Luke 2:49

Luke 2:49 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
• New International Version (NIV)“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

Context of Luke 2:49

47All who heard Him were amazed by His intelligence and His understanding and His answers. 48When they saw Him, they were overwhelmed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us like this? Listen, Your father and I have been [greatly distressed and] anxiously looking for You.” And He answered, “Why did you have to look for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” 50But they did not understand what He had said to them. 51He went down to Nazareth with them, and was continually submissive and obedient to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

Luke 2:49 word by word

Καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· τί ὅτι ἐζητεῖτέ με; οὐκ ᾔδειτε ὅτι ἐν τοῖς τοῦ πατρός μου δεῖ εἶναί με;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• he saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Howτίςtis · which?G5101
• is it thatὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• ye soughtζητέωzēteō · to seekG2212
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• wist yeεἴδωeidō · to perceive: knowG1492
• notοὐou · noG3756
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• mustδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• aboutἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• Father’sὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Father’sπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962

Cross-references for Luke 2:49

• Luke 2:48When they saw Him, they were overwhelmed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us like this? Listen, Your father and I have been [greatly distressed and] anxiously looking for You.”
• Psalms 40:8I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”
• Malachi 3:1“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will prepare and clear the way before Me. And the Lord [the Messiah], whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.
• Matthew 21:12And Jesus entered the temple [grounds] and drove out [with force] all who were buying and selling [birds and animals for sacrifice] in the temple area, and He turned over the tables of the moneychangers [who made a profit exchanging foreign money for temple coinage] and the chairs of those who were selling doves [for sacrifice].
• John 2:16then to those who sold the doves He said, “Take these things away! Stop making My Father’s house a place of commerce!”
• John 4:34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to completely finish His work.
• John 5:17But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now [He has never ceased working], and I too am working.”
• John 6:38For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
• John 8:29And He who sent Me is [always] with Me; He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”
• John 9:4We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.

Commentaries on Luke 2:49

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 49How is it that ye sought me? - Is not this intended as a gentle reproof? Why had ye me to seek? Ye should not have left my company, when ye knew I am constantly employed in performing the will of the Most High. My Father's business? - , My Father's concerns. Some think that these words should be translated, In my Father's house; which was a reason that they should have sought him in the temple only. As if he had said, Where should a child be found, but in…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 49How is it … - “Why” have ye sought me with so much anxiety? “Mary” should have known that the Son of God was safe; that his heavenly Father would take care of him, and that he could do nothing amiss. Wist ye not - “Know ye not.” You had reason to know. You knew my design in coming into the world, and that design was “superior” to the duty of obeying earthly parents, and they should be willing always to give me up to the proper business for which I live…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 41-52Verses 41-52 It is for the honour of Christ that children should attend on public worship. His parents did not return till they had stayed all the seven days of the feast. It is well to stay to the end of an ordinance, as becomes those who say, It is good to be here. Those that have lost their comforts in Christ, and the evidences of their having a part in him, must bethink themselves where, and when, and how they lost them, and must turn back again…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 49Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?: Jesus knew his most important relationship was with his Father in heaven.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4949. about my Father's business--literally, "in" or "at My Fathers," that is, either "about My Father's affairs," or "in My Father's courts"--where He dwells and is to be found--about His hand, so to speak. This latter shade of meaning, which includes the former, is perhaps the true one, Here He felt Himself at home, breathing His own proper air. His words convey a gentle rebuke of their obtuseness in requiring Him to explain this. "Once here, thought ye I…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 2:49

• Diligence
• God
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Joseph
• Mary
• Passover

In the dictionaries

• Consolation
• Decree
• Depart
• Devout
• Glory
• Inn
• Lighten
• Mary
• Pair
• Ponder

Commentaries on Luke 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings