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

47Everyone who heard Jesus was very surprised. He understood so many things and he could answer difficult questions. 48When his parents saw him there, they were also very surprised. His mother said to him, ‘My son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have looked everywhere for you. We have had a lot of troubles in our mind.’ Jesus answered them, ‘You should not have needed to look for me. I must be doing what my Father wants me to do. You should have known that.’ 50But his parents did not understand what he was saying to them. 51Then Jesus returned to Nazareth with them. He did what they wanted. His mother, Mary, was careful to remember all the special things that had happened. She thought about them a lot.

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 his parents saw him there, they were also very surprised. His mother said to him, ‘My son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have looked everywhere for you. We have had a lot of troubles in our mind.’
• Psalms 40:8I want to do what pleases you. Your law is always in my thoughts.’
• Malachi 3:1‘Look! I will send someone to speak my message. He will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord that you are waiting for will quickly return to his temple. The one who brings the message about the covenant will certainly come. He is the one that you really want to see.’ That is what the Lord Almighty says.
• Matthew 21:12Jesus then went into the yard of the temple. People were buying and selling things there. Jesus made them all leave that place. He pushed over the tables of the men who changed coins. He also pushed over the seats of the men who sold birds.
• John 2:16He said to the people who sold birds, ‘Take them out of here! Do not make my Father's house into a market!’
• John 4:34Jesus said to them, ‘My Father has sent me. I must do the things he wants me to do. I must finish the work that he has given to me to do. That is my food.
• John 5:17But Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is still working, and I too must work.’
• John 6:38I have not come down from heaven to do what I myself choose to do. No, my Father has sent me. I have come to do what he wants me to do.
• John 8:29He who sent me is with me. I always do the things that make him happy. So he has never gone away and left me alone.’
• John 9:4While it is still day, we must continue to work. God has sent me and we must do his work. We must work now because it will be night soon. Then nobody 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