Event New Testament
The flight to Egypt
Also known as Escape from Herod, Massacre of the innocents
Warned in a dream, Joseph took the child and His mother to Egypt by night. Herod, enraged at the magi, had every boy in Bethlehem two years old and under killed. After Herod's death Joseph brought the family back to the land of Israel and settled in Nazareth in Galilee.
Why it matters. Matthew frames the journey with three prophetic texts, so that the Son retraces Israel's own path out of Egypt and the grief of Rachel is answered. The child who escaped the sword will one day not escape it.
- Primary passages
- Witnesses
Chronology confidence: medium
Matthew alone records the flight, Herod's killing of the boys in Bethlehem, and the return to Nazareth. Luke does not mention Egypt; see the presentation event for the harmonization question.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
Connections
The visit of the magi precedes The flight to Egypt
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe angel's warning to Joseph comes after the magi have gone.
Evidence:The flight to Egypt precedes The boy Jesus in the temple
Historical inferenceHigh confidenceThe temple visit takes place when Jesus is twelve, after the family has settled in Nazareth.
Evidence:Herod the Great participates in The flight to Egypt
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceHerod's search for the child causes the flight, and his death ends it.
Evidence:Jesus participates in The flight to Egypt
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe child is carried to Egypt and brought back to the land of Israel.
Evidence:Joseph of Nazareth participates in The flight to Egypt
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceJoseph receives the warnings in dreams and leads the family to Egypt and back.
Evidence:Mary, mother of Jesus participates in The flight to Egypt
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceJoseph takes the child and His mother to Egypt.
Evidence:The flight to Egypt occurs at Egypt
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe family stays in Egypt until Herod's death.
Evidence:The flight to Egypt develops the theme Promise and fulfillment
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceMatthew frames the flight, the killing of the boys, and the settlement in Nazareth with three fulfillment formulas.
The flight to Egypt explicitly fulfills Hosea 11:1
Explicit fulfillmentHigh confidenceMatthew uses his fulfillment formula for the return from Egypt.
Evidence: