Magi
The wise men who visited Jesus.
Matthew 2:1-12
(Authorized Version wise men).
- In the Hebrew text of the Old Testament the word occurs but twice, and then only incidentally. (Jeremiah 29:3,13) "Originally they were a class of priests among the Persians and Medes who formed the king's privy council, and cultivated as trology, medicine and occult natural science. They are frequently referred to by ancient authors. Afterward the term was applied to all eastern philosophers."
Schaff's Popular Commentary. They appear in Herodotus' history of Astyages as interpreters of dreams, i. 120; but as they appear in Jeremiah among the retinue of the Chaldean king, we must suppose Nebuchadnezzar's conquests led him to gather round him the wise men and religious teachers of the nations which he subdued, and that thus the sacred tribe of the Medes rose under his rule to favor and power. The Magi took their places among "the astrologers and star gazers and monthly prognosticators." It is with such men that, we have to think of Daniel and his fellow exiles as associated. The office which Daniel accepted (Daniel 5:11) was probably rab-mag
chief of the Magi.
- The word presented itself to the Greeks as connected with a foreign system of divination and it soon became a byword for the worst form of imposture. This is the predominant meaning of the word as it appears in the New Testament. (Acts 8:9; 13:8)
- In one memorable instance, however, the word retains its better meaning. In the Gospel of St. Matthew, ch. (Matthew 2:1-12) the Magi appear as "wise men"
properly Magians
who were guided by a star from "the east" to Jerusalem, where they suddenly appeared in the days of Herod the Great, inquiring for the new-born king of the Jews, whom they had come to worship. As to the country from which they came, opinions vary greatly; but their following the guidance of a star seems to point to the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates, where astronomy was Cultivated by the Chaldeans. [STAR OF THE WISE MEN OF THE EAST] (Why should the new star lead these wise men to look for a king of the Jews? (1) These wise men from Persia were the most like the Jews, in religion, of all nations in the world. They believed in one God, they had no idols, they worshipped light as the best symbol of God. (2) The general expectation of such a king. "The Magi," says) Ellicott, "express the feeling which the Roman historians Tacitus and Suetonius tell us sixty or seventy years later had been for a long time very widely diffused. Everywhere throughout the East men were looking for the advent of a great king who was to rise from among the Jews. It had fermented in the minds of men, heathen as well as Jews, and would have led them to welcome Jesus as the Christ had he come in accordance with their expectation." Virgil, who lived a little before this, owns that a child from heaven was looked for, who should restore the golden age and take away sin. (3) This expectation arose largely from the dispersion of the Jews among all nations, carrying with them the hope and the promise of a divine Redeemer. Isaiah 9, 11; Daniel 7 (4) Daniel himself was a prince and chief among this very class of wise men. His prophecies: were made known to them; and the calculations by which he pointed to the very time when Christ should be born became, through the book of Daniel, a part of their ancient literature.
ED.) According to a late tradition, the Magi are represented as three kings, named Gaspar, Melchior and Belthazar, who take their place among the objects of Christian reverence, and are honored as the patron saints of travellers.
MA'GI, noun plural [Latin] Wise men or philosophers of the East.
MA'GIAN, adjective [Latin magus.] Pertaining to the Magi, a sect of philosophers in Persia.
MA'GIAN, noun One of the sect of the Persian Magi, who hold that there are two principles, one that cause of good, the other of evil. The knowledge of these philosophers was deemed by the vulgar to be supernatural.
MA'GIANISM, noun The philosophy or doctrines of the Magi.
The Jews seem early to have consulted the teraphim (q.v.) for oracular answers (Judges 18:5, 6; Zechariah 10:2). There is a remarkable illustration of this divining by teraphim in Ezekiel 21:19-22. We read also of the divining cup of Joseph (Genesis 44:5). The magicians of Egypt are frequently referred to in the history of the Exodus. Magic was an inherent part of the ancient Egyptian religion, and entered largely into their daily life.
