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Biblical Magi

Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see Three Kings (disambiguation), Wise men (disambiguation), and Three Wise Men (disambiguation).
For the novel titled Gaspard, Melchior & Balthazar in French, see The Four Wise Men.
The Three Magi, Byzantine mosaic, c. 565, Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy (restored during the 19th century). As here, Byzantine art usually depicts the Magi in Persian clothing, which includes breeches, capes, and Phrygian caps.

In Christianity, the Biblical Magi[a] (/ˈmeɪdʒaɪ/ MAY-jy or /ˈmædʒaɪ/ MAJ-eye;[1] singular: magus), also known as the Three Wise Men, Three Kings, and Three Magi,[b] are distinguished foreigners who visit Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh in homage to him.[2] They are commemorated on the feast day of Epiphany—sometimes called "Three Kings Day"—and commonly appear in the nativity celebrations of Christmas.

The Magi appear solely in the Gospel of Matthew, which states that they came "from the east" to worship the "one who has been born king of the Jews".[3] Their names, origins, appearances, and exact number are unmentioned and derive from the inferences or traditions of later Christians.[4] In Western Christianity, they are usually assumed to have been three in number, corresponding with each gift;[5] in Eastern Christianity, especially the Syriac churches, they often number twelve.[6] Likewise, the Magi's social status is never stated: Although some biblical translations describe them as astrologers, they were increasingly identified as kings by at least the third century,[7] which conformed with Christian interpretations of Old Testament prophecies that the messiah would be worshipped by kings.[8][9]

The mystery of the Magi's identities and background, combined with their theological significance, has made them prominent figures in the Christian tradition; they are venerated as saints or even martyrs in many Christian communities, and are the subject of numerous artworks, legends, and customs. Both secular and Christian observers have noted that the Magi popularly serve as a means of expressing various ideas, symbols, and themes.[10][11][12] Most scholars regard the Magi as legendary rather than historical figures.[13]


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  1. ^ Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, Tennessee: Holman Bible Publishers. 2003. p. 1066. ISBN 0-8054-2836-4.
  2. ^ Ashby, Chad. "Magi, Wise Men, or Kings? It's Complicated". Christian History | Learn the History of Christianity & the Church. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  3. ^ Matthew 2:1–2
  4. ^ "Here's What History Can Tell Us About the Magi". TIME. 2020-12-29. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  5. ^ Geza Vermes, The Nativity: History and Legend, London, Penguin, 2006, p. 22
  6. ^ Metzger, 24 [80]
  7. ^ Ashby, Chad. "Magi, Wise Men, or Kings? It's Complicated". Christian History | Learn the History of Christianity & the Church. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  8. ^ "Magi | Definition, Scripture, Names, Traditions, & Importance | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-01-04. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  9. ^ ""We Three Kings" Who were the Magi?". www.catholiceducation.org. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  10. ^ Whittock, Martyn (2022-01-06). "Strange visitors - the significance of the magi". www.christiantoday.com. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  11. ^ "The journey of the magi is long and risky, but it ends with joy". America Magazine. 2021-12-16. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  12. ^ "The rule of three". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  13. ^ Marcus Borg, 'The Meaning of the Birth Stories' in Marcus Borg, N T Wright, The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions (Harper One, 1999) page 179: "I (and most mainline scholars) do not see these stories as historically factual."

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