Devine Scripture

Luke 2:3

What does Luke 2:3 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 2:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 2:3 means

The decree required everyone to return to their ancestral city for registration. This was a significant undertaking for many, involving arduous travel for families across the vast Roman-controlled territories. For Joseph, this meant traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem. This mass movement of people, dictated by an earthly emperor, was unwittingly serving a higher purpose: God's eternal plan to bring His Son into the world in the prophesied city, illustrating divine sovereignty at work through human decrees.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And all men went to be numbered, everyone to his town.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and all were going to be enrolled, each to his proper city,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And all went to be inscribed in the census roll, each to his own city:

Context

Following the introduction of the census in verses 1 and 2, this verse explains the practical consequence for the populace: a mandated return to their family's city. This directly leads into the next verses, which focus on Joseph and Mary's specific journey. It establishes the immediate impetus for their travel, setting up the scene for the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

v.2This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

v.3This passage

v.4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;

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