OET interlinear MAT 2:7

2:7a

Then: The word Then here implies that Herod’s meeting with the chief priests and scribes (in 2:4–6) had ended. It introduces the next event.

In some languages, it may be natural to add some implied information here. For example:

After the meeting ended then

When Herod heard this, then

Herod called the Magi: The Greek word that the BSB translates as called also means “summoned.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

summoned (ESV)

told to come to him

invited

secretly: The Greek word that the BSB translates as secretly indicates that Herod did not want other people to know about the meeting. Here is another way to translate this:

privately (NJB)

2:7b

learned from them the exact time the star had appeared: The Greek word that the BSB translates as learned refers to gaining clear and exact knowledge about something. Herod asked the wise men about the precise time the star first appeared. He perhaps even asked them the exact date. And they told him. Herod probably assumed that the child was born on the same day that the star first appeared. He then calculated the age of the child from the time they specified.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared (NRSV)

asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared (NJB)

exact time the star had appeared: The Greek word that the BSB translates as appeared can also mean “became visible.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the first time they saw the star

when the star arose

when the star showed itself

This same word occurs in 1:20.