Introduction
Epiphany (from the Greek epiphaneia, manifestation), celebrated on January 6, honors the manifestation of Jesus to the nations through the visit of the wise men. The Bible does not say that there were three of them, nor that they were kings, nor what their names were: it only tells us that they came from the East to worship the child.
At the start of every year, the galette des rois (king cake) and the nativity figurines bring back the same story. But what does the Bible actually say? The text is more sober than our images and, on some points, more surprising. This page reads Matthew 2:1-12 closely, sheds light on the scene through the prophecies, distinguishes what comes from the Bible from what tradition has added, and then draws a few lessons from it.
What Does Epiphany Mean, and Why January 6?
Epiphany comes from the Greek epiphaneia, which means manifestation, appearance. This feast of the Church celebrates Jesus made manifest to the nations through the visit of the wise men. It is fixed on January 6, twelve days after Christmas. In France, the Catholic Church celebrates it on the Sunday between January 2 and 8, that is, on January 3, 2027.
The galette des rois (king cake), shared at this time of year, is a convivial tradition. It has no biblical foundation, but nothing prevents us from seeing it as a joyful way to remember the coming of the wise men. Evangelical Christians are under no obligation to take part, and no one has reason to condemn it.
What Does the Bible Really Say About the Wise Men?
The account runs to twelve verses, Matthew 2:1-12. It is the only passage that speaks of the wise men, and it is more sober than tradition. The Greek word is magoi, referring to wise men who observed the sky. They come from the East, follow a star to Jerusalem, then to Bethlehem, where they find the child.
Matthew 2:1-2
"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him."
Matthew sets the scene in the days of Herod. Wise men arrive in Jerusalem asking where “he who is born King of the Jews” is. The text gives neither their number, nor their country, nor their title. It only says that they have come “to worship him”. Read all of Matthew 2.
Matthew 2:9-11
"They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh."
The wise men enter a house and find “the young child” with Mary, his mother. So this is no longer the scene of the night of the birth. They worship him and offer gold, frankincense and myrrh. Many have seen in these gifts the image of a king, of a God and of a Savior who will suffer. Read all of Matthew 2.
Matthew 2:12
"Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way."
Warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the wise men go home “another way”. God protects the child by speaking to foreigners. These men obey without question, while the king in power thinks only of eliminating a rival. Read all of Matthew 2.
Matthew 2:16
"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men."
When Herod realizes that he has been tricked, he has all the male children in Bethlehem killed “from two years old and under”, according to the time he had learned from the wise men. This detail suggests that Jesus could have been up to two years old at the time of their visit. He was probably no longer a newborn. Read all of Matthew 2.
Which Prophecies Shed Light on the Visit of the Wise Men?
Matthew writes for readers who know the Old Testament. Several texts, written long before Jesus, help us understand why this visit matters so much. They show that God had announced long ago that the nations would come to him. Here are four passages to read in the light of the star and the journey of the wise men.
Numbers 24:17
"I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through the corners of Moab, and crush all the sons of Sheth."
This text is spoken by Balaam, a prophet who was not an Israelite, long before Jesus. He sees “A star” coming out of Jacob and “A scepter” rising out of Israel, an image of a king to come. Many Christians see in it an echo of the star of the wise men, although Matthew does not say so. Read all of Numbers 24.
Psalm 72:10-11
"The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him."
This psalm, attributed to Solomon, describes a just king before whom foreign kings bring gifts and bow down. This passage has fed the idea that the wise men were kings. Matthew, however, speaks of wise men, and this text above all announces that the nations will serve the promised king. Read all of Psalm 72.
Isaiah 60:3
"Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."
Isaiah announces a time when the light of God will shine on Jerusalem. “Nations will come to your light”: foreigners drawn by a brightness from above. The visit of the wise men is an early sign of this. The salvation offered to Israel is also for the whole world. Read all of Isaiah 60.
Micah 5:2
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times."
Micah announces, several centuries before Jesus, that the ruler of Israel will come out of Bethlehem, a small town in Judah. When Herod asks where the Christ will be born, the scribes cite this text (Matthew 2:5-6). The wise men look in Jerusalem, but the word of God sends them to Bethlehem. Read all of Micah 5.
True or False: What Do We Know About the Wise Men?
Were there three of them? The text does not say so. Matthew speaks of three gifts, not three people. The idea of a trio arose from this detail and was passed down over the centuries. There may have been more wise men; no one can say for sure.
Were they kings? Matthew calls them wise men, not kings. The idea comes from tradition, which linked them to texts such as Psalm 72 or Isaiah 60. These texts speak of kings who honor the Messiah, but Matthew's account does not say that the wise men were among them.
Were they called Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar? These names do not appear in the Bible. They come from a much later tradition, which appeared several centuries after Jesus. They can be kept in a Christmas story, provided we know they are not in the text.
Were they at the nativity scene? Not according to Matthew. On the night of the birth, it is the shepherds who find the newborn lying in a manger, that is, a feeding trough (Luke 2:16). The wise men arrive later and find the child in a house. Placing them in the nativity scene is a convenient habit, not a fact of the story.
What Does Epiphany Teach Us Today?
Jesus comes for all the nations. In Matthew's account, those who come from afar to worship Jesus are not Jews but foreigners. The Gospel is not reserved for one people. Whatever your origin, you are welcome. Even if you feel far from God or from his people, the door is open.
Seek God and worship him. The wise men made a long journey to worship. Seeking God has a cost: time, effort, sometimes detours. Those who seek sincerely find, and their search becomes worship. If you are still looking for answers, do not give up: God lets himself be found.
Give him your best. The wise men opened their treasures to offer their gifts. What can you offer to Jesus? Your time, your gifts, your attention, your praise. It is not about spectacular gestures, but about entrusting to him what matters to you. He receives with joy what comes from a sincere heart.
Obey God rather than Herod. Warned in a dream, the wise men do not go back to the king. They follow the voice of God rather than the order of a powerful man. Epiphany reminds us that Jesus is the true king, and that we can obey him without fearing the powerful of this world.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Epiphany Mean?
Epiphany comes from the Greek epiphaneia, meaning manifestation or appearance. The feast celebrates the manifestation of Jesus to the nations, through the visit of the wise men who came from the East to worship him (Matthew 2:1-12). It is fixed on January 6, twelve days after Christmas, according to the tradition of the Church.
When Is Epiphany Celebrated in 2027?
January 6 is the traditional day of Epiphany. In France, the Catholic Church celebrates it on the Sunday between January 2 and 8, that is, on January 3, 2027. Many families share the galette des rois at this time, although this is neither an obligation nor a biblical tradition.
How Many Wise Men Were There in the Bible?
The Bible does not give their number. Matthew 2 speaks of wise men who came from the East, without saying how many they were or that they were kings. The number three comes from the three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. The names Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar come from a much later tradition.
Did the Wise Men See Jesus at the Manger?
Not according to Matthew. The wise men find the young child in a house, and Herod has the children two years old and under killed, which suggests that Jesus had grown a little since his birth. It is the shepherds who saw the newborn in the manger (Luke 2).