KJV: Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
YLT: Then Herod, privately having called the mages, did inquire exactly from them the time of the appearing star,
Darby: Then Herod, having secretly called the magi, inquired of them accurately the time of the star that was appearing;
ASV: Then Herod privily called the Wise-men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared.
| Ἡρῴδης | Herod |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: Ἡρῴδης Sense: the name of a royal family that flourished among the Jews in the times of Christ and the Apostles. |
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| λάθρᾳ | secretly |
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Parse: Adverb Root: λάθρᾳ Sense: secretly. |
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| καλέσας | having called |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: καλέω Sense: to call. |
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| μάγους | Magi |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: μάγος Sense: a magus. |
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| ἠκρίβωσεν | inquired exactly |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἀκριβόω Sense: to know accurately, to do exactly. |
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| χρόνον | time |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: χρόνος Sense: time either long or short. |
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| τοῦ | of the |
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Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| φαινομένου | appearing |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: φαίνω Sense: to bring forth into the light, cause to shine, shed light. |
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| ἀστέρος | star |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: ἀστήρ Sense: a star. |
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Greek Commentary for Matthew 2:7
He had manifestly not told members of the Sanhedrin why he was concerned about the Messiah. So he conceals his motives to the Magi. And yet he “learned of them carefully” (εκριβωσεν ekribōsen), “learned exactly” or “accurately.” He was anxious to see if the Jewish prophecy of the birthplace of the Messiah agreed with the indications of the star to the Magi. He kept to himself his purpose. The time of the appearing star (τον χρονον του παινομενου αστερος ton chronon tou phainomenou asteros) is not “the time when the star appeared,” but the age of the star‘s appearance. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 2:7
Matthew is very fond of this temporal adverb See note on Matthew 2:7; note on Matthew 3:13; note on Matthew 4:1. Note historic present with vivid picturesqueness. Luke puts this temptation third, the geographical order. But was the person of Christ allowed to be at the disposal of the devil during these temptations? Alford so holds. [source]
Rather, accurately; so far as his knowledge went. The limitation is given by the words following: knowing only the baptism of John. See on Luke 1:3; and compare the kindred verb, inquired diligently, Matthew 2:7, where Rev. renders learned carefully. [source]
That the man was an impostor is told us in the next word, but not in this term. It is the word used of the wise men who came to the Saviour's cradle. See Matthew 2:1, Matthew 2:7, Matthew 2:16. Elymas was a magian; of what kind is shown by false prophet. See on Matthew 2:1. [source]
A beautiful illustration of Paul‘s point. Αστερος Asteros is the ablative case after διαπερει diapherei (old verb διαπερω diapherō Latin differo, our differ, bear apart). On αστηρ astēr see Matthew 2:7 and on αστρον astron see Luke 21:25. Stars differ in magnitude and brilliancy. The telescope has added more force to Paul‘s argument. [source]