Magi is a Chaldean word that the New Testament Greek leaves untranslated. It was a well-known term in the Middle East during biblical history and could refer to righteous, God-fearing wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, prophets, and interpreters of dreams, as well as to unrighteous false prophets, astrologers, augurers, soothsayers, and sorcerers, whom God frequently condemns. Most Bible versions render it "wise men," a few keep "Magi," "Magians," or "Mages," and one uses "scholars." Rendering it "astrologers," as the paraphrase by J.B. Phillips does, is obviously incorrect and illogical in light of Matthew 2 and other scriptures. "Stargazers" is also misleading, since God has nothing against astronomical star-gazing, though He speaks against astrology (Deuteronomy 4:19; 17:2-5; Isaiah 47:13-14; Daniel 2). The Magi who visited Jesus were not aimlessly following a moving star. They knew in advance whose star it was, whom they were going to visit, and that they were going to worship Him. Heathen, idolatrous astrologers would hardly travel hundreds of miles to honor the son of a Deity they did not worship, so these Magi were not pagan astrologers. Because of the earlier Diaspora of the Hebrews, they were more likely descendants of exiled Israelites or Jews, sent to recognize the birth of a scion of David's line.