Luke 2:22-24

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.” ²⁴The 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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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.