Star in the East* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Star that guided the magi to the infant Jesus (Mt 2:2, 7-10 OET MAT 2:2 · OET MAT 2:7–10). The magi were residents of some Eastern land (possibly Parthia, Babylon, or Arabia) who came to Herod. They explained that they had seen the star of the King of the Jews in their homeland. Herod and the Jewish scribes directed the men to Bethlehem, but the star guided them to the place of Jesus’ birth.

Show passage in OET: MAT 2:2; MAT 2:7–10

OET-RV MAT 2:2

2 and asked, “Where’s the one born as king of the Yehudim (Jews)? We saw his star in the east and we came to worship him.”

OET-RV MAT 2:7

7 Then Herodes (Herod) sent for the watchers of signs and met secretly with them to determine when the star had first appeared.

OET-RV MAT 2:8

8 Then he sent them on to Beyt-Lehem with these instructions: “Go on and carefully investigate about the child, and when you find him, report back to me so that I can also come and worship him.”

OET-RV MAT 2:9

9 So when the king had finished speaking, they departed, and the star which they could see in the east went ahead of them and stopped above the place where the child was.

OET-RV MAT 2:10

10 Seeing that, the watchers of signs were very happy indeed.

OET-LV MAT 2:2

2 saying:
Where is the one, having _been _born king of _the Youdaiōns?
For/Because we _saw the star of _him in the east and we _came to _prostrate before _him.

OET-LV MAT 2:7

7 Then Haʸrōdaʸs having_ secretly _called the wise _men, ascertained from them the time of _the appearing star.

OET-LV MAT 2:8

8 And having _sent them to Baʸthleʼem he _said:
Having _been _gone, search _out exactly for the little _child, and when you _all _may _find him, report to _me so _that also _I, having _come, may _prostrate before _him.

OET-LV MAT 2:9

9 And which having _heard from _the king, they _were _gone, and see, the star, which they _saw in the east, was _going _before them until having _come, it _was _stood over where the little _child was.

OET-LV MAT 2:10

10 And having _seen the star, they _were_ exceedingly _elated with_ great _joy.

Jump to OET MAT 2:2 section. · OET MAT 2:7–10 section.

Numerous theories have been advanced to explain this phenomenon. In the 17th century Johannes Kepler suggested that the explosion of a distant star (supernova) would emit extraordinary light. While many such explosions are recorded each year (few visible to the naked eye), none are known from the time of Christ. The ancients were fascinated with comets. Halley’s comet was first sighted and recorded in 240 BC and, if calculated at 77-year intervals, would have appeared in Judea in 12–11 BC. This, however, significantly antedates Jesus’ birth; moreover, comets were usually associated with catastrophes in the ancient world. That the ancients practiced astrology, plotting the constellations and the course of the planets, is well known. Rare planetary conjunctions were studied and interpreted. For instance, in 7 BC Jupiter and Saturn came together in the zodiac constellation of Pisces (this occurs every 257 years). According to this view, Jupiter was associated with the world ruler, Saturn with the region of Syria-Palestine, and Pisces with the last days.

First-century readers—Jewish or Greek—would not have been surprised to read about a new star presaging the birth of Jesus. In Matthew 2:2 “in the east” might mean “at its rising.” In other words, the wise men had witnessed a new star and interpreted it as hallmarking some new event. In Greco-Roman society, the heavens often foretold or explained historical events (e.g., the founding of Rome, the birth of Augustus, etc.). Judaism likewise emphasized stars: Josephus recorded astral phenomena during the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. Moreover, rabbis were enthralled with the imagery of the Balaam story in Numbers 24:17 (see esp. Nm 24:17, LXX) and symbolized their messianic expectations in a star. This was also common at Qumran (CD 7:19 f.; 1QM 11:6; cf. T. Levi 18:3; Rv 22:16). Similarly, coins struck after the onset of the revolt of Simon Bar-Kochba (“son of a star”) bore a star.