Tag Archives: Oriental scientists and magicians

“Wise Men” From the East

Matthew 2:1-12.

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 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.”

Who were these “Wise Men from the East”? The Greek word here is from magos, defined as “an Oriental scientist; by implication, a magician: – sorcerer, wise man. [1]

In historical context of the times, however, they were not “Oriental scientists,” nor magicians, but rather the ‘sages’ from the Jewish colony in Babylon, about 500 miles east of Jerusalem. There was still a strong colony of Jews in Babylon dating from the captivity when Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem and Judea in 605 BC. Although, after seventy years, a remnant of them had returned to Palestine, the majority of them remained in Babylon and prospered as international merchants, even in the successive empires that ruled this area.

‘Sages’ Were Wise Men

These were not astrologers, enchanters, practicing astrology, magic and witchcraft as did the Babylonian magos. Certainly not. These were astronomers, having the wisdom of the movements of the heavenly bodies for the purpose of telling time and location. When God created the lights of the heavens, Genesis 1:14-15, they were for the purpose of giving light upon the earth, to divide the day from the night and for signs of seasons, and for days, and for years. God gave the knowledge of these movements to Adam and they were passed down through the generations to the priestly class. This was astronomy, the farthest thing from astrology.

In Babylon, the Jews considered their ‘sages’ to be ‘wise men,’ but not astrologers. These ‘sages’ were the Biblical scholars, or intelligentsia, of their colony. They knew the priestly lore of the time-telling heavens, for determining the times by reference to the stars was one of the duties of the Hebrew priesthood. By reference to the stars, they were to announce the Sabbaths, New Moons, (months), the times for the feasts, and the Sabbatical and Jubilee years. They would then have been able to determine which astronomical events would mark the time foretold for the birth of the Messiah. Thus, they would have recognized the “star” that announced this event. They were expecting it.

These particular ‘wise men’ probably were sincere in their desire to worship the new-born Messiah, Matthew 2:2, 11. They were truly guided by their knowledge of the Scriptures and of the stars and had the spiritual insight to hear and obey the warning of God, (vs. 12). They were, therefore, among the first Jewish converts to Christianity and bore a powerful witness to the deity of Jesus Christ. The very heavens had  declared it unto them, (Psalm 19:1-4). When they returned to Babylon, they would have announced the “Good News” that the Messiah had indeed been born in Bethlehem of Judea, as foretold by the Prophets, and announced by the time-telling heavens.

This scenario would have been much more in keeping with the Biblical record than to think that these ‘wise men’ were “Oriental scientists or magicians”. These men were aware of the message from the stars that the time had come and their Messiah had been born. Matthew 2:10: “And when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”

[1] Strong’s #3097.