What Does “Magi” Mean in the Bible?
Office or title
Wise men from the East who studied the stars. They followed a star to worship the newborn Jesus.
A detail
- Careful: they were not magicians who do tricks. Tradition calls them “the Three Kings.”
Where it appears in the Bible
Matthew 2:1-2; Matthew 2:11
What the Bible says
Matthew 2:1-2
1When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem. 2Saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to adore him.
Matthew 2:11
And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him; and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: NAB note on Matthew 2:1; Catechism 528