Luke 2:45
What does Luke 2:45 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 2:45 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 2:45 means
Once they realized Jesus was missing, His worried parents immediately turned back and returned to Jerusalem, desperately searching for Him. Their anxious return and diligent search convey the depth of their concern and love for their Son. This personal distress underscores the human reality of raising the divine Jesus, fraught with moments of uncertainty and profound responsibility.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And seeing that he was not there, they went back to Jerusalem, to make search for him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and not having found him, they turned back to Jerusalem seeking him.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and not having found him they returned to Jerusalem seeking him.
Context
This verse intensifies the drama, describing Mary and Joseph's desperate return to Jerusalem to search for Jesus. It logically follows their discovery of His absence after a day's journey. This frantic search builds anticipation for where and how they will eventually find Him, leading directly to the significant scene in the Temple.
v.44but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance:
v.45This passage
v.46And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions:
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