--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: These Magi were wealthy and…" description: "\"“These Magi were wealthy and well-educated. They likely came from Persia, but they had been ordered by King Herod to discover the location of Christ, p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/charles-river-editors-1165_two-years_these-magi-were-wealthy-and-well-educate_1734664.jpg" --- # These Magi were wealthy and well-educated. They likely… ![“These Magi were wealthy and well-educated. They likely came from Persia, but they had been ordered by King Herod to discover the location of Christ, purportedly so that Herod could pay homage to the child, but in all likelihood to murder the newborn threat to his power. Word quickly reached King…” quote by Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/charles-river-editors-1165_two-years_these-magi-were-wealthy-and-well-educate_1734664.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/charles-river-editors-1165_two-years_these-magi-were-wealthy-and-well-educate_1734664.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/charles-river-editors-1165_two-years_these-magi-were-wealthy-and-well-educate_1734664.jpg) > ““These Magi were wealthy and well-educated. They likely came from Persia, but they had been ordered by King Herod to discover the location of Christ, purportedly so that Herod could pay homage to the child, but in all likelihood to murder the newborn threat to his power. Word quickly reached King Herod of the arrival of a new-born “King of the Jews,” and as he was understandably unwilling to allow any threat to his own authority, Herod was determined to do away with this child. He sent soldiers to kill all of the boys that were up to two years old in and around Bethlehem – an event known as the “Massacre of the Innocents”” [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes the political motive behind Herod’s massacre, framing the Magi’s quest as a threat to power. **In simple terms:** Herod feared a new king and ordered a massacre. Key Takeaway Beware how fear of change can justify violence. Themes power fear politics Mood cautionary analytical Type historical theological When to use this quote - religious studies - political science - ethical debates Key Concepts historical analysis mythic narrative Questions to Reflect On - How do power and fear shape historical narratives? - What lessons can modern leaders learn from this? A Different Perspective The account mixes myth with history, limiting factual certainty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Herod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/herod/) ## Related quotes > [Ray Jennings was to orthodoxy what King Herod was to child-minding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/ray-jennings-was-to-orthodoxy-what-king-herod-was-to-child-minding/) Michael Atherton > [Ridcully was to management what King Herod was to the Bethlehem Playgroup Association.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/ridcully-was-to-management-what-king-herod-was-to-the-bethlehem/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“1823, HMS SURPRISE sails once more - in print. The Massacre of Innocents. visit www.mainsailvoyagespress.com ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lawrence/1823-hms-surprise-sails-once-more-in-print-the-massacre-of-innocents/) Alan Lawrence > [“Madam, if I were Herod in the middle Of the massacre of the innocents, I'd pause Just to consider the confusion of your imagery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-fry/madam-if-i-were-herod-in-the-middle-of-the-massacre-of-the-innocents/) [Christopher Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-fry/) > [“What George was thinking was that the late king Herod had been unjustly blamed for a policy which had been both statesmanlike and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/what-george-was-thinking-was-that-the-late-king-herod-had-been/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [Now Herod was an active man, and soon found proper materials for his active spirit to work upon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavius-josephus/now-herod-was-an-active-man-and-soon-found-proper-materials-for-his/) [Flavius Josephus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavius-josephus/) > [“Neither at things, nor at people should one look. Only in mirrors should one look, for mirrors do but show us masks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/neither-at-things-nor-at-people-should-one-look-only-in-mirrors/) [Oscar wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [ Luke \[the gospel writer\] screws up his dating by tactlessly mentioning events that historians are capable of independently checking. There was indeed a census… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/luke-the-gospel-writer-screws-up-his-dating-by-tactlessly-mentioning/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Christ is the Master; the Scriptures are only the servant. The true way to test all the Books is to see whether they work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/christ-is-the-master-the-scriptures-are-only-the-servant-the-true-way/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Unconfusion submits its confusion to proof; it's not a Herod's oath that cannot change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/unconfusion-submits-its-confusion-to-proof-it-s-not-a-herod-s-oath/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [“The Son of God Among Greeks and Romans,” Harvard Theological Review 93.2 (2000): 85–100. Two zealous rabbis, Judas son of Sepphoraeus and Matthias son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reza-aslan/the-son-of-god-among-greeks-and-romans-harvard-theological-review-93/) [Reza Aslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reza-aslan/) > [God did everything necessary to get Herod's attention. He sent messengers from the East and a message from the Torah. He sent wonders from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-did-everything-necessary-to-get-herod-s-attention-he-sent/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“Ethnically Herod was an Idumean (an Edomite); his ancestors had been forcibly converted to Judaism, and he built for Jerusalem’s God the ancient world’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ethnically-herod-was-an-idumean-an-edomite-his-ancestors-had-been/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It has never been recommended to confuse "loving" with "seeking to please"... ...Salome pleased Herod's guests; I can hardly believe she was burning with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/it-has-never-been-recommended-to-confuse-loving-with-seeking-to/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [“you like babies, don't you? he asked... I have a marginally higher opinion of them than Herod, she said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-mcgown/you-like-babies-don-t-you-he-asked-i-have-a-marginally-higher-opinion/) Jill McGown ## More by Charles River Editors > [“Iwo Jima is more officially known as “Sulfur Island,” and it lies in a chain of volcanic islands south of the Ogasawara Islands. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/iwo-jima-is-more-officially-known-as-sulfur-island-and-it-lies-in-a/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“Rachel’s tomb is located a short distance north of Bethlehem, on the road between Jerusalem and Hebron. It consists of a small building with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/rachel-s-tomb-is-located-a-short-distance-north-of-bethlehem-on-the/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“By the following morning, September 15, Jackson had positioned nearly fifty guns on Maryland Heights and at the base of Loudoun Heights.  