All magical arts were distinctly prohibited under penalty of death in the Mosaic law. The Jews were commanded not to learn the "abomination" of the people of the Promised Land (Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:9-14). The history of Saul's consulting the witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28:3-20) gives no warrant for attributing supernatural power to magicians. From the first the witch is here only a bystander. The practice of magic lingered among the people till after the Captivity, when they gradually abandoned it.
It is not much referred to in the New Testament. The Magi mentioned in Matthew 2:1-12 were not magicians in the ordinary sense of the word. They belonged to a religious caste, the followers of Zoroaster, the astrologers of the East. Simon, a magician, was found by Philip at Samaria (Acts 8:9-24); and Paul and Barnabas encountered Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer, at Paphos (13:6-12). At Ephesus there was a great destruction of magical books (Acts 19:18, 19).
See Astrology; Magician; Necromancy; Sorcery; Witchcraft
Astrology; Magician; Necromancy; Sorcery; Witchcraft
MAG'IC, noun [Latin magia; Gr. a philosopher among the Persians.]
1. The art or science of putting into action the power of spirits; or the science of producing wonderful effects by the aid of superhuman beings, or of departed spirits; sorcery; enchantment. [This art or science is now discarded.]
2. The secret operations of natural causes.
Natural magic the application of natural causes to passive subjects, by which surprising effects are produced.magic, attributes to spirits a kind of dominion over the planets, and to the planets an influence over men.
Superstitious or geotic magic consists in the invocation of devils or demons, and supposes some tacit or express agreement between them and human beings.
Magic square, a square figure, formed by a series of numbers in mathematical proportion, so disposed in parallel and equal ranks, as that the sums of each row or line taken perpendicularly, horizontally, or diagonally, are equal.
Magic lantern, a dioptric machine invented by Kircher, which, by means of a map in a dark room, exhibits images of objects in their distinct colors and proportions, with the appearance of life itself.
MAG'IC
Magic is "the science or practice of evoking spirits, or educing the occult powers of nature to produce effects apparently supernatural." It formed an essential element in many ancient religions, especially among the Persians, Chaldeans and Egyptians. The Hebrews had no magic of their own. It was so strictly forbidden by the law that it could never afterward have had any: recognized existence, save in times of general heresy or apostasy and the same was doubtless the case in the patriarchal ages. The magical practices which obtained among the Hebrews were therefore borrowed from the nations around. From the first entrance into the land of promise until the destruction of Jerusalem we have constant glimpses of magic practiced in secret, or resorted to not alone by the common but also as the great. It is a distinctive characteristic of the Bible that from first to last it warrants no such trust or dread. Laban attached great value to, and was in the habit of consulting, images. (Genesis 31:30,32) During the plagues in Egypt the magicians appear. (Exodus 7:11; 8:18,19) Balaam also practiced magic. (Numbers 22:7) Saul consulted the witch of Endor. An examination of the various notices of magic in the Bible gives this general result: They do not, act far as can be understood, once state positively that any but illusive results were produced by magical rites. (Even the magicians of Egypt could imitate the plagues sent through Moses only so long as they had previous notice and time to prepare. The time Moses sent the plague unannounced the magicians failed; they "did so with their enchantments," but in vain. So in the case of the witch of Endor. Samuel appearance was apparently unexpected by her; he did not come through the enchantments.
Ed.) The Scriptures therefore afford no evidence that man can gain supernatural powers to use at his will. This consequence goes some way toward showing that we may conclude that there is no such thing se real magic; for although it is dangerous to reason on negative evidence, yet in a case of this kind it is especially strong. [DIVINATION]
MAG'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to magic; used in magic; as a magic wand; magic art.
1. Performed by magic, the agency of spirits, or by the invisible powers of nature; as magical effects.
MAG'ICALLY, adverb By the arts of magic; according to the rules or rites of magic; by enchantment.
