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The Use of Hosea 11:1 in Matthew 2:15

Seong-Kwang Kevin Kim 1

1ARILAC

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This study deals with the relationship between Matt 2:15 and Hos 11:1. The way in which Matthew relates Hosea’s words “Out of Egypt I called my son” with Jesus’ journey to Egypt does not seem to fit for the original contextual meaning in Hos 11:1. First, in the original context of Hos 11:1, the sentence is not a “direct predictive prophecy” but a “reflection” about Israel’s past history (the exodus from Egypt). Second, Hosea is talking about the “nation Israel,” while Matthew is talking about the “individual Jesus.” Third, Hos 11:1 speaks of Israel’s “coming out of Egypt,” so its best place would be after 2:21, the return from Egypt. However, Matthew puts the quotation after Jesus’ “entering into Egypt.” “Typology” may be a solution. Seeing Jesus as the “true Israel,” Matthew is offering a “Jesus as Israel” typology that involves both a comparison and a contrast. In contrast with Israel who failed to obey YHWH, Jesus was the obedient Son who completed all that Israel should have completed. As for Matthew, Hosea 11:1 was finally fulfilled as Jesus fled to Egypt. Suggesting typology for understanding Matthew 2:15, the first two problems have been solved. However, the last problem still remains unsolved. Hosea’s own typological perspective may provide a solution. Matthew’s typological understanding was not his own perspective but something affected by Hosea’s typological understanding. The quotation in Matt 2:15 is not out of order, because the holy family’s flight to Egypt is an “inauguration of the packed typological Hos 11:1 reference.” The “out of Egypt, return to Egypt, and out of Egypt again” pattern itself is inseparable and is to be viewed as a whole package. In this way, this study contributes to understanding not only the relationship between Matt 2:15 and Hos 11:1 but also how the New Testament authors use the Old Testament texts.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.