LOOKING FOR ANSWERS ABOUT THE THREE WISE MEN? HERE ARE 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Every Christmas, they show up in nativity scenes around the world. Three robed figures on camels, following a star, carrying gifts fit for a king. But who were the three wise men, really?

If you've ever wondered about these mysterious visitors: where they came from, what their gifts meant, or how old was Jesus when the Magi visited: you're not alone. These are some of the most common questions people ask about the Christmas story.

The truth is, much of what we think we know about the Magi comes from tradition, art, and Christmas carols rather than Scripture itself. So let's dig into what the Bible actually says, what history suggests, and why these travelers still capture our imagination today.

1. The Bible Never Calls Them "Wise Men"

This might surprise you, but the term "wise men" doesn't appear in the original text.

The Gospel of Matthew uses the Greek word Magi, which referred to a specific class of Persian priests. These weren't just generally smart people: they were trained scholars, likely specializing in astronomy, dream interpretation, and religious rituals.

So when we ask who were the three wise men, a more accurate question might be: who were the Magi?

2. We Don't Actually Know How Many There Were

Here's another tradition that doesn't come directly from Scripture: the number three.

Matthew's Gospel simply says "men from the East" came to visit Jesus. It uses the plural, but never specifies a count. The assumption of three Magi likely developed because of the three wise men gifts mentioned in the text: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

For all we know, there could have been two, five, or even a larger delegation traveling together.

3. They Were Probably Persian Astrologers

Most scholars believe the Magi were Zoroastrian priests from Persia: what we'd call Iran, Iraq, or surrounding regions today.

These were educated, influential men who studied the stars as part of their religious practice. When they saw an unusual celestial event, they interpreted it as a sign of a significant birth.

This context helps us understand why they undertook such a long, dangerous journey. They weren't casual tourists. They believed they were witnessing something world-changing.

4. They Were Wealthy and Powerful

The wise men gifts weren't picked up at a local market.

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were expensive commodities: the kind of presents you'd bring to royalty. This tells us the Magi weren't humble travelers scraping by. They were people of significant wealth and influence.

They likely traveled with servants, guards, and supplies for a journey that could have taken months. Some historians suggest they may have ridden horses rather than camels, which were typically used for carrying goods rather than passengers.

5. Each Gift Carried Deep Meaning

Let's break down the three wise men gifts and what they symbolized:

• Gold : A gift for a king, acknowledging Jesus's royal identity
• Frankincense : Used in worship and temple rituals, pointing to Jesus's divine nature
• Myrrh : A burial spice, foreshadowing Jesus's death and sacrifice

Whether the Magi fully understood the prophetic weight of their gifts, we can't say. But from our perspective, each one beautifully captures a different dimension of who Jesus was and what He came to do.

6. They Didn't Arrive at the Manger

This is a big one. Despite what nativity scenes suggest, the Magi almost certainly didn't show up on the night Jesus was born.

Matthew's account describes them visiting a "house" where they found "the child" with Mary: different language than the "baby" in a manger described in Luke's birth narrative.

So how old was Jesus when the Magi visited? Scholars estimate He could have been anywhere from a few months to nearly two years old. We explore this question in more depth in our piece on how old Jesus was when the wise men came.

King Herod's later order to kill all male children two years old and under in Bethlehem suggests he believed the child could have been that age by the time the Magi arrived.

7. The Bible Never Calls Them Kings

"We Three Kings" is a beloved Christmas carol, but it's not biblically accurate.

The Magi are never identified as royalty in Scripture. The "king" title likely developed over centuries of tradition, perhaps influenced by Old Testament prophecies about kings bringing gifts to Israel's Messiah.

John Henry Hopkins Jr. wrote the famous carol in 1857: relatively recently in Christian history. Beautiful song, but it reflects tradition more than text.

8. God Warned Them in a Dream

Here's a fascinating detail that often gets overlooked.

After visiting Jesus, the Magi were warned in a dream not to return to King Herod, who had asked them to report back with the child's location. They obeyed and returned home by a different route.

This divine intervention protected the young Jesus and His family, giving them time to flee to Egypt before Herod's murderous decree.

It's a powerful reminder that God was actively guiding events: not just through stars, but through dreams and supernatural warnings.

9. Medieval Art Shaped How We Picture Them

When you imagine the Magi, you probably picture three men of different ages and ethnicities: one young, one middle-aged, one elderly; one European, one African, one Asian.

This portrayal became popular during the Medieval period, reflecting increased contact between European, African, and Middle Eastern cultures through trade routes.

Artists like Botticelli, Rubens, and Bosch painted the Magi as a diverse, multiracial group, and these images stuck. While there's no biblical basis for this specific depiction, it does beautifully illustrate the universal nature of Christ's message: people from every nation coming to worship.

10. Their Story Still Speaks Today

Why do the Magi matter? After all, they appear in only a handful of verses.

Maybe it's because they represent all of us who seek something greater. They were outsiders: Gentiles who had no special claim to Israel's promises: yet they recognized something extraordinary and followed it.

They remind us that encountering Jesus often requires a journey. It costs something. It demands we leave comfortable assumptions behind and follow wherever the light leads.

At 7th Trumpet Entertainment, we create realistic visual content that helps people see biblical figures as real historical people: not distant myths. The Magi were actual men who walked dusty roads, made difficult decisions, and ultimately knelt before a child they believed would change everything.

Their story isn't just about what happened two thousand years ago. It's an invitation to seek, to wonder, and to worship.

Seeing the Story Fresh

The Magi remain mysterious in many ways. We don't know their names, their exact origins, or what happened to them after they returned home.

But what we do know is this: they saw a sign, they responded in faith, and they encountered something that made the long journey worth it.

If you want to explore more biblical stories brought to life through immersive visuals, check out our stories collection or visit our store for art and greeting cards featuring these incredible moments from Scripture or check out our video re-creation below.