A person who claims to understand and explain mysteries by magic
Daniel 1:20
Failed to interpret Pharaoh's dreams
Genesis 41:8; Genesis 41:24
Failed to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream
Daniel 2:2-13; Daniel 4:7
Wrought apparent miracles
Exodus 7:11-12; Exodus 7:22; Exodus 8:7; Exodus 8:18
MAGI'CIAN, noun One skilled in magic; one that practices the black art; an enchanter; a necromancer; a sorcerer or sorceress.
Heb. hartumim, (Daniel 1:20) were sacred scribes who acted as interpreters of omens, or "revealers of secret things."
MAGISTE'RIAL, adjective [See Magistrate.] Pertaining to a master; such as suits a master; authoritative.
1. Proud; lofty; arrogant; imperious; domineering.
Pretenses go a great way with men that take fair words and magisterial looks for current payment.
2. In chimistry, pertaining to magistery, which see.
MAGISTE'RIALLY, adverb With the air of a master; arrogantly; authoritatively.
MAGISTE'RIALNESS, noun The air and manner of a master; haughtiness; imperiousness; peremptoriness.
MAG'ISTERY, noun [Latin magisterium.] Among chimists, a precipitate; a fine substance deposited by precipitation; usually applied to particular kinds of precipitate, as that of bismuth, coal, crab's eyes, sulphur, etc.
MAG'ISTRACY, adjective [See Magistrate.] The office or dignity of a magistrate.
Duelling is not only an usurpation of the divine prerogative, but it is an insult upon magistracy
1. The body of magistrates.
MAG'ISTRAL, adjective Suiting a magistrate; authoritative.
MAG'ISTRAL, noun A sovereign medicine or remedy.
MAGISTRAL'ITY, noun Despotic authority in opinion.
MAG'ISTRALLY, adverb Authoritatively; with imperiousness.
A public civil officer invested with authority. The Hebrew shophetim, or judges, were magistrates having authority in the land (Deuteronomy 1:16, 17). In Judges 18:7 the word "magistrate" (A.V.) is rendered in the Revised Version "possessing authority", i.e., having power to do them harm by invasion. In the time of Ezra (9:2) and Nehemiah (2:16; 4:14; 13:11) the Jewish magistrates were called seganim, properly meaning "nobles." In the New Testament the Greek word archon, rendered "magistrate" (Luke 12:58; Titus 3:1), means one first in power, and hence a prince, as in Matthew 20:25, 1 Corinthians 2:6, 8. This term is used of the Messiah, "Prince of the kings of the earth" (Revelation 1:5). In Acts 16:20, 22, 35, 36, 38, the Greek term strategos, rendered "magistrate," properly signifies the leader of an army, a general, one having military authority. The strategoi were the duumviri, the two praetors appointed to preside over the administration of justice in the colonies of the Romans. They were attended by the sergeants (properly lictors or "rod bearers").
An officer of civil law
Judges 18:7; Ezra 7:25; Luke 12:11; Luke 12:58; Acts 16:20; Acts 16:22; Acts 16:35; Acts 16:38
Obedience to, enjoined
Titus 3:1
Government; Rulers
MAG'ISTRATE, noun [Latin magistratus, from magister, master; magis, major, and ster, Teutonic steora, a director; steoran, to steer; the principal director.] A public civil officer, invested with the executive government of some branch of it. In this sense, a king is the highest or first magistrate as is the President of the United States. But the word is more particularly applied to subordinate officers, as governors, intendants, prefects, mayors, justices of the peace, and the like.
The magistrate must have his reverence; the laws their authority.
MAGISTRAT'IC, adjective Having the authority of a magistrate.
MAG'ISTRATURE, noun Magistracy. [Little used.]
MAGNA CHARTA, noun [Latin great charter.]
1. The great charter, so called obtained by the English barons from king John, adjective D.1215. This name is also given to the charter granted to the people of England in the ninth year of Henry III. and confirmed by Edward I.
2. A fundamental constitution which guarantees rights and privileges.