New Living Translation
Luke 2:37
37Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.
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
35As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” 36Anna, 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. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. 39When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee.
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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- sheοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- a widowχήραchēra · widowG5503
- of aboutὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- fourscore and fourὀγδοήκονταogdoēkonta · eightyG3589
- fourscore and fourτέσσαρεςtessares tessara · fourG5064
- yearsἔτοςetos · yearG2094
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- departedἀφίστημιaphistēmi · to leaveG868
- notοὐou · noG3756
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the templeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the templeἱερόνhieron · templeG2411
- but servedλατρεύωlatreuō · to ministerG3000
- with fastingsνηστείαnēsteia · fastingG3521
- prayersδέησιςdeēsis · petitionG1162
- nightνύξnux · nightG3571
- dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
Cross-references for Luke 2:37
- Exodus 38:8Bezalel made the bronze washbasin and its bronze stand from bronze mirrors donated by the women who served at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
- 1 Samuel 2:2No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
- Psalms 23:6Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
- Psalms 27:4The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
- Psalms 84:4What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. Interlude
- Psalms 92:13For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God.
- Psalms 135:1Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord! Praise him, you who serve the Lord,
- Revelation 3:12All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.
- Psalms 22:2Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.
- Acts 26:7In fact, that is why the twelve tribes of Israel zealously worship God night and day, and they share the same hope I have. Yet, Your Majesty, they accuse me for having this hope!
- 1 Timothy 5:5Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help.
- Revelation 7:15“That is why they stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will give them shelter.
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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