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Wycliffe Bible

Matthew 2:18

seiynge, A vois was herd an hiy, wepynge and moche weilyng, Rachel biwepynge hir sones, and she wolde not be coumfortid, for thei ben noyt.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Bethlehem;   Children;   Egypt;   Infanticide;   Jesus, the Christ;   Miracles;   Mourning;   Prophecy;   Quotations and Allusions;   Ramah;   Rulers;   Thompson Chain Reference - Joy-Sorrow;   Lamentations;   Rachel;   Ramah;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Dead, the;   Prophecies Respecting Christ;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Herod;   Rachel;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Edom;   Herod;   Quotations;   Rachel;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Abortion;   Comfort;   Scripture, Unity and Diversity of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hutchinsonians;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Arimathea;   Bethlehem;   Herod the Great;   Jesus;   Rachel;   Rama;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Benjamin;   Matthew, the Gospel According to;   Old Testament;   Prophet;   Rachel;   Rama;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Archaeology and Biblical Study;   Fulfill;   Innocents, Slaughter of the;   Antiochus IV;   Joseph;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Mother;   Rama;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Chronology of the New Testament;   Herod;   Jesus Christ;   Magi;   Magic, Divination, and Sorcery;   Mss;   Of;   Quotations;   Ramah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Boyhood ;   Children;   Dates (2);   Infancy;   Innocents;   Joseph (2);   Lamentation ;   Matthew, Gospel According to;   Old Testament (I. Christ as Fulfilment of);   Preaching Christ;   Propitiation (2);   Quotations (2);   Raca;   Ramah ;   Septuagint;   Wailing;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Bethlehem ;   Dreams;   Herod the Great;   Herod, Family of;   Matthew, Gospel by;   Rachel ;   Rama ;   Ramah ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Herodians;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Bethlehem;   Egypt;   Gospel;   Herod;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Her'od;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Rachel;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Innocents, Massacre of the;   Priesthood;   Quotations, New Testament;   Rachel;   Rama;   Ramah;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Accommodation;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
A voice was heard in Ramah,
King James Version (1611)
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.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
"A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more."
New American Standard Bible
"A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN; AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE."
New Century Version
"A voice was heard in Ramah of painful crying and deep sadness: Rachel crying for her children. She refused to be comforted, because her children are dead." Jeremiah 31:15
Amplified Bible
"A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN; SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE."
Geneva Bible (1587)
In Rhama was a voyce heard, mourning, and weeping, and great howling: Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they were not.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN; AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE."
Legacy Standard Bible
"A voice was heard in Ramah,Weeping and great mourning,Rachel weeping for her children;And she was refusing to be comforted,Because they were no more."
Berean Standard Bible
"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing consolation, because they are no more."
Contemporary English Version
"In Ramah a voice was heard crying and weeping loudly. Rachel was mourning for her children, and she refused to be comforted, because they were dead."
Complete Jewish Bible
"A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and lamenting loudly. It was Rachel sobbing for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no longer alive."
Darby Translation
A voice has been heard in Rama, weeping, and great lamentation: Rachel weeping [for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Easy-to-Read Version
"A sound was heard in Ramah— bitter crying and great sadness. Rachel cries for her children, and she cannot be comforted, because her children are gone."
George Lamsa Translation
A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and wailing exceedingly, Rachel weeping for her sons, and she would not be comforted, because they could not be brought back.
Good News Translation
"A sound is heard in Ramah, the sound of bitter weeping. Rachel is crying for her children; she refuses to be comforted, for they are dead."
Lexham English Bible
"A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and she did not want to be comforted, because they exist no longer."
Literal Translation
"A voice was heard in Ramah, lamenting and bitter wailing, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and would not be comforted, because they were not." Jer. 31:15
American Standard Version
A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she would not be comforted, because they are not.
Bible in Basic English
In Ramah there was a sound of weeping and great sorrow, Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be comforted for their loss.
Hebrew Names Version
"A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; She wouldn't be comforted, Because they are no more."
International Standard Version
"A voice was heard in Ramah: wailing and great mourning. Rachel was crying for her children. She refused to be comforted, because they no longer existed."Jeremiah 31:15">[fn]
Etheridge Translation
A cry was heard in Rometha; weeping and great lamentation; Rochel weeping for her children, and not willing to be comforted, because they are not.
Murdock Translation
A voice was heard in Rama, weeping and great lamentation; Rachel bemoaning her children, and unwilling to be comforted, because they are no more.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
In Rama was there a voyce hearde, lamentation, wepyng, & great mournyng, Rachel weping [for] her children, and woulde not be comforted, because they were not.
English Revised Version
A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she would not be comforted, because they are not.
World English Bible
"A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; She wouldn't be comforted, because they are no more."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
saying, 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.
Weymouth's New Testament
"A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and bitter lamentation: It was Rachel bewailing her children, and she refused to be comforted because there were no more."
Update Bible Version
A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she would not be comforted, because they are not.
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
New English Translation
" A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud wailing, Rachel weeping for her children, and she did not want to be comforted, because they were gone ."
New King James Version
"A voice was heard in Ramah,Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,Rachel weeping for her children,Refusing to be comforted,Because they are no more." Jeremiah 31:15 ">[fn]
New Living Translation
"A cry was heard in Ramah— weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted, for they are dead."
New Life Bible
He said, "The sound of crying and much sorrow was heard in Ramah. Rachel was crying for her children. She would not be comforted because they were dead."
New Revised Standard
"A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
A voice, in Ramah, was heard, weeping and great mourning, - Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, - because they are not.
Douay-Rheims Bible
A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Revised Standard Version
"A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
On the hilles was a voyce herde mornynge wepynge and greate lamentacion: Rachel wepynge for her chyldren and wolde not be conforted because they were not.
Young's Literal Translation
`A voice in Ramah was heard -- lamentation and weeping and much mourning -- Rachel weeping [for] her children, and she would not be comforted because they are not.'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
On ye hilles was a voyce herde, greate mournynge, wepynge, & lamentacion: Rachel wepynge for her chyldren, and wolde not be conforted, because they were not.
Mace New Testament (1729)
"In Rama was a cry heard, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not."
Simplified Cowboy Version
"There will be wailin' and weepin'. Rachel will cry for her kids and won't take to any comfortin' by anyone because they are all gone."

