Luk 2:41-52 | NETfull | STEP | Now Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem every year for the feast of the Passover.

Luke 2:41-52

Jesus in the Temple

41 Now ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.} Jesus’ ^{▼▼ Grk “his”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} parents went to Jerusalem ^{▼▼ For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; Journey of Paul map 1-F4; Journey of Paul map 2-F4; Journey of Paul map 3-F4; Journey of Paul map 4-F4.} every ^{▼▼ On the distributive use of the term κατά (kata), see BDF #305.} year for the feast of the Passover. ^{▼▼ The custom of Jesus and his family going to Jerusalem every year for the feast of the Passover shows their piety in obeying the law (Exod 23:14–17).} 42 When ^{▼▼ Grk “And when.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.} he was twelve years old, ^{▼▼ According to the Mishnah, the age of twelve years old is one year before a boy becomes responsible for his religious commitments (m. Niddah 5.6).} they went up ^{▼▼ Most mss, especially later ones (A C^vid Θ Ψ 0130 f^{1, 13} 33 Maj. lat) have εἰς ῾Ιεροσόλυμα (eis Jerosoluma, “to Jerusalem”) here, but the ms support for the omission is much stronger (א B D L W 579 1241 pc co); further, the longer reading clarifies what they went up to and thus looks like a motivated reading.} according to custom. 43 But ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has been translated contrastively in keeping with the context. This outcome is different from what had happened all the times before.} when the feast was over, ^{▼▼ Grk “when the days ended.”} as they were returning home, ^{▼▼ The word “home” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied for clarity.} the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His ^{▼▼ Grk “And his.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.} parents ^{▼▼ Most mss, especially later ones (A C Ψ 0130 f¹³ Maj. it), read ᾿Ιωσὴφ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ (Iōsēf kai hē mētēr autou, “[both] Joseph and his mother”), a reading evidently intended to insulate the doctrine of the virgin conception of our Lord. But א B D L W Θ f¹ 33 579 1241 pc lat sa read οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ (hoi goneis autou, “his parents”) as in the translation. Such motivated readings as the former lack credibility, especially since the better witnesses affirm the virgin conception of Christ in Luke 1:34–35.} did not know it, 44 but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers) ^{▼▼ An ancient journey like this would have involved a caravan of people who traveled together as a group for protection and fellowship.} they went a day’s journey. Then ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.} they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances. ^{▼▼ Or “and friends.” See L&N 28.30 and 34.17.} 45 When ^{▼▼ Grk “And when.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.} they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem ^{▼▼ The return to Jerusalem would have taken a second day, since they were already one day’s journey away.} to look for him. 46 After ^{▼▼ Grk “And it happened that after.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.} three days ^{▼▼ Three days means there was one day out, another day back, and a third day of looking in Jerusalem.} they found him in the temple courts, ^{▼▼ Grk “the temple.”} sitting among the teachers, ^{▼▼ This is the only place in Luke’s Gospel where the term διδάσκαλος (didaskalos, “teacher”) is applied to Jews.} listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Jesus ^{▼▼ Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} were astonished ^{▼▼ There was wonder (all who heard…were astonished) that Jesus at such a young age could engage in such a discussion. The fact that this story is told of a preteen hints that Jesus was someone special.} at his understanding and his answers. 48 When ^{▼▼ Grk “And when.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.} his parents ^{▼▼ Grk “when they”; the referent (his parents) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.} saw him, they were overwhelmed. His ^{▼▼ Grk “And his.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.} mother said to him, “Child, ^{▼▼ The Greek word here is τέκνον (teknon) rather than υἱός (huios, “son”).} why have you treated ^{▼▼ Or “Child, why did you do this to us?”} us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” ^{▼▼ Or “your father and I have been terribly worried looking for you.”} 49 But ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast.} he replied, ^{▼▼ Grk “he said to them.”} “Why were you looking for me? ^{▼▼ Grk “Why is it that you were looking for me?”} Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ^{▼▼ Or “I must be about my Father’s business” (so KJV, NKJV); Grk “in the [things] of my Father,” with an ellipsis. This verse involves an idiom that probably refers to the necessity of Jesus being involved in the instruction about God, given what he is doing. The most widely held view today takes this as a reference to the temple as the Father’s house. Jesus is saying that his parents should have known where he was.} 50 Yet ^{▼▼ Grk “And they.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast.} his parents ^{▼▼ Grk “they”; the referent (his parents) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} did not understand ^{▼▼ This was the first of many times those around Jesus did not understand what he was saying at the time (9:45; 10:21–24; 18:34).} the remark ^{▼▼ Or “the matter.”} he made ^{▼▼ Grk “which he spoke.”} to them. 51 Then ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.} he went down with them and came to Nazareth, ^{▼▼ For location see Map1-D3; Map2-C2; Map3-D5; Map4-C1; Map5-G3.} and was obedient ^{▼▼ Or “was submitting.”} to them. But ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast.} his mother kept all these things ^{▼▼ Or “all these words.”} in her heart. ^{▼▼ On the phrase his mother kept all these things in her heart compare Luke 2:19.}

52 And Jesus increased ^{▼▼ Or “kept increasing.” The imperfect tense suggests something of a progressive force to the verb.} in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people.