Matthew 2:17

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Ieremie the Prophet, saying, Matthew 2:17 (KJV)

The citation in Matthew 2:17 points to a prophecy attributed to the prophet Jeremiah. The Old Testament source for this reference is Jeremiah 31:15, which reads, “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” Matthew uses this prophetic utterance to frame the tragic events that follow the birth of Jesus.

Matthew 2:18 continues the narrative with the wording, “In Ramah there was a lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be comforted because they are no more.” This verse records the aftermath of King Herod’s decree, after he learned from the wise men that a new king had been born in Bethlehem. Herod ordered the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and younger, an act that produced the very mourning described in Jeremiah.

The image of “Rachel weeping for her children” serves as a symbolic representation of Israel’s collective grief over the loss of its children. Rachel, the matriarch of the nation, embodies the nation’s sorrow, and her lament underscores the depth of the tragedy that the infant Messiah’s arrival precipitated.

By inserting this Old Testament quotation, Matthew demonstrates how the birth of Jesus fulfills prophetic expectation while simultaneously ushering in opposition and suffering. The passage highlights that the Messiah’s arrival was not only a moment of divine fulfillment but also a catalyst for profound conflict and loss.

In conclusion, Matthew 2:17‑18 directly quotes Jeremiah 31:15 to emphasize the fulfillment of prophecy through the events surrounding Jesus’ birth and to introduce the tragic opposition that would accompany His earthly ministry, underscoring the pivotal and costly nature of the incarnation.