• Matthew 2:18
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 18 Φωνὴ Voice ἐν in Ῥαμὰ Ramah ἠκούσθη, was heard, κλαυθμὸς weeping καὶ and ὀδυρμὸς wailing πολύς· much; Ῥαχὴλ Rachel κλαίουσα weeping for τὰ the τέκνα children αὐτῆς, of her, καὶ and οὐκ not ἤθελεν was willing παρακληθῆναι to be comforted ὅτι because οὐκ not εἰσίν. they are.

  • Matthew 2:18
    King James Version

    • 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

  • Matthew Study Notes—Chapter 2
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 2:18

      Ramah: A city in the territory of Benjamin, N of Jerusalem. It appears that when Jerusalem was destroyed in 607 B.C.E., the Jews taken captive were assembled at Ramah before being moved to Babylon. Some scholars have concluded that such an assembling of Jews (perhaps accompanied by the slaughtering of some there) was referred to at Jer 31:15, quoted here.

      Rachel: Mentioned as a symbol of all mothers in Israel. In Jeremiah’s prophecy, Rachel, whose tomb was near Bethlehem, figuratively weeps over her sons taken into exile to the land of the enemy. Jeremiah’s prophecy also contains the comforting promise of a return from enemy territory. (Jer 31:16) Matthew’s inspired application of this prophecy has been understood to refer to a return from death, man’s enemy, by means of a resurrection.