Luke 2
2
The Birth of Jesus
1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus # 2:1 Mt 22:17; Lk 3:1 that the whole empire # 2:1 Or the whole inhabited world should be registered. 2This first registration took place while # 2:2 Or This registration was the first while, or This registration was before Quirinius was governing Syria. # 2:2 Mt 4:24 3So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.
4Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth # 2:4 Mt 2:23; 4:13; 21:11; Jn 1:45 in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, # 2:4 Gn 35:19; 48:7; Jos 19:15; Jdg 12:10; 17:7–9; Ru 1:1; 1Sm 16:1; Mc 5:2 because he was of the house and family line of David, # 2:4 Lk 1:27 5to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him # 2:5 Lit betrothed and was pregnant. 6While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, # 2:7 Or feeding trough, also in vv. 12,16 because there was no guest room available for them.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9Then an angel of the Lord # 2:9 Mt 1:20; 2:13,19; 28:2; Lk 1:11; Ac 5:19; 8:26; 12:7; 12:23 stood before them, # 2:9 Lk 24:4; Ac 12:7 and the glory of the Lord # 2:9 Ex 24:16; 40:34–35; Lv 9:6,23; Nm 20:6; 1Kg 8:11; Is 35:2; 40:5; 60:1 shone around them, and they were terrified. # 2:9 Lit they feared a great fear 10But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, # 2:10 Mt 14:27 for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: # 2:10 Or the whole nation 11Today in the city of David a Savior # 2:11 Mt 1:21; Jn 4:42; Ac 5:31 was born for you, who is the Messiah, # 2:11 Mt 1:16; 16:16,20; Jn 11:27 the Lord. # 2:11 Lk 1:43; Ac 2:36; 10:36 12This will be the sign for you: # 2:12 1Sm 2:34; 2Kg 19:29; 20:8–9; Is 7:11,14 You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host # 2:13 Lit heavenly army with the angel, praising God and saying:
14Glory to God in the highest heaven, # 2:14 Mt 21:9; Lk 19:38
and peace on earth # 2:14 Lk 12:51 to people he favors! # 2:14 Other mss read earth good will to people,# 2:14 Or earth to men of good will,# 2:14 Lk 3:22; Eph 1:9; Php 2:13
15When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed # 2:18 Lk 1:63; 2:33; 4:22; 8:25; 9:43; 11:14,38; 20:26; 24:12,41 at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart # 2:19 Lk 2:51 and meditating on them. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God # 2:20 Mt 9:8 for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.
The Circumcision and Presentation of Jesus
21When the eight days were completed for his circumcision, # 2:21 Lk 1:59 he was named Jesus # 2:21 Lk 1:31 — the name given by the angel before he was conceived. 22And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, # 2:22 Lv 12:6–8 they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(just as it is written in the law of the Lord,Every firstborn male will be dedicated # 2:23 Lit be called holyto the Lord # 2:23 Ex 13:2,12,# 2:23 Ex 11:5; 12:12,29; 13:2,12; 34:19; Dt 15:19) 24and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons # 2:24 Lv 5:11; 12:8,# 2:24 Lv 5:11; 12:8).
Simeon’s Prophetic Praise
25There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, # 2:25 Lk 1:6 looking forward to Israel’s consolation, # 2:25 Ps 135:14; Is 40:1–2,11; 49:10,13; 51:3,12; 57:18; 61:2; 66:13; Jr 31:9; Mk 15:43; Lk 2:38; 23:51 and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit # 2:26 Mt 2:12 that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. # 2:26 Ps 89:48; Jn 8:51; Heb 11:5 27Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said,
29Now, Master,
you can dismiss your servant in peace,
as you promised.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation. # 2:30 Ps 119:166,174; Is 52:10; Lk 3:6
31You have prepared it
in the presence of all peoples —
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles # 2:32 Or the nations,# 2:32 Is 42:6; 49:6,9; Ac 13:47; 26:23
and glory to your people Israel. # 2:32 Is 46:13 LXX
33His father and mother # 2:33 Other mss read But Joseph and his mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel # 2:34 Mt 21:44; 1Co 1:23; 2Co 2:16; 1Pt 2:8 and to be a sign that will be opposed # 2:34 Or spoken against — 35and a sword will pierce your own soul — that the thoughts # 2:35 Or schemes of many hearts may be revealed.”