Then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/by-the-following-morning-september-15-jackson-had-positioned-nearly/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“Washington is the only President to be elected unanimously – not once, but twice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/washington-is-the-only-president-to-be-elected-unanimously-not-once/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“As the story goes, the cardinals began to regret their decision the very night of Pope Urban VI's coronation. During the celebratory feast that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/as-the-story-goes-the-cardinals-began-to-regret-their-decision-the/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“When Lee heard of Jackson’s injuries, he sent his religious leader Chaplain Lacy to Stonewall with the message, “Give him my affectionate regards, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/when-lee-heard-of-jackson-s-injuries-he-sent-his-religious-leader/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“For the first time, the Ottoman Empire was forced to recognize the full independence of a nation, not because of a war with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/for-the-first-time-the-ottoman-empire-was-forced-to-recognize-the/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“Midway was merely a convenient target chosen by Yamamoto to draw the Americans out, and both sides’ objectives were attritional attempts to degrade their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/midway-was-merely-a-convenient-target-chosen-by-yamamoto-to-draw-the/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“Paris had heard of Helen of Sparta’s beauty, and though she was married to the warlike Menelaus, he immediately consented to awarding Aphrodite the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/paris-had-heard-of-helen-of-sparta-s-beauty-and-though-she-was/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“Although cargo shipments of precious metals as described here seem quite fanciful to modern ears, archaeologists recently excavated a shipwreck at Uluburun with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/although-cargo-shipments-of-precious-metals-as-described-here-seem/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“The British government in 1807 had issued the “Orders in Council,” which enforced a naval blockade against France, and with a shortage of seamen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/the-british-government-in-1807-had-issued-the-orders-in-council-which/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“Fearing for his life, Urban stayed put. He publicly blasted the French cardinals and attempted to revoke their titles, breaking records by appointing 26…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/fearing-for-his-life-urban-stayed-put-he-publicly-blasted-the-french/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“Humiliated, Boniface issued the papal bull, “Clerics Laicos,” in response. The bull declared that kings who taxed clergy without papal permission would be promptly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/humiliated-boniface-issued-the-papal-bull-clerics-laicos-in-response/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“In 1940, Heinrich Himmler, wanting to extend SS influence to the rocket program, pressured Wernher von Braun into joining the organization despite his lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/in-1940-heinrich-himmler-wanting-to-extend-ss-influence-to-the-rocket/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“The Wildcats tore into the Vals as they climbed prior to making their dives, and 11 of the 18 attacking dive bombers were shot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/the-wildcats-tore-into-the-vals-as-they-climbed-prior-to-making-their/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) [Explore all 278 Charles River Editors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) ## More Herod quotes > [“you like babies, don't you? he asked... I have a marginally higher opinion of them than Herod, she said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-mcgown/you-like-babies-don-t-you-he-asked-i-have-a-marginally-higher-opinion/) Jill McGown > [It has never been recommended to confuse "loving" with "seeking to please"... ...Salome pleased Herod's guests; I can hardly believe she was burning with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/it-has-never-been-recommended-to-confuse-loving-with-seeking-to/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [“Ethnically Herod was an Idumean (an Edomite); his ancestors had been forcibly converted to Judaism, and he built for Jerusalem’s God the ancient world’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ethnically-herod-was-an-idumean-an-edomite-his-ancestors-had-been/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God did everything necessary to get Herod's attention. He sent messengers from the East and a message from the Torah. He sent wonders from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-did-everything-necessary-to-get-herod-s-attention-he-sent/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“The Son of God Among Greeks and Romans,” Harvard Theological Review 93.2 (2000): 85–100. Two zealous rabbis, Judas son of Sepphoraeus and Matthias son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reza-aslan/the-son-of-god-among-greeks-and-romans-harvard-theological-review-93/) [Reza Aslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reza-aslan/) > [Unconfusion submits its confusion to proof; it's not a Herod's oath that cannot change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/unconfusion-submits-its-confusion-to-proof-it-s-not-a-herod-s-oath/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [Christ is the Master; the Scriptures are only the servant. The true way to test all the Books is to see whether they work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/christ-is-the-master-the-scriptures-are-only-the-servant-the-true-way/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [ Luke \[the gospel writer\] screws up his dating by tactlessly mentioning events that historians are capable of independently checking. There was indeed a census… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/luke-the-gospel-writer-screws-up-his-dating-by-tactlessly-mentioning/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“Neither at things, nor at people should one look. Only in mirrors should one look, for mirrors do but show us masks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/neither-at-things-nor-at-people-should-one-look-only-in-mirrors/) [Oscar wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Now Herod was an active man, and soon found proper materials for his active spirit to work upon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavius-josephus/now-herod-was-an-active-man-and-soon-found-proper-materials-for-his/) [Flavius Josephus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavius-josephus/) > [“the character of Herod”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-character-of-herod/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Herod the Great achieved power in Judea with Roman backing; he brutally suppressed all opposition. Herod was a friend of Marc Antony but, unfortunately,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/herod-the-great-achieved-power-in-judea-with-roman-backing-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Christ is the master; the Scriptures are only the servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/christ-is-the-master-the-scriptures-are-only-the-servant/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“I’m not interested in what you know,” said Herod. “I’m interested in watching you scream.” “Then you’re going to be disappointed.” “We’ll see,” said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/i-m-not-interested-in-what-you-know-said-herod-i-m-interested-in/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [“If, as Herod, we fill our lives with things, and again with things; if we consider ourselves so unimportant that we must Jill every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/if-as-herod-we-fill-our-lives-with-things-and-again-with-things-if-we/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) [Browse all 28 Herod quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/herod/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“These Magi were wealthy and well-educated. 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