What is Epiphany? 5 things every believer should know

1. We don’t know exactly how many wise men came to Bethlehem

While most of us have heard the traditions of the “three wise men,” the truth is Scripture does not specify anything about the arrival of the Magi, from how many there were, to the date of their arrival, or their physical appearance.

All we know is magos, the Greek word used for Magi, means “a sorcerer, a magician, a wizard” and scholars believe they came from the East, mostly like Persia (modern-day Iran).

The actual number of those Magi who appeared is never specified, though Western tradition likely had Matthew 2:11 in mind — the three gifts of “gold, frankincense, and myrrh” — when the number three was established. In Eastern tradition, however, the Magi are numbered at 12.