Anna’s Testimony
36There was also a prophetess, # 2:36 Lk 2:38; Ac 21:9 Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. # 2:36 Jos 19:24 She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, # 2:36 Lit years from her virginity,# 2:36 1Tm 5:9 37and was a widow for eighty-four years. # 2:37 Or she was a widow until the age of eighty-four She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. # 2:37 Lk 5:33; Ac 13:3; 14:23; 1Tm 5:5 38At that very moment, # 2:38 Lit very hour she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. # 2:38 Other mss read in Jerusalem,# 2:38 Is 52:9; Lk 1:68; 2:25
The Family’s Return to Nazareth
39When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. # 2:39 Mt 2:23; Lk 1:26; 2:51; 4:16 40The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on him. # 2:40 Lk 1:80; 2:52
In His Father’s House
41Every year his parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. # 2:41 Ex 12:11; 23:15; Dt 16:1–6 42When he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival. # 2:42 Dt 16:16–17 43After those days were over, # 2:43 Ex 12:15 as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents # 2:43 Other mss read but Joseph and his mother did not know it. 44Assuming he was in the traveling party, they went a day’s journey. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46After three days, they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all those who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, # 2:48 Mt 12:46 “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” # 2:48 Lk 2:49; 3:23; 4:22
49 “Why were you searching for me? ” he asked them. “Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house? ” # 2:49 Or be involved in my Father’s interests (or things), or be among my Father’s people 50But they did not understand what he said to them. # 2:50 Mk 9:32; Lk 9:45; 18:34
In Favor with God and with People
51Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart. # 2:51 Lk 2:19 52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people. # 2:52 Lk 2:40
Currently Selected:
Luke 2: CSB
Highlight
Copy
Compare
Share
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Lukas 2
2
1And it came about at that time that a dvar malchut (decree) was sent out from Caesar Augustus to register everyone in the entire Roman Empire. 2This former mifkad was that taken while Quirinius was ruling in Syria (see Ac 5:37 for latter). 3And everyone was traveling to register, each to his own shtetl. 4Now Yosef#2:4 ben Dovid also went up from the Galil, from the shtetl of Natzeret, to Yehudah, to the Ir Dovid (City of David), which is called Beit-Lechem, because he was of the mishpochah and Bais of Dovid. 5And Yosef#2:5 ben Dovid went up to register with Miryam, who had been given to him in erusin (betrothal) and who was with child. 6And it came about, while they were there, the yamim (days) were fulfilled for Miryam to give birth. 7And she bore her ben, her Bechor (firstborn); and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in an evus (animal feeding trough), because there was no place for them in the malon (inn).
8And ro'im (shepherds) were in the same region, living outside in the open air, and keeping shomer over their eder (flock) balailah. 9And, suddenly, a malach Hashem stood before them, and the kavod Hashem shone around them; and they were afraid with a yirah gedolah (great fear). 10And the malach said to them, Do not have pachad (fear, terror); for hinei I announce Besuras HaGeulah to you of great simcha (joy) which will be for kol Am Berit (all the People of the Covenant); 11Because hayom, in Ir Dovid, has been born to you a Moshia (Go'el, Savior, Oisleizer), who is Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach HaAdon.#2:11 Isa 9:6[5]; Mal 3:1 12And this will be HaOt (The Sign) to you: you will find a small child, an infant, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in an evus.#2:12 1Sm 2:34; 2Kgs 19:29; Ps 86:17; Isa 7:14 13And, suddenly, there was with the malach a multitude of the Tzivos Hashem, the Tzivos HaShomayim (Armies or Hosts of Heaven) praising Hashem, and saying, 14Kavod to Hashem in the Highest; and on haaretz shalom among Bnei Adam kavvanah tovah (of good intention).#2:14 Isa 9:5-6; 52:7; 53:5; Mic 5:4-5
15And it came about, when the malachim withdrew from them to Shomayim, the roim (shepherds) were saying to one another, Let us go now up to Beit-Lechem and let us see this thing that has come about which Hashem has made known to us. 16And they came in haste and found both Miryam and Yosef,#2:16 ben Dovid and the child was lying in the evus (animal feeding trough).#2:16 See Isa 53:7 on Moshiach the Seh 17And when the roim saw this, they made known the dvar concerning this yeled which had been told them. 18And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the roim (shepherds). 19But Miryam was treasuring up all these things, pondering them in her lev. 20And the roim went back, and as they returned, they cried, Baruch Hashem! They gave kavod to G-d for all that they had heard and seen, just as it had been foretold to them.
