Luke 2:23-52

2:23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male ¹  will be set apart to the Lord” ² ), 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves ³  or two young pigeons. ⁴ 

The Prophecy of Simeon

2:25 Now ⁵  there was a man in Jerusalem ⁶  named Simeon who was righteous ⁷  and devout, looking for the restoration ⁸  of Israel, and the Holy Spirit ⁹  was upon him. 2:26 It ¹⁰  had been revealed ¹¹  to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die ¹²  before ¹³  he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ¹⁴  2:27 So ¹⁵  Simeon, ¹⁶  directed by the Spirit, ¹⁷  came into the temple courts, ¹⁸  and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, ¹⁹  2:28 Simeon ²⁰  took him in his arms and blessed God, saying, ²¹ 

2:29 “Now, according to your word, ²²  Sovereign Lord, ²³  permit ²⁴  your servant ²⁵  to depart ²⁶  in peace.

2:30 For my eyes have seen your salvation ²⁷ 

2:31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: ²⁸ 

2:32 a light, ²⁹ 

for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory ³⁰  to your people Israel.”

2:33 So ³¹  the child’s ³²  father ³³  and mother were amazed ³⁴  at what was said about him. 2:34 Then ³⁵  Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Listen carefully: ³⁶  This child ³⁷  is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising ³⁸  of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected. ³⁹  2:35 Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts ⁴⁰  of many hearts will be revealed ⁴¹  – and a sword ⁴²  will pierce your own soul as well!” ⁴³ 

The Testimony of Anna

2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, ⁴⁴  having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. 2:37 She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. ⁴⁵  She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. ⁴⁶  2:38 At that moment, ⁴⁷  she came up to them ⁴⁸  and began to give thanks to God and to speak ⁴⁹  about the child ⁵⁰  to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. ⁵¹ 

2:39 So ⁵²  when Joseph and Mary ⁵³  had performed ⁵⁴  everything according to the law of the Lord, ⁵⁵  they returned to Galilee, to their own town ⁵⁶  of Nazareth. ⁵⁷  2:40 And the child grew and became strong, ⁵⁸  filled with wisdom, ⁵⁹  and the favor ⁶⁰  of God ⁶¹  was upon him.

Jesus in the Temple

2:41 Now ⁶²  Jesus’ ⁶³  parents went to Jerusalem ⁶⁴  every ⁶⁵  year for the feast of the Passover. ⁶⁶  2:42 When ⁶⁷  he was twelve years old, ⁶⁸  they went up ⁶⁹  according to custom. 2:43 But ⁷⁰  when the feast was over, ⁷¹  as they were returning home, ⁷²  the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His ⁷³  parents ⁷⁴  did not know it, 2:44 but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers) ⁷⁵  they went a day’s journey. Then ⁷⁶  they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances. ⁷⁷  2:45 When ⁷⁸  they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem ⁷⁹  to look for him. 2:46 After ⁸⁰  three days ⁸¹  they found him in the temple courts, ⁸²  sitting among the teachers, ⁸³  listening to them and asking them questions. 2:47 And all who heard Jesus ⁸⁴  were astonished ⁸⁵  at his understanding and his answers. 2:48 When ⁸⁶  his parents ⁸⁷  saw him, they were overwhelmed. His ⁸⁸  mother said to him, “Child, ⁸⁹  why have you treated ⁹⁰  us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” ⁹¹  2:49 But ⁹²  he replied, ⁹³  “Why were you looking for me? ⁹⁴  Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ⁹⁵  2:50 Yet ⁹⁶  his parents ⁹⁷  did not understand ⁹⁸  the remark ⁹⁹  he made ¹⁰⁰  to them. 2:51 Then ¹⁰¹  he went down with them and came to Nazareth, ¹⁰²  and was obedient ¹⁰³  to them. But ¹⁰⁴  his mother kept all these things ¹⁰⁵  in her heart. ¹⁰⁶ 

2:52 And Jesus increased ¹⁰⁷  in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people.

[2:23]  ¹ tn Grk “every male that opens the womb” (an idiom for the firstborn male).

[2:23]  ² sn An allusion to Exod 13:2, 12, 15.

[2:24]  ³ sn The offering of a pair of doves or two young pigeons, instead of a lamb, speaks of the humble roots of Jesus’ family – they apparently could not afford the expense of a lamb.

[2:24]  ⁴ sn A quotation from Lev 12:8; 5:11 (LXX).

