Devine Scripture

Luke 3:23

What does Luke 3:23 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 3:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 3:23 means

Luke now states that Jesus was about thirty years old when He began His public ministry, a customary age for rabbinical teaching. He also introduces Jesus' legal lineage through Joseph, who was "supposed" to be Jesus' father. This parenthetical note acknowledges Joseph's legal role while preserving the truth of Jesus' divine conception. The subsequent detailed genealogy roots Jesus within human history, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and connecting Him to the covenant people.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Jesus himself, when he beganto teach, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Jesus himself, when he beganto teach, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And Jesus at this time was about thirty years old, being the son (as it seemed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Jesus himself was beginning to be about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, son of Joseph,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And Jesus himself was beginning about the age of thirty years: being (as it was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was of Heli, who was of Mathat,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Jesus himself was beginning to be about thirty years old; being as was supposed son of Joseph; of Eli,

Context

Following the divine affirmation of Jesus' identity and mission at His baptism, this verse provides practical details about the start of His ministry and introduces His human lineage. It transitions from the theological significance of His baptism to His historical and familial background, setting the scene for the extensive genealogy that follows and provides His human context.

v.22and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

v.23This passage

v.24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

Cross references

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

  • Numbers 4:39

    from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entered upon the service, for work in the tent of meeting,

  • Matthew 1:1

    The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

  • Acts 1:1

    The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,

  • John 6:42

    And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how doth he now say, I am come down out of heaven?

  • Matthew 4:17

    From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

  • Luke 4:22

    And all bare him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of his mouth: and they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?

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