God’s Word Translation
Luke 2:36
36Anna, a prophet, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was now very old. Her husband had died seven years after they were married,
Luke 2:36 in other versions
- King James Version (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;
- New International Version (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,
- English Standard Version (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,
- New King James Version (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;
Context of Luke 2:36
34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, “This child is the reason that many people in Israel will be condemned and many others will be saved. He will be a sign that will expose 35the thoughts of those who reject him. And a sword will pierce your heart.” Anna, a prophet, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was now very old. Her husband had died seven years after they were married, 37and she had been a widow for 84 years. Anna never left the temple courtyard but worshiped day and night by fasting and praying. 38At that moment she came up to Mary and Joseph and began to thank God. She spoke about Jesus to all who were waiting for Jerusalem to be set free.
Read all of Luke 2Luke 2:36 word by word
Καὶ ἦν Ἅννα προφῆτις, θυγάτηρ Φανουήλ, ἐκ φυλῆς Ἀσήρ· αὕτη προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ἡμέραις πολλαῖς, ζήσασα μετὰ ἀνδρὸς ἔτη ἑπτὰ ἀπὸ τῆς παρθενίας αὐτῆς·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- there wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- one AnnaἌνναAnna · AnnaG451
- a prophetessπροφῆτιςprophētis · prophetessG4398
- the daughterθυγάτηρthugatēr · daughterG2364
- of PhanuelΦανουήλPhanouēl · PhanuelG5323
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- the tribeφυλήphulē · tribeG5443
- of AserἈσήρAsēr · AsherG768
- sheοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- was ofπροβαίνωprobainō · to advanceG4260
- ·ἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- ·ἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
- a greatπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- and had livedζάωzaō · to liveG2198
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- an husbandἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
- sevenἑπτάhepta · sevenG2033
- yearsἔτοςetos · yearG2094
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- herαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- virginityὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- virginityπαρθένειαparthenia · virginityG3932
Cross-references for Luke 2:36
- Exodus 15:20Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand. All the women, dancing with tambourines, followed her.
- Judges 4:4Deborah, wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet. She was the judge in Israel at that time.
- 2 Kings 22:14So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to talk to the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum, son of Tikvah and grandson of Harhas. Shallum was in charge of the ⌞royal⌟ wardrobe. Huldah was living in the Second Part of Jerusalem.
- Acts 2:18In those days I will pour my Spirit on my servants, on both men and women. They will speak what God has revealed.
- Acts 21:9Philip had four unmarried daughters who had the ability to speak what God had revealed.
- 1 Corinthians 12:1Brothers and sisters, I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding concerning spiritual gifts.
- Genesis 30:13Leah said, “I’ve been blessed! Women will call me blessed.” So she named him Asher [Blessing].
- Revelation 7:612,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,
- Job 5:26“You will come to your grave at a ripe old age like a stack of hay in the right season.
- Psalms 92:14Even when they are old, they still bear fruit. They are always healthy and fresh.
Commentaries on Luke 2:36
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 36Anna, a prophetess - It does not appear that this person was a prophetess in the strict sense of the word, i.e. one who could foretell future events; but rather a holy woman; who, from her extensive knowledge and deep experience in Divine things, was capable of instructing others; according to the use of the word , 1 Corinthians 14:3; : He that prophesieth, speaketh unto men to edification, and to exhortation, and to comfort. So we find this holy widow…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 36Of the tribe of Aser - The tribe of Aser, or Asher, dwelt in the northern part of the land of Canaan. Why Anna was called a prophetess is not known. It might be because she had been the wife of a prophet, or because she was employed in celebrating the praises of God (compare 1 Chronicles 25:1-2, 1 Chronicles 25:4; 1 Samuel 10:5), or because she herself had foretold future events, being inspired.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. 36-38Anna is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Hannah, Samuel’s mother (1 Samuel 1–2). Jewish tradition recognizes seven Old Testament women as prophets: Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Huldah, and Esther. In this story, Anna was also a prophetic witness to the identity of Jesus as the Christ. the tribe of Asher: This was one of the 10 northern tribes of Israel. Asher was the eighth son of the patriarch Jacob (Genesis 30:12–13). Most of the…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3636. Anna--or, Hannah. a prophetess--another evidence that "the last times" in which God was to "pour out His Spirit upon all flesh" were at hand. of the tribe of Aser--one of the ten tribes, of whom many were not carried captive, and not a few reunited themselves to Judah after the return from Babylon. The distinction of tribes, though practically destroyed by the captivity, was well enough known up to their final dispersion (Ro 11:1; He 7:14); nor is it…Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 2:36
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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