[2:25]  ⁵ tn Grk “And behold.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic. The Greek word ἰδού (idou) at the beginning of this statement has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

[2:25]  ⁶ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[2:25]  ⁷ tn Grk “This man was righteous.” The Greek text begins a new sentence here, but this was changed to a relative clause in the translation to avoid redundancy.

[2:25]  ⁸ tn Or “deliverance,” “consolation.”

[2:25]  ⁹ sn Once again, by mentioning the Holy Spirit, Luke stresses the prophetic enablement of a speaker. The Spirit has fallen on both men (Zechariah, 1:67) and women (Elizabeth, 1:41) in Luke 1–2 as they share the will of the Lord.

[2:26]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “And it.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[2:26]  ¹¹ tn The use of the passive suggests a revelation by God, and in the OT the corresponding Hebrew term represented here by κεχρηματισμένον (kecrhmatismenon) indicated some form of direct revelation from God (Jer 25:30; 33:2; Job 40:8).

[2:26]  ¹² tn Grk “would not see death” (an idiom for dying).

[2:26]  ¹³ tn On the grammar of this temporal clause, see BDF §§383.3; 395.

[2:26]  ¹⁴ tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[2:27]  ¹⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the consequential nature of the action.

[2:27]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Simeon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:27]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “So in the Spirit” or “So by the Spirit,” but since it refers to the Spirit’s direction the expanded translation “directed by the Spirit” is used here.

[2:27]  ¹⁸ tn Grk “the temple.”

[2:27]  ¹⁹ tn Grk “to do for him according to the custom of the law.” See Luke 2:22-24.

[2:28]  ²⁰ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Simeon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:28]  ²¹ tn Grk “and said.” The finite verb in Greek has been replaced with a participle in English to improve the smoothness of the translation.

[2:29]  ²² sn The phrase according to your word again emphasizes that God will perform his promise.

[2:29]  ²³ tn The Greek word translated here by “Sovereign Lord” is δεσπότης (despoth").

[2:29]  ²⁴ sn This short prophetic declaration is sometimes called the Nunc dimittis, which comes from the opening phrase of the saying in Latin, “now dismiss,” a fairly literal translation of the Greek verb ἀπολύεις (apolueis, “now release”) in this verse.

[2:29]  ²⁵ tn Here the Greek word δοῦλος (doulos, “slave”) has been translated “servant” since it acts almost as an honorific term for one specially chosen and appointed to carry out the Lord’s tasks.

[2:29]  ²⁶ tn Grk “now release your servant.”

[2:30]  ²⁷ sn To see Jesus, the Messiah, is to see God’s salvation.

[2:31]  ²⁸ sn Is the phrase all peoples a reference to Israel alone, or to both Israel and the Gentiles? The following verse makes it clear that all peoples includes Gentiles, another key Lukan emphasis (Luke 24:47; Acts 10:34-43).

[2:32]  ²⁹ tn The syntax of this verse is disputed. Most read “light” and “glory” in parallelism, so Jesus is a light for revelation to the Gentiles and is glory to the people for Israel. Others see “light” (1:78-79) as a summary, while “revelation” and “glory” are parallel, so Jesus is light for all, but is revelation for the Gentiles and glory for Israel. Both readings make good sense and either could be correct, but Luke 1:78-79 and Acts 26:22-23 slightly favor this second option.

[2:32]  ³⁰ sn In other words, Jesus is a special cause for praise and honor (“glory”) for the nation.

[2:33]  ³¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the consequential nature of the action.

[2:33]  ³² tn Grk “his”; the referent (the child) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:33]  ³³ tc Most mss ([A] Θ [Ψ] ˹³ 33 Ï it) read “Joseph,” but in favor of the reading ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ (Jo pathr autou, “his father”) is both external (א B D L W 1 700 1241 pc sa) and internal evidence. Internally, the fact that Mary is not named at this point and that “Joseph” is an obviously motivated reading, intended to prevent confusion over the virgin conception of Christ, argues strongly for ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ as the authentic reading here. See also the tc note on “parents” in 2:43.

[2:33]  ³⁴ tn The term refers to the amazement at what was happening as in other places in Luke 1–2 (1:63; 2:18). The participle is plural, while the finite verb used in the periphrastic construction is singular, perhaps to show a unity in the parents’ response (BDF §135.1.d: Luke 8:19).

[2:34]  ³⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[2:34]  ³⁶ tn Grk “behold.”

[2:34]  ³⁷ tn Grk “this one”; the referent (the child) is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[2:34]  ³⁸ sn The phrase the falling and rising of many emphasizes that Jesus will bring division in the nation, as some will be judged (falling) and others blessed (rising) because of how they respond to him. The language is like Isa 8:14-15 and conceptually like Isa 28:13-16. Here is the first hint that Jesus’ coming will be accompanied with some difficulties.

[2:34]  ³⁹ tn Grk “and for a sign of contradiction.”

[2:35]  ⁴⁰ tn Or “reasonings” (in a hostile sense). See G. Schrenk, TDNT 2:97.

[2:35]  ⁴¹ sn The remark the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed shows that how people respond to Jesus indicates where their hearts really are before God.

[2:35]  ⁴² sn A sword refers to a very large, broad two-edged sword. The language is figurative, picturing great pain. Though it refers in part to the cross, it really includes the pain all of Jesus’ ministry will cause, including the next event in Luke 2:41-52 and extending to the opposition he faced throughout his ministry.

[2:35]  ⁴³ sn This remark looks to be parenthetical and addressed to Mary alone, not the nation. Many modern English translations transpose this to make it the final clause in Simeon’s utterance as above to make this clear.

[2:36]  ⁴⁴ tn Her age is emphasized by the Greek phrase here, “she was very old in her many days.”

[2:37]  ⁴⁵ tn Grk “living with her husband for seven years from her virginity and she was a widow for eighty four years.” The chronology of the eighty-four years is unclear, since the final phrase could mean “she was widowed until the age of eighty-four” (so BDAG 423 s.v. ἕως 1.b.α). However, the more natural way to take the syntax is as a reference to the length of her widowhood, the subject of the clause, in which case Anna was about 105 years old (so D. L. Bock, Luke [BECNT], 1:251-52; I. H. Marshall, Luke, [NIGTC], 123-24).

[2:37]  ⁴⁶ sn The statements about Anna worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day make her extreme piety clear.

[2:38]  ⁴⁷ tn Grk “at that very hour.”

[2:38]  ⁴⁸ tn Grk “And coming up.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. The participle ἐπιστᾶσα (epistasa) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[2:38]  ⁴⁹ tn The imperfect ἐλάλει (elalei) here looks at a process of declaration, not a single moment. She clearly was led by God to address men and women about the hope Jesus was. The testimony of Luke 1—2 to Jesus has involved all types of people.

[2:38]  ⁵⁰ tn Grk “him”; the referent (the child) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:38]  ⁵¹ tc A few mss (1216 pc) read ᾿Ισραήλ (Israhl, “Israel”) or ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραήλ (en tw Israhl, “in Israel”), but this reading does not have enough ms support to be considered authentic. More substantial is the reading ἐν ᾿Ιερουσαλήμ (en Ierousalhm, “in Jerusalem”; found in A D L Θ Ψ 0130 ˹³ 33 Ï), though the preposition was almost surely added to clarify (and perhaps alter) the meaning of the original. The simple ᾿Ιερουσαλήμ, without preposition, is found in א B W Ξ 1 565* lat co.

[2:39]  ⁵² tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the topic.

[2:39]  ⁵³ tn Grk “when they”; the referents (Joseph and Mary) have been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:39]  ⁵⁴ tn Or “completed.”

[2:39]  ⁵⁵ sn On the phrase the law of the Lord see Luke 2:22-23.

[2:39]  ⁵⁶ tn Or “city.”

[2:39]  ⁵⁷ map For location see Map1 D3; Map2 C2; Map3 D5; Map4 C1; Map5 G3.

[2:40]  ⁵⁸ tc Most mss (A Θ Ψ Ë^1,13 33 Ï) read πνεύματι (pneumati, “in spirit”) after “became strong,” but this looks like an assimilation to Luke 1:80. The better witnesses (א B D L N W pc lat co) lack the word.

[2:40]  ⁵⁹ sn With the description grew and became strong, filled with wisdom Luke emphasizes the humanity of Jesus and his growth toward maturity.

[2:40]  ⁶⁰ tn Or “grace.”

[2:40]  ⁶¹ sn On the phrase the favor of God see Luke 1:66.

[2:41]  ⁶² tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[2:41]  ⁶³ tn Grk “his”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:41]  ⁶⁴ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[2:41]  ⁶⁵ tn On the distributive use of the term κατά (kata), see BDF §305.

[2:41]  ⁶⁶ sn The custom of Jesus and his family going to Jerusalem every year for the feast of the Passover shows their piety in obeying the law (Exod 23:14-17).

[2:42]  ⁶⁷ tn Grk “And when.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[2:42]  ⁶⁸ sn According to the Mishnah, the age of twelve years old is one year before a boy becomes responsible for his religious commitments (m. Niddah 5.6).

