Devine Scripture

Luke 2:22

What does Luke 2:22 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 2:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 2:22 means

After the prescribed period of purification for Mary, according to the Law of Moses (Leviticus 12), Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem. Their purpose was to present Him to the Lord at the Temple, acknowledging His holiness and God's claim on His life. This consistent adherence to the Law demonstrates their piety and their understanding that Jesus, though divine, was also fully human and subject to the Mosaic covenant.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when the necessary days for making them clean by the law of Moses had come to an end, they took him to Jerusalem to give him to the Lord

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And when the days of their purification were fulfilled, according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present to the Lord,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And when the days were fulfilled for their purifying according to the law of Moses, they brought him to Jerusalem to present [him] to the Lord

Context

This verse describes the next religious observance following Jesus' circumcision. It signals a move from Bethlehem to Jerusalem and explains the purpose of their visit to the Temple: purification and presentation. This act further grounds Jesus' early life in Jewish custom and law, setting the stage for the prophetic encounters with Simeon and Anna in the Temple.

v.21And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

v.22This passage

v.23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord),

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

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