Massacre of the Innocents
Preserved but no longer current.
The slaughter of the male children of Bethlehem "from two years old and under," when Jesus was born (Matt. ii, 16). This was done at the command of Herod the Great in order to cut off "the babe" who was destined to become "King of the Jews.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Massacre of the Innocents” mean?
The slaughter of the male children of Bethlehem "from two years old and under," when Jesus was born (Matt. ii, 16). This was done at the command of Herod the Great in order to cut off "the babe" who was destined to become "King of the Jews.
Is “Massacre of the Innocents” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.