Darby Bible
Luke 2:37
37and herself a widow up to eighty-four years; who did not depart from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers;
Luke 2:37 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
- New International Version (NIV)and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
- English Standard Version (ESV)and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
- New King James Version (NKJV)and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
Context of Luke 2:37
35(and even a sword shall go through thine own soul;) so that [the] thoughts may be revealed from many hearts. 36And there was a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of [the] tribe of Asher, who was far advanced in years, having lived with [her] husband seven years from her virginity, and herself a widow up to eighty-four years; who did not depart from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers; 38and she coming up the same hour gave praise to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who waited for redemption in Jerusalem. 39And when they had completed all things according to the law of [the] Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own city Nazareth.
Read all of Luke 2Luke 2:37 word by word
καὶ αὐτὴ χήρα ἕως ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων ἣ οὐκ ἀφίστατο τοῦ ἱεροῦ νηστείαις καὶ δεήσεσιν λατρεύουσα νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν·Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Luke 2:37
- Exodus 38:8And he made the laver of copper, and its stand of copper, of the mirrors of the crowds of women who crowded before the entrance of the tent of meeting.
- 1 Samuel 2:2There is none holy as Jehovah, for there is none beside thee, neither is there any rock like our God.
- Psalms 23:6Surely, goodness and loving-kindness shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of Jehovah for the length of the days.
- Psalms 27:4One [thing] have I asked of Jehovah, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Jehovah, and to inquire [of him] in his temple.
- Psalms 84:4Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be constantly praising thee. Selah.
- Psalms 92:13Those that are planted in the house of Jehovah shall flourish in the courts of our God:
- Psalms 135:1Hallelujah! Praise the name of Jehovah; praise, ye servants of Jehovah,
- Revelation 3:12He that overcomes, him will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more at all out; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven, from my God, and my new name.
- Psalms 22:2My God, I cry by day, and thou answerest not; and by night, and there is no rest for me:
- Acts 26:7to which our whole twelve tribes serving incessantly day and night hope to arrive; about which hope, O king, I am accused of [the] Jews.
- 1 Timothy 5:5Now she who [is] a widow indeed, and is left alone, has put [her] hope in God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.
- Revelation 7:15Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, and he that sits upon the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them.
Commentaries on Luke 2:37
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 37Departed not from the temple - Attended constantly at the hours of prayer, which were nine in the morning and three in the afternoon. See Acts 2:15; Acts 3:1. It does not appear that women had any other functions to perform in that holy place. With fastings - She accompanied her devotion with frequent fastings, probably not oftener than twice in the week; for this was the custom of the most rigid Pharisees: see Luke 18:12.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years - That is, she was about 84 years of age. It does not mean that she had been a widow for that long time. Fastings and prayers - Constant religious service. pending her time in prayer, and in all the ordinances of religion. Night and day - Continually - that is, at the usual times of public worship and in private. When it is said that she departed not from the temple, it is meant that she was “constant”…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 36-40Verses 36-40 There was much evil then in the church, yet God left not himself without witness. Anna always dwelt in, or at least attended at, the temple. She was always in a praying spirit; gave herself to prayer, and in all things she served God. Those to whom Christ is made known, have great reason to thank the Lord. She taught others concerning him. Let the example of the venerable saints, Simeon and Anna, give courage to those whose hoary heads are…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 37was a widow to the age of eighty-four: In the ancient world, people associated old age with wisdom and honor. She never left the temple: This is likely an intentional extreme statement (an exaggeration). It is the same as saying something like, “She was there all the time.” This statement shows her total commitment to God.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3737. departed not from the temple--was found there at all stated hours of the day, and even during the night services of the temple watchmen (Psa 134:1, 2), "serving God with fastings and prayer." (See 1Ti 5:5, suggested by this.)Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 2:37
In the dictionaries
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
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