21And when shemonah yamim were completed for his bris milah, YEHOSHUA was given as SHMO, which he was called by the malach, before he was conceived in the womb.#2:21 Zech 6:11-12; 3:8
22And when the yamim (days) for their tohorah (purification) according to the Torah of Moshe were completed, they brought him up to Yerushalayim to present him to Hashem.#2:22 Lv 12:2-8; also see NUM 3 on Pidyon haben 23As it has been written in the Torat Hashem, KHOL ZACHAR opening the RECHEM KODESH to Hashem,#2:23 Ex 13:2,12,15; Num 3:13 24And to offer a korban according to the thing having been said in the Torat Hashem, SHTEI TORIM O SHNEI BENI YONAH (a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons).#2:24 Lv 12:8 25And there was an ish in Yerushalayim whose shem was Shim'on, a tzaddik, a chasid, awaiting the Nechamat Yisroel (Consolation of Israel), and the Ruach Hakodesh was upon him.#2:25 Isa 52:9 26And it had been revealed to him by the Ruach Hakodesh that he was not to see mavet until he had seen Hashemʼs Moshiach. 27And Shim'on came in the Ruach Hakodesh into the courts of the Beis HaMikdash; and when the horim (parents) brought in the yeled, Yehoshua, to do concerning him the required mitzvah of the Torah,#2:27 Lv 12:6-8 28Then Shim'on took him into his arms, saying, Baruch Hashem, and the following: 29And now, Adonoi, dismiss Your eved in shalom, according to Your dvar (word); 30Because my eynayim have beheld the Yeshu'at Eloheinu,#2:30 Isa 40:5; 52:10 31Which You prepared in the presence of kol haammim (all the peoples), 32An Ohr (Light) to give hisgalus (revelation) to the Nations and the kavod (glory) of Your Am (people), Yisroel.#2:32 Isa 42:6; 49:6
33And the Abba and Em of the yeled were amazed at the things being spoken about him. 34And Shim'on said a bracha over them and said to Miryam his Em, Hinei this one is destined for the michshol (stumbling) and tekumah (revival) of RABBIM#2:34 Isa 53:11-12 in Yisroel and for an Ot (Sign) that will be opposed (against which there will be mitnaggedim, opponents).#2:34 Isa 8:14; 53:3 35And a cherev (sword) will pierce the neshamah of you yourself also so that the machshavot of many levavot (hearts) will be revealed.
36And there was a neviah (prophetess) named Chanah Bat Pnuel, of the shevet (tribe) of Asher. This isha (woman) was advanced in age, having lived with her baal (husband) sheva shanim (seven years) from her betulim (virginity), 37And then to the age of eighty-four she had lived as an almanah (widow) who was not departing from the Beis HaMikdash, serving yomam valailah (day and night) with tzomot (fastings) and tefillos. 38And at that very moment she came and stood nearby, exclaiming, Baruch Hashem. And she continued speaking about him to all the ones anticipating the Geulah (Redemption) of Yerushalayim.#2:38 Isa 40:2; 52:9
39And when they had been shomer mitzvot and completed everything according to the Torat Hashem, they returned to the Galil and to their own shtetl of Natzeret. 40And the yeled continued growing and was given chozek (strength), being filled with chochmah (wisdom), and the Chen vChesed Hashem was upon him.
41And his horim (parents) used to make aliyah leregel (pilgrimage) to Yerushalayim shanah b'shanah (year by year) for Chag HaPesach (the Feast of Pesach).#2:41 Ex 23:15; Dt 16:1-8 42And when he became a bocher of twelve years of age, they made aliyah leregel (pilgrimage), as usual, according to the mitzvah and minhag of the Chag. 43And as they were returning, having fulfilled the prescribed number of yamim (days), the bocher Yehoshua stayed behind in Yerushalayim. And his horim (parents) did not have daas (knowledge) of this, 44But supposed him to be in the caravan, and went a dayʼs journey. And they began looking for him among the krovim (relatives) and acquaintances. 45And, not having found him, they returned to Yerushalayim, looking for him. 46And it came about, that after shlosha yamim (three days) they found him in the courts of the Beis HaMikdash, sitting in the midst of the rabbis, both listening to them and asking them she'elot (kashes, questions). 47And all the ones listening to him where amazed at his binah and at his teshuvot (answers). 48And when his horim (parents) saw him, they were astounded, and his Em (mother) said to him, Beni, why did you do thus to us? Hinei, your abba and I were anxiously looking for you. 49And he said to them, Why is it that you were looking for me? Did you not have daas that I must be in the Beis Avi?#2:49 i.e., dealing with His affairs 50And they did not have binah of the dvar which he spoke to them. 51And he went down with them, and they came to Natzeret; and he continued in mishma'at (obedience) to his horim (parents). And his Em (mother) was treasuring all these things in her lev (heart).
52And Yehoshua kept increasing in chochmah V'GADEL VATOV GAM IM HASHEM VGAM IM ANASHIM (and in stature and favor with Hashem and men).#2:52 1Sm 2:26
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Copy
Compare
Share
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
THE ORTHODOX JEWISH BIBLE
FOURTH EDITION REVISED © Artists For Israel Intl Inc., 2002-2011, 2021, 2024.