Contextual Overview

16 Thanne Eroude seynge that he was disseyued of the astromyens, was ful wrooth; and he sente, and slowe alle the children, that weren in Bethleem, and in alle the coostis therof, fro two yeer age and with inne, aftir the tyme that he had enquerid of the astromyens. 17 Thanne `it was fulfillid, that was seid bi Jeremye, the profete, 18 seiynge, A vois was herd an hiy, wepynge and moche weilyng, Rachel biwepynge hir sones, and she wolde not be coumfortid, for thei ben noyt.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Rama: Jeremiah 31:15, Ramah

lamentation: Jeremiah 4:31, Jeremiah 9:17-21, Ezekiel 2:10, Revelation 8:13

Rachel: Genesis 35:16-20

would: Genesis 37:30, Genesis 37:33-35, Genesis 42:36, Job 14:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 5:24 - he was not Genesis 29:17 - Rachel Genesis 35:19 - Ephrath Genesis 42:13 - one is not Genesis 48:7 - Rachel Nehemiah 11:33 - Ramah Isaiah 22:4 - labour

Cross-References

Genesis 1:31
And God seiy alle thingis whiche he made, and tho weren ful goode. And the euentid and morwetid was maad, the sixte day.
Genesis 2:7
Therfor the Lord God formede man of the sliym of erthe, and brethide in to his face the brething of lijf; and man was maad in to a lyuynge soule.
Genesis 2:9
And the Lord God brouyte forth of the erthe ech tre fair in siyt, and swete to ete; also he brouyte forth the tre of lijf in the middis of paradis, and the tre of kunnyng of good and of yuel.
Genesis 2:11
The name of the o ryuer is Fyson, thilke it is that cumpassith al the lond of Euilath, where gold cometh forth,
Genesis 2:12
and the gold of that lond is the beste, and there is foundun delium, that is, a tree of spicerie, and the stoon onychyn;
Genesis 2:13
and the name to the secounde ryuer is Gyon, thilke it is that cumpassith al the loond of Ethiopie;
Genesis 3:12
And Adam seide, The womman which thou yauest felowe to me, yaf me of the tre, and Y eet.
Ruth 3:1
Forsothe aftir that Ruth turnede ayen to hir modir in lawe, Ruth herde of hir, My douytir, Y schal seke reste to thee, and Y schal purueye that it be wel to thee.
Proverbs 18:22
He that fyndith a good womman, fyndith a good thing; and of the Lord he schal drawe vp myrthe. He that puttith a wey a good womman, puttith awei a good thing; but he that holdith auowtresse, is a fool and vnwijs.
1 Corinthians 7:36
And if ony man gessith hym silf to be seyn foule on his virgyn, that sche is ful woxun, and so it bihoueth to be doon, do sche that that sche wole; sche synneth not, if sche be weddid.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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Barnes' Notes on the Bible