[2:42]  ⁶⁹ tc Most mss, especially later ones (A C^vid Θ Ψ 0130 Ë^1,13 33 Ï lat) have εἰς ῾Ιεροσόλυμα (eij" &ierosoluma, “to Jerusalem”) here, but the ms support for the omission is much stronger (א B D L W 579 1241 pc co); further, the longer reading clarifies what they went up to and thus looks like a motivated reading.

[2:43]  ⁷⁰ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated contrastively in keeping with the context. This outcome is different from what had happened all the times before.

[2:43]  ⁷¹ tn Grk “when the days ended.”

[2:43]  ⁷² tn The word “home” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied for clarity.

[2:43]  ⁷³ tn Grk “And his.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[2:43]  ⁷⁴ tc Most mss, especially later ones (A C Ψ 0130 ˹³ Ï it), read ᾿Ιωσὴφ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ (Iwshf kai Jh mhthr aujtou, “[both] Joseph and his mother”), a reading evidently intended to insulate the doctrine of the virgin conception of our Lord. But א B D L W Θ Ë¹ 33 579 1241 pc lat sa read οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ (Joi gonei" autou, “his parents”) as in the translation. Such motivated readings as the former lack credibility, especially since the better witnesses affirm the virgin conception of Christ in Luke 1:34-35.

[2:44]  ⁷⁵ sn An ancient journey like this would have involved a caravan of people who traveled together as a group for protection and fellowship.

[2:44]  ⁷⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[2:44]  ⁷⁷ tn Or “and friends.” See L&N 28.30 and 34.17.

[2:45]  ⁷⁸ tn Grk “And when.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[2:45]  ⁷⁹ sn The return to Jerusalem would have taken a second day, since they were already one day’s journey away.

[2:46]  ⁸⁰ tn Grk “And it happened that after.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[2:46]  ⁸¹ sn Three days means there was one day out, another day back, and a third day of looking in Jerusalem.

[2:46]  ⁸² tn Grk “the temple.”

[2:46]  ⁸³ tn This is the only place in Luke’s Gospel where the term διδάσκαλος (didaskalo", “teacher”) is applied to Jews.

[2:47]  ⁸⁴ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:47]  ⁸⁵ sn There was wonder (all who heard…were astonished) that Jesus at such a young age could engage in such a discussion. The fact that this story is told of a preteen hints that Jesus was someone special.

[2:48]  ⁸⁶ tn Grk “And when.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[2:48]  ⁸⁷ tn Grk “when they”; the referent (his parents) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[2:48]  ⁸⁸ tn Grk “And his.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[2:48]  ⁸⁹ tn The Greek word here is τέκνον (teknon) rather than υἱός (Juios, “son”).

[2:48]  ⁹⁰ tn Or “Child, why did you do this to us?”

[2:48]  ⁹¹ tn Or “your father and I have been terribly worried looking for you.”

[2:49]  ⁹² tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast.

[2:49]  ⁹³ tn Grk “he said to them.”

[2:49]  ⁹⁴ tn Grk “Why is it that you were looking for me?”

[2:49]  ⁹⁵ tn Or “I must be about my Father’s business” (so KJV, NKJV); Grk “in the [things] of my Father,” with an ellipsis. This verse involves an idiom that probably refers to the necessity of Jesus being involved in the instruction about God, given what he is doing. The most widely held view today takes this as a reference to the temple as the Father’s house. Jesus is saying that his parents should have known where he was.

[2:50]  ⁹⁶ tn Grk “And they.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast.

[2:50]  ⁹⁷ tn Grk “they”; the referent (his parents) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:50]  ⁹⁸ sn This was the first of many times those around Jesus did not understand what he was saying at the time (9:45; 10:21-24; 18:34).

[2:50]  ⁹⁹ tn Or “the matter.”

[2:50]  ¹⁰⁰ tn Grk “which he spoke.”

[2:51]  ¹⁰¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[2:51]  ¹⁰² map For location see Map1 D3; Map2 C2; Map3 D5; Map4 C1; Map5 G3.

[2:51]  ¹⁰³ tn Or “was submitting.”

[2:51]  ¹⁰⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast.

[2:51]  ¹⁰⁵ tn Or “all these words.”

[2:51]  ¹⁰⁶ sn On the phrase his mother kept all these things in her heart compare Luke 2:19.

[2:52]  ¹⁰⁷ tn Or “kept increasing.” The imperfect tense suggests something of a progressive force to the verb.