Wise Men

Cultural  

1. Gentile sages who visited Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in Bethlehem shortly after the birth of Jesus. According to the Gospel of Matthew, they were guided by a star and brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because three gifts were given, the traditional story is that there were three wise men. (See Magi.)

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Example Sentences

The Three Wise Men may have struggled for a third gift if they were shopping today—and not because of a bull market in frankincense and myrrh.

From Barron's • Dec. 23, 2025

The holiday marks both the visit of the Three Wise Men, or Magi, to a new-born Jesus, and his later baptism by the prophet John.

From BBC • Jan. 14, 2023

You don’t have to be a biblical scholar to know that the Three Wise Men used a star to navigate their way to Bethlehem.

From New York Times • Jan. 6, 2022

The Nativity unveiled by the Vatican last week evokes an out-of-this-world vibe, with an oval-headed Joseph, a spaceman as one of the Wise Men, an extraterrestrial Archangel Gabriel and bulky farm animals.

From Washington Times • Dec. 17, 2020

I recall one sermon in which he talked about the three Wise Men from the East who followed a star until it led them to Bethlehem.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela