Luke 2 22

Luke 2:22 kjv

And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

Luke 2:22 nkjv

Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

Luke 2:22 niv

When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

Luke 2:22 esv

And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

Luke 2:22 nlt

Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

Luke 2 verses

Luke 2 22 Meaning

Luke 2:22 describes the culmination of Mary's period of ceremonial purification following childbirth and the subsequent dedication of Jesus in Jerusalem according to the requirements of the Mosaic Law. It highlights the obedience of Jesus' parents to the established divine commands and demonstrates Jesus' humble and full identification with humanity under the Law from the very beginning of His earthly life. This event fulfilled ancient Israelite traditions and practices concerning purification and the presentation of the firstborn male to the Lord.

Luke 2 22 Context

Luke 2:22 is set within the nativity narrative of Jesus. The preceding verses (2:1-21) recount Jesus' birth, the angelic announcement to the shepherds, their visit, and Jesus' circumcision and naming. Following verse 22, the account details Simeon's prophetic blessing and Anna's praise in the temple (2:25-38), emphasizing the significance of this presentation. The immediate chapter context establishes Jesus' identity as both fully human and divine, rooted deeply within the Israelite faith and Law.

Historically and culturally, this verse is grounded in two significant Mosaic Law traditions:

1. Purification of the mother (Lev 12:1-8): After giving birth to a male child, a mother was considered ritually unclean for 40 days. At the end of this period, she was required to present offerings at the Temple: a lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering. If unable to afford a lamb, two pigeons or turtledoves would suffice (Luke 2:24 indicates Mary and Joseph offered the latter, signifying their humble status). This act ceremonially cleansed the mother and allowed her to re-enter full participation in community worship.
2. Redemption/Presentation of the Firstborn (Exod 13:2, 13:11-16; Num 3:13, 8:16-17, 18:15-16): All firstborn male humans and animals were consecrated to the Lord because God spared the Israelite firstborn during the Tenth Plague in Egypt. Human firstborns, however, were redeemed (bought back) by paying a five-shekel fee to the priests. This presentation ritual acknowledged God's ownership and claim on all life, especially the firstborn. While verse 22 specifically mentions Mary's purification days being completed and bringing "Him" (Jesus) to present Him, Luke's subsequent verses (23-24) explicitly detail both aspects: Jesus being the firstborn male dedicated, and the offering for purification.

The strict adherence to these laws, particularly by Jesus' parents who knew of His unique origin, served as an indirect but potent polemic. It demonstrated that Jesus, the promised Messiah, did not operate outside God's established covenant with Israel or disdain its requirements. Instead, His very introduction into the public sphere was marked by full submission to the divine regulations of the Old Covenant, thereby authenticating His messianic claims within a recognizable Jewish framework and countering any future claims that He came to disregard the Law. He came to fulfill, not abolish.

