The answer is: It doesn't say

There is no indication of how many wise men visited Jesus, except that there were at least two because the word 'magi' is plural.

It’s a curious aspect of the Christmas narrative that often gets overlooked: the wise men, or magi, are heavily mythologized, yet their number remains a mystery. The biblical account in Matthew doesn’t specify an exact numeral. Instead, we have a mention of "wise men from the East," which is generally taken to indicate a plural crowd, but that's as precise as it gets.

Fun fact: over the years, pop culture has often defaulted to “three” due to the three gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—that were presented to Jesus. It’s almost as if speculating about their identities and numbers became a riddle wrapped in gold! In many cultures, they have even been named: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.

Dig a little deeper into the significance of these gifts. Gold, often a symbol of nobility and kingship, suggests the recognition of Jesus as a ruler. Frankincense, used in ancient incense rituals, points to His divine nature. Lastly, myrrh, which was historically used for embalming, hints at His future death and humanity's intricate relationship with sacrifice and surrender.

The journey of the magi aligns with a theme woven throughout the Bible's tapestry: divinely guided quests leading individuals to profound truths—think about Abraham vying for the Promised Land or the multitude following the Exodus. This thread of exploration and revelation enriches our understanding of Jesus’ significance from His birth and beyond.