In Rama was there a voice heard - Rama was a small town in the tribe of Benjamin. Rachel was the mother of Benjamin, and was buried near to Bethlehem, Genesis 35:16-19. Rama was about 6 miles northwest of Jerusalem, near Bethel, and was some 10 or 12 miles from Bethlehem. The name Rama signifies an eminence, and was given to the town because it was situated on a hill. Rama is commonly supposed to be the same as the Arimarthea of the New Testament the place where Joseph lived who begged the body of Jesus. See Matthew 27:57. This is also the same place in which Samuel was born, where he resided, died. and was buried, and where he anointed Saul as king, 1 Samuel 1:1, 1 Samuel 1:19; 1Sa 2:11; 1 Samuel 8:4; 1 Samuel 19:18; 1 Samuel 25:1. Mr. King, an American missionary, was at Rama - now called Romba - in 1824; and Mr. Whiting, another American missionary, was there in 1835. Mr. Whiting says: “The situation is exceedingly beautiful. It is about two hours distant from Jerusalem to the northwest, on an eminence commanding a view of a wide extent of beautiful diversified country. Hills, plains, and valleys, highly cultivated fields of wheat and barley, vineyards and oliveyards, are spread out before you as on a map, and numerous villages are scattered here and there over the whole view. To the west and northwest, beyond the hill-country, appears the vast plain of Sharon, and further still you look out upon the great and wide sea. It occurred to me as not improbable that in the days of David and Solomon this place may have been a favorite retreat during the heat of summer, and that here the former may have often struck his sacred lyre. Some of the Psalms, or at least one of them (see Psalms 104:25, seem to have been composed in some place which commanded a view of the Mediterranean; and this is the only place, I believe, in the vicinity of Jerusalem that affords such a view.”

Rama was once a strongly fortified city, but there is no city here at present. A half-ruined Muslim mosque, which was originally a Christian church, stands over the tomb of the prophet; besides which, a few miserable dwellings are the only buildings that remain on this once-celebrated spot. Compare the notes at Isaiah 10:29. The tomb of Rachel, which is supposed to mark the precise spot where Rachel was buried (compare Genesis 35:18-20; Genesis 48:7), is near to Bethlehem, and she is represented as rising and weeping again over her children. “The tomb is a plain Saracenic mausoleum, having no claims to antiquity in its present form, but deeply interesting in sacred associations; for, by the singular consent of all authorities in such questions, it marks the actual site of her grave.” - The Land and the Book, vol. ii. 501.

By a beautiful figure of speech, the prophet introduces the mother weeping over the tribe, her children, and with them weeping over the fallen destiny of Israel, and over the calamities about te come upon the land. Few images could be more striking than thus to introduce a mother, long dead, whose sepulchre was near, weeping bitterly over the terrible calamities that befell her descendants. The language and the image also aptly and beautifully expressed the sorrows of the mothers in Bethlehem when Herod slew their infant children. Under the cruelty of the tyrant almost every family was a family of tears, and well might there be lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning.

We may remark here that the sacred writers were cautious of speaking of the characters of wicked people. Here was one of the worst men in the world, committing one of the most awful crimes, and yet there is not a single mark of exclamation; there is not a single reference to any other part of his conduct; there is nothing that could lead to the knowledge that his character in other respects was not upright. There is no wanton and malignant dragging him into the narrative that they might gratify malice in making free with a very bad character. What was to their purpose, they recorded; what was not, they left to others. This is the nature of religion. It does not speak evil of others except when necessary, nor then does it take pleasure in it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 2:18. In Rama was there a voice heard — These words, quoted from Jeremiah 31:15, were originally spoken concerning the captivity of the ten tribes; but are here elegantly applied to the murder of the innocents at Bethlehem. As if he had said, Bethlehem at this time resembled Rama; for as Rachel might be said to weep over her children, which were slaughtered or gone into captivity; so in Bethlehem, the mothers lamented bitterly their children, because they were slain. The word θρηνος, lamentation is omitted by the Codd. Vatic. Cypr. one of Selden's MSS. the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, AEthiopic, all the Itala, (except that in the Cod. Bezae,) Vulgate, and Saxon, several of the fathers, and above all Jeremiah, Jeremiah 31:15, from which it is quoted. Griesbach leaves it in the text with a note of doubtfulness. This mourning may refer to cases far from uncommon in the east, where all the children have been massacred. The lamentations of a Hindoo mother for her child are loud and piercing; and it is almost impossible to conceive of a scene more truly heart-rending than that of a whole town of such mothers wailing over their massacred children. See WARD.


 
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