Archelaus Ἀρχέλαος
Son of Herod the Great, Ethnarch of Judea
Who is Archelaus in the Bible?
Archelaus was the son of Herod the Great who ruled as ethnarch over Judea, Samaria, and Idumea after his father's death. When Joseph learned that Archelaus had taken control of Judea following Herod's demise, he feared for the safety of the young Jesus and was warned in a dream not to return there (Matthew 2:22). Instead of settling in Judea, Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Galilee, where they established their home in Nazareth. Archelaus is significant in the nativity account because his cruel and tyrannical reign directly prompted the Holy Family's relocation, which fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about Jesus' upbringing in Galilee.
Biography
Archelaus was the son of Herod the Great, who ruled as king over Judea at the time of Jesus' birth. After Herod's death, his kingdom was divided among his sons, with Archelaus receiving the rule over Judea, Samaria, and Idumea. However, Archelaus' reign was marked by cruelty and tyranny, leading to his eventual banishment by the Roman emperor.
In the context of Jesus' early life, Archelaus is mentioned in Mat.2.22. After the visit of the magi and the family's flight to Egypt, Joseph was warned in a dream not to return to Judea because Archelaus was ruling there in place of his father Herod. Fearing for the child's safety, Joseph instead took Mary and Jesus to the region of Galilee, settling in Nazareth. This decision, guided by divine intervention, led to the fulfillment of the prophecy that the Messiah would be called a Nazarene.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentMatthew 1 verse
- Matthew 2:22
"But when he learned that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Greek | Ἀρχέλαος | Archélaos | people-ruling; Archelaus, a Jewish king |