.C.), a group of rich and intelligent foreigners appeared in Bethlehem of Judea and asked the ruling king about the birth of another king, a “king of the Jews,” someone who was unknown to King Herod. Obviously, this news was very disturbing to Herod. There could be but one king, and Herod was not about to allow himself to be usurped!
In trying to figure out where this special Baby was living, Herod searched for information concerning Him from the religious leaders, the Jewish teachers of the law and chief priests. They searched the Old Testament Scriptures and found the prophecy that God’s Son would be born in Bethlehem, according to the Hebrew Scriptures in the Book of Micah, who wrote, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” – Micah 5:2 (KJV)
Herod then directed the wise men to Bethlehem, telling them both to find the Baby Jesus and then report back to him. He wanted to do away with this newborn King of the Jews but covered his murderous intent with the excuse that he wanted to worship Him also. After the wise men left Herod, they once again followed the star that led them directly to the exact place where Jesus was. When they found the Baby Jesus and His mother Mary, they worshipped the Child and gave Him precious gifts that included gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
God then spoke to these men in a dream and warned them not to return to Herod, so they went back to their country using an alternative route.
Here is the Biblical text as Matthew told it:
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 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.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.” Matthew 2:1-12 (KJV)
Who Were the Wise Men In the Bible? — Christian Tradition
It is a common misconception that the wise men visited Joseph and Mary on the day of Jesus’ birth. When Jesus was born in a stable, it was shepherds, not wise men, who came to see Him. The exact time of the visit of the wise men is not known. However, by the time they arrived, Jesus, Mary and Joseph were living in a house, according to Matthew 2:11, not the stable. Since Herod was looking for the newborn King in Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary obviously had not yet returned to their home in Nazareth. Matthew describes the baby Jesus as “the young child” (Matthew 2:11), since Jesus was less than 2 years old at this time.
We know Jesus’ approximate age because when King Herod realized the wise men where not going to report back to him as he requested, he was still going to do his best to kill this “king of the Jews.” So, in an effort of eliminate Him, he killed all of the children who were 2 years old and younger. Therefore, Jesus was younger than 2 years old when the wise men visited Him. This is how Matthew recorded this horrible infanticide:
“Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.” Matthew 2:16 (KJV)
Tradition, not Bible fact, says there were three individuals, however, the actual number of wise men is unknown. The traditional “three” is based on the fact of their three gifts — gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Since the Bible uses the plural “wise men,” at the minimum there had to be at least two, perhaps several more. For these individuals to travel on such a long journey, three individuals most likely did not travel alone, but within the safety of a caravan. This group of “wise men” may have consisted of both kings and their counselors, and perhaps they were even accompanied by some of their family members.
Who Were the Wise Men In the Bible? — Their Nationality
The wise men’s nationality, or nationalities, is somewhat of a mystery, too, since the only clue from the Bible is that they came “from the east.” There are many different countries and kingdoms east of Israel, but many Bible scholars suppose that these individuals may have been kings who came from the area of Babylon, or perhaps from the then-Parthian Empire in what is now Iran. This is why tradition also calls these individuals “Magi.”
The word “magi” is related to the word “magic,” but was also associated with wise men. It may have been that the occupation of the wise men was just that, advisors to a king. The visit of the magi may have included the counselors of an eastern king, and not the king himself. Or the king that the wise men served may have accompanied his wise men to see and honor the King of Kings. Another idea put forth by some scholars is that these men were astronomers.
It is only in the Gospel of Matthew that these men are mentioned. The Book of Matthew was written expressly to the Jewish people. The fact that a Jewish man, Matthew, recorded this visit to the infant Jesus by non-Jewish people is extremely significant. This visit is a fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah 60:3 “And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” (KJV)
This visit from non-Jewish wise men to “the king of the Jews” was a prophecy foreshadowing the mercy of God reaching beyond the Jewish people to all of the nations of the world.
Who Were the Wise Men In the Bible? — Their Gifts
The actual gifts the wise men gave to Jesus is significant. There may have been many different gifts that these wise and rich individuals brought, but only three are recorded in the Bible. The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were not only gifts, but these three are recorded because they had prophetic significance.
Gold
Gold is the most precious metal known to man. The child Jesus was the King of the Jews. As King, He deserved to have gold.
Frankincense
Frankincense is an aromatic resin and was used as a part of worshiping God long before Christ’s birth. It was appropriate that this precious incense would be offered directly to God in the flesh.
Myrrh
Myrrh is also a resin that was also used as a medicine. Myrrh is associated with suffering and death. The fact that this healthy and divine Baby was given medicine prophetically showed His future suffering and death. Jesus was offered myrrh while He was on the cross as a pain reducer, as recorded in the Gospel of Mark. “And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.” Mark 15:23 (KJV)
After Jesus’ body died, and before He was buried, His body was embalmed using myrrh. “And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.” John 19:39 (KJV)
Who Were the Wise Men In the Bible? — The Star
The Biblical account says that they saw “his star,” and that these wise men knew exactly what this particular astronomical sign in the heavens represented. While not recorded, the angel Gabriel could have appeared to the wise men telling them about this wonderful birth. The star they followed could have been an actual star God created just for the purpose of guiding these wise men to His Son, or “his star” could have been an angel, either Gabriel or another angel of the Lord.
Who Were the Wise Men In the Bible? — Conclusion
Since there are very few details concerning the Bible story of the wise men, these individuals are shrouded in mystery. But the facts remain that these foreigners, non-Jewish royalty, endured a long journey to both see, worship, and recognize an even greater King than just another Earthly ruler. They must have realized that the infant they were privileged to view was their Creator and Savior. To realize this helpless Baby was their God, Creator, and Savior took faith on their part.
Today, those who are wise still seek Jesus Christ. He is not longer a baby, but a living, resurrected, spiritual, heavenly Person. Just as the ancient Biblical magi needed faith to see beyond a helpless child and worship Him as the King of the Jews, so, too, do those in this present time need faith to honor and worship that same Person.
The faith of these wise men pleased God, just as those who seek His Son today.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
Wise men still truly seek, and find, the Saviour.
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