Luke 2 22 Word analysis

• And: Greek Kai (Καὶ). A common conjunction linking this event to the preceding ones, establishing chronological and thematic continuity in Luke's narrative.
• when: Greek hote (ὅτε). Signifies the precise moment in time, emphasizing the completion of the required period.
• the days: Greek hai hēmerai (αἱ ἡμέραι). Refers to the prescribed number of days as outlined in Leviticus 12. For a male child, this period was 40 days.
• of her purification: Greek tou katharismou autēs (τοῦ καθαρισμοῦ αὐτῆς). From katharismos (καθαρισμός), meaning cleansing, purification, ceremonial cleansing. This specifically refers to Mary's ritual cleansing period as outlined in the Law. It highlights that even Mary, though pure in the sense of her immaculate conception, was ritually subject to the Law.
• according to the Law: Greek kata ton nomon (κατὰ τὸν νόμον). Implies full conformity with the divine decrees. This emphasizes the meticulous adherence of Joseph and Mary to every aspect of God's revealed will.
• of Moses: Greek Mōüseōs (Μωϋσέως). Specifies the Mosaic Law, underscoring its authoritative divine origin for the Israelites.
• were completed: Greek eplēsthēsan (ἐπλήσθησαν). From plēroō (πληρόω), meaning to fulfill, to complete. Indicates the specific timeframe was finished, signifying compliance. This word foreshadows Jesus Himself coming to "fulfill" the Law (Matt 5:17).
• they brought: Greek anēgagon (ἀνήγαγον). From anagō (ἀνάγω), to lead up, bring up, referring to ascent to Jerusalem (the Temple was higher than the surrounding landscape). Implies purposeful action by Mary and Joseph.
• Him: Refers to Jesus, underscoring His centrality even as the one being acted upon in submission to the Law.
• to Jerusalem: Greek eis Hierosalēma (εἰς Ἱεροσάλυμα). The holy city, site of the Temple, central to Jewish worship and pilgrimage, signifying the religious significance of the act.
• to present: Greek tou parastēsai (τοῦ παραστῆσαι). From paristēmi (παρίστημι), to set before, to present, to dedicate. This verb is crucial as it refers specifically to the act of consecrating the firstborn to the Lord. It carries the idea of standing someone before a superior authority.
• Him to the Lord: Greek tō Kyriō (τῷ Κυρίῳ). Designates God. The dedication of the firstborn was fundamentally an offering or a return of what was divinely owned, to God Himself.

Words-group analysis:

• "And when the days of her purification...were completed": This phrase meticulously establishes the chronological and legal prerequisite for their actions. It highlights obedience to a specific timeline and ritual mandate, setting the scene for divine fulfillment within human tradition.
• "according to the Law of Moses": This strong phrase grounds the entire event in divine commandment and the Old Covenant. It's a statement of theological legitimacy and adherence to the foundational scriptures of Israel. It emphasizes that Jesus, from His earliest days, was submitted to the Law.
• "they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord": This describes the pilgrimage and the ultimate purpose: not merely ritual observance for Mary, but the public dedication and consecration of Jesus himself to God in the most sacred place, the Temple. This points to Jesus' identity as truly the "firstborn" set apart for God.

Luke 2 22 Bonus section

The ceremonial uncleanliness of childbirth (Leviticus 12) was not tied to sinfulness but to the outpouring of life. In Jewish tradition, blood and processes of life were separated as a reminder of life belonging to God. After the prescribed period, rituals restored the woman to full purity within the worshipping community. This makes the purification of Mary particularly poignant: she, who bore the ultimate source of Purity and Life, still honored this divinely instituted process, illustrating that even perfect purity could humbly participate in the established religious rites. The event thus connects the human nature of Christ with the Mosaic law's temporary provisions pointing toward the final cleansing.

Luke 2 22 Commentary

Luke 2:22 offers a profound statement about the incarnation and the Messianic mission. Jesus, the Son of God, born pure and holy, did not bypass human processes or divine laws. His parents, Joseph and Mary, demonstrate their humble and complete obedience by meticulously observing two distinct but intertwined aspects of the Mosaic Law: Mary's purification after childbirth and the presentation (and implicit redemption, completed in 2:23-24) of Jesus as the firstborn son to the Lord.

This obedience served several crucial purposes:

1. Affirmation of God's Law: It demonstrated reverence for God's established commands, showing that Jesus came not to negate but to validate and fulfill the Old Testament promises and ordinances.
2. Identification with Humanity: It positioned Jesus firmly within the human experience, under the very Law His people were called to observe. He truly became "flesh" (John 1:14) and "born under the law" (Gal 4:4), establishing solidarity with those He came to save.
3. Humble Beginnings: The offering of the two turtledoves or young pigeons (Luke 2:24) signifies Mary and Joseph's economic modesty, further highlighting the humble nature of the Messiah's entrance into the world.
4. Theological Foreshadowing: This "presentation to the Lord" foreshadows Jesus' ultimate presentation of Himself as the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice for humanity (Heb 9:26; 10:10). The Temple, where ceremonial sacrifices were offered, would eventually be the place from which the perfect offering, Jesus Himself, would be acknