Luke 2:36 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,

NIV: There was also a prophet, 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,

NASB: And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage,

CSB: There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,

NLT: Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years.

KJV: And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

NKJV: Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;

Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus have just encountered Simeon, a devout man, while in the temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:22–35). Simeon was led into the temple by the Holy Spirit, specifically for that meeting with Christ and His family. This verse introduces another person who seems to have been called the same way: a woman named Anna.

Scripture gives no details about Anna other than what's described in these verses. Depending on how one translates this passage, she is either eighty-four years old, or has lived eighty-four years since the death of her husband (Luke 2:37). The first option seems the most correct. Her life has been spent mostly in prayer and fasting. Her description as a "prophetess" comes before and separately from her declarations about Jesus. The Bible does not explain what, exactly, she did to earn this designation. Other women in the Old Testament, such as Miriam (Exodus 15:20) and Deborah (Judges 4:4) were called by the same title.

Anna, like Simeon, is devoted to God. When she sees Jesus—the Messiah—she begins proclaiming His arrival to everyone. Her understanding of Jesus' role uses similar phrasing as that of Simeon. Jesus is referred to as "the redemption of Israel," much as Simeon was looking forward to "the consolation of Israel" (Luke 2:25). Old Testament prophecy indicated that the Messiah would usher in an unending kingdom for Israel (Isaiah 9:6–7).

Luke 2:22–38 contains several interesting events. The infant Jesus is brought to the temple for purification and dedication, as commanded in Mosaic law. There, a devout man speaks through the Holy Spirit to celebrate the arrival of Messiah. Luke also mentions a prophetess named Anna, who likewise praises God for fulfilling His promises.

The early part of this chapter is famously read at Christmas, while celebrating the birth of Jesus. Luke gives a relatively brief description of how Mary came to give birth in a stable, laying Jesus in a feeding trough. Nearby shepherds are informed of the news by multiple angels. Two people speak in praise of God at Jesus' circumcision. Years later, Joseph and Mary lose track of Jesus on the way back from Jerusalem, only to find Him astounding teachers in the temple with His wisdom.

Luke began his well-organized account by explaining the conceptions of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist, in chapter 1. In chapter 2, he briefly summarizes Jesus' birth and the arrival of shepherds directed by angels. Prophecies and prayers celebrate His dedication at the temple. After briefly losing track of a twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple, Jesus' parents take Him home to Nazareth. There, He grows up relatively normally. Chapter 3 leaps forward many years to the beginning of John the Baptist's preaching. This is followed by Jesus' genealogy. Chapter 4 relates Jesus' temptations by Satan and the start of His public ministry.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.