Luke 2:21 kjv
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Luke 2:21 nkjv
And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
Luke 2:21 niv
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Luke 2:21 esv
And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Luke 2:21 nlt
Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
Luke 2 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:12 | "He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised..." | Mandate for circumcision on the 8th day |
| Lev 12:3 | "And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised." | Mosaic Law confirming the circumcision day |
| Matt 1:21 | "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save..." | Angel's command for Jesus' name and meaning |
| Luke 1:31 | "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus." | Angel Gabriel's pre-conception naming of Jesus |
| Luke 1:59-63 | "On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they were going to call him Zechariah...But his mother answered, 'No, he shall be called John.'" | Contrast: John's naming, divine intervention |
| Gen 1:3 | "Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light." | Word's power (angelic message from God's word) |
| Isa 7:14 | "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." | Prophecy of Messiah's birth and divine identity |
| Isa 9:6 | "For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." | Prophetic titles of the Messiah |
| Phil 2:9-11 | "Therefore God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name..." | Exalted name of Jesus after obedience |
| Rom 2:28-29 | "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly... but he is a Jew who is one inwardly..." | Spiritual versus physical circumcision |
| Col 2:11 | "And in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ." | Christ's spiritual circumcision for believers |
| Gal 4:4 | "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law..." | Jesus born under the Mosaic Law |
| Matt 5:17 | "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill." | Jesus fulfilling the Law, not abolishing it |
| Heb 4:15 | "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." | Jesus' obedience to law, sinless nature |
| Jn 1:1-3 | "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... All things came into being through Him..." | Jesus' pre-existence and divine nature |
| Rev 19:16 | "And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, 'KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.'" | Jesus' ultimate authority and names |
| Jn 5:43 | "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me..." | Jesus' identity tied to His Father's name |
| Acts 4:12 | "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." | Exclusivity of salvation through Jesus' name |
| Ps 20:7 | "Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord our God." | Trust in the name of the Lord |
| Eph 1:21 | "...far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named..." | Jesus' exalted name above all names |
| Jer 23:6 | "And this is His name by which He will be called, 'The Lord Our Righteousness.'" | Prophetic name of the Branch |
Luke 2 verses
Luke 2 21 Meaning
Luke 2:21 details two critical Jewish customs performed for the infant Jesus: His circumcision on the eighth day after His birth and His official naming. Crucially, the verse highlights that His name, Jesus, meaning "Yahweh saves," was not a parental choice but was divinely mandated by an angel even before His miraculous conception. This underscores His identity and mission as the prophesied Savior and demonstrates His perfect obedience to God's covenant and law from infancy.
Luke 2 21 Context
Luke 2:21 is positioned directly after the account of Jesus' birth (Lk 2:1-7) and the shepherds' visit (Lk 2:8-20), and it precedes His presentation at the Temple (Lk 2:22-38) and the family's return to Nazareth. This verse demonstrates Jesus's immediate integration into the Jewish community and His subjection to the Mosaic Law. In Luke's Gospel, there's a strong emphasis on historical accuracy and the fulfillment of God's promises within Jewish tradition, while simultaneously broadening the scope to Gentile inclusion. The acts of circumcision and naming were crucial steps in publicly acknowledging Jesus as part of Abraham's lineage and formally confirming His identity as ordained by God. Historically, Jewish male infants were circumcised on the eighth day as prescribed in the Abrahamic covenant and later in the Mosaic Law. This ritual physically marked them as members of God's covenant people. The naming often occurred at this ceremony.
Luke 2 21 Word analysis
- And when eight days were accomplished: This highlights adherence to Jewish law, specifically Lev 12:3 and Gen 17:12, which commanded circumcision on the eighth day. The eighth day symbolized a new beginning, beyond the seven days of creation, foreshadowing new creation in Christ. Luke's precise dating underscores historical verifiability.
- for the circumcising (περικοπή / perikomō): This refers to the ritual removal of the foreskin. In Greek, peritomē is the noun for circumcision. Jesus' submission to this practice affirmed His full humanity, Jewish lineage, and His obedient alignment with God's covenant established with Abraham. It was a visible sign of the covenant. Later New Testament teaching (Rom 2:28-29, Gal 5:6, Col 2:11) contrasts this physical rite with the spiritual circumcision of the heart performed by Christ.
- of the child (τοῦ παιδίου / tou paidiou): A common term for an infant or young child, emphasizing Jesus' genuine human nature and infancy.
- his name was called Jesus (ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς / eklēthē to onoma autou Iēsous): The passive voice "was called" (eklēthē) suggests that the name was given by divine instruction, not merely chosen by Joseph and Mary. This is critical.
- Jesus (Ἰησοῦς / Iēsous): This Greek form is derived from the Hebrew name Yeshua or Joshua, meaning "Yahweh saves" or "Yahweh is salvation." This name intrinsically declares His mission and identity. Unlike most naming traditions where parents select a name for a child, Jesus's name was pre-ordained by an angel before His conception, signifying His unique, divinely appointed purpose (Matt 1:21).
- which was so named of the angel (τὸ κληθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀγγέλου / to klēthen hypo tou angelou): This phrase stresses the divine origin of Jesus's name, as explicitly commanded by Gabriel to Mary (Lk 1:31) and later to Joseph (Matt 1:21). This sets Jesus apart, affirming His unique status and His pre-ordained role in God's eternal plan, not a human invention.
- before he was conceived in the womb: This further emphasizes the divine foresight, pre-existence, and extraordinary nature of Jesus's person. It points to a divine plan that predated even His earthly incarnation, distinguishing Him from all others. This phrase highlights the sovereign grace and purposeful act of God.
Luke 2 21 Bonus section
- The Eighth Day: Theologically, the eighth day also signifies new beginnings beyond the completed cycle of seven. It can be seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus' resurrection on the "eighth day" (the first day of the week, following the Sabbath), inaugurating the new creation.
- Divine Naming Pattern: Throughout the Bible, God's direct naming or renaming of individuals (e.g., Abraham, Sarah, Israel, John the Baptist) signifies a special purpose or new identity assigned by Him. Jesus's pre-conception naming falls into this powerful category, stressing His unique commission.
- Obedience and Fulfillment: This verse immediately establishes Jesus' pattern of perfect obedience to God's will and His active fulfillment of every righteous requirement of the Law, laying the groundwork for His sinless life as the spotless lamb sacrificed for sins.
Luke 2 21 Commentary
Luke 2:21 is a succinct yet profound statement, linking Jesus directly to the Abrahamic covenant and the Mosaic Law while simultaneously proclaiming His divine identity and redemptive purpose. By undergoing circumcision, Jesus humbly submitted to the very law He came to fulfill and uphold, demonstrating His solidarity with humanity and His identification with Israel. This act also officially inducted Him into the community of God's covenant people. The deliberate emphasis on His name, "Jesus," being divinely given and announced even before His conception, serves as the linchpin of the verse. It asserts that His saving mission ("Yahweh saves") was not accidental or earned but eternally purposed by God. This pre-ordained naming elevated Him beyond any ordinary human, signaling His unique status as the God-man, fulfilling prophecies and establishing His singular role as the universal Savior. The verse thus sets the stage for Jesus' life of perfect obedience, culminating in His redemptive work for all who believe, transcending the physical ritual with the reality of spiritual salvation.