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Luke 2:22-40
Contemporary English Version
Luke 2:22-40
Contemporary English Version
Simeon Praises the Lord
22 (A) The time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the Law of Moses says a mother is supposed to do after her baby is born.[a]
They took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem and presented him to the Lord, 23 (B) just as the Law of the Lord says, “Each first-born[b] baby boy belongs to the Lord.” 24 The Law of the Lord also says parents have to offer a sacrifice, giving at least a pair of doves or two young pigeons. So that is what Mary and Joseph did.
25 At this time a man named Simeon was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for him to save the people of Israel. God's Spirit came to him 26 and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord.
27 When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to do what the Law of Moses says should be done for a new baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple. 28 Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God,
29 “Lord, I am your servant,
and now I can die in peace,
because you have kept
your promise to me.
30 With my own eyes I have seen
what you have done
to save your people,
31 and foreign nations
will also see this.
32 (C) Your mighty power is a light
for all nations,
and it will bring honor
to your people Israel.”
33 Jesus' parents were surprised at what Simeon had said. 34 Then he blessed them and told Mary, “This child of yours will cause many people in Israel to fall and others to stand. The child will be like a warning sign. Many people will reject him, 35 and you, Mary, will suffer as though you had been stabbed by a dagger. But all this will show what people are really thinking.”
Anna Speaks about the Child Jesus
36 (D) The prophet Anna was also there in the temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. In her youth she had been married for seven years, but her husband died. 37 And now she was 84 years old.[c] Night and day she served God in the temple by praying and often going without eating.[d]
38 At this time Anna came in and praised God. She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free.
The Return to Nazareth
39 (E) After Joseph and Mary had done everything that the Law of the Lord commands, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40 The child Jesus grew. He became strong and wise, and God blessed him.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2.22 after her baby is born: After a Jewish mother gave birth to a son, she was considered “unclean” and had to stay home until he was circumcised (see the note at 1.59). Then she had to stay home for another 33 days, before offering a sacrifice to the Lord.
- 2.23 first-born: See the note at 2.7.
- 2.37 And now she was 84 years old: Or “And now she had been a widow for 84 years.”
- 2.37 without eating: The Jewish people sometimes went without eating (also called “fasting”) to show their love for God or to show sorrow for their sins.
Luke 2:22-40
New International Version
Luke 2:22-40
New International Version
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses,(A) Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[a]),(B) 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[b](C)
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.(D) He was waiting for the consolation of Israel,(E) and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,(F) 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,(G)
you may now dismiss[c] your servant in peace.(H)
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,(I)
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”(J)
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:(K) “This child is destined to cause the falling(L) and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet,(M) Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[d](N) She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.(O) 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.(P)
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.(Q) 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.(R)
Luke 2:22-40
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Luke 2:22-40
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord(A) 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”),(B) 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.(C) 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.[a](D) 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon[b] came into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law,(E) 28 Simeon[c] took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word,(F)
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,(G)
31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”(H)
33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed(I) 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul, too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,(J) 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day.(K) 38 At that moment she came and began to praise God and to speak about the child[d] to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.(L)
The Return to Nazareth
39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.(M) 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.(N)
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Luke 2:22-40
New American Standard Bible
Luke 2:22-40
New American Standard Bible
22 (A)And when the days for [a]their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “(B)Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what has been stated in the Law of the Lord: “(C)A pair of turtledoves or two young doves.”
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was (D)righteous and devout, (E)looking forward to the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And (F)it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not (G)see death before he had seen the Lord’s [b]Christ. 27 And he came [c]by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, [d](H)to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now, Lord, You are letting Your bond-servant depart in peace,
(I)According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have (J)seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all the peoples:
32 (K)A light for revelation [e]for the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And His father and (L)mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to (M)His mother Mary, “Behold, this Child is appointed for (N)the fall and [f]rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be [g]opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a (O)prophetess, [h]Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of (P)the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in [i]years (Q)and had lived with her husband for seven years after her [j]marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She did not leave the temple grounds, serving night and day with (R)fasts and prayers. 38 And at that very [k]moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak about Him to all those who were (S)looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Return to Nazareth
39 And when His parents had completed everything in accordance with the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to (T)their own city of Nazareth. 40 (U)Now the Child continued to grow and to become strong, [l]increasing in wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Luke 2:22 I.e., Mary’s, with Joseph’s support
- Luke 2:26 I.e., Messiah
- Luke 2:27 Or in
- Luke 2:27 Lit to do for Him according to
- Luke 2:32 Lit of the Gentiles
- Luke 2:34 Or resurrection
- Luke 2:34 Or refused
- Luke 2:36 Or Hannah
- Luke 2:36 Lit days
- Luke 2:36 Lit virginity
- Luke 2:38 Lit hour
- Luke 2:40 Lit becoming full of
Luke 2:22-40
The Message
Luke 2:22-40
The Message
22-24 Then when the days stipulated by Moses for purification were complete, they took him up to Jerusalem to offer him to God as commanded in God’s Law: “Every male who opens the womb shall be a holy offering to God,” and also to sacrifice the “pair of doves or two young pigeons” prescribed in God’s Law.
25-32 In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God:
God, you can now release your servant;
release me in peace as you promised.
With my own eyes I’ve seen your salvation;
it’s now out in the open for everyone to see:
A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations,
and of glory for your people Israel.
33-35 Jesus’ father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words. Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary his mother,
This child marks both the failure and
the recovery of many in Israel,
A figure misunderstood and contradicted—
the pain of a sword-thrust through you—
But the rejection will force honesty,
as God reveals who they really are.
36-38 Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman. She had been married seven years and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fastings and prayers. At the very time Simeon was praying, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem.
39-40 When they finished everything required by God in the Law, they returned to Galilee and their own town, Nazareth. There the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace of God was on him.
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New International Version (NIV) 
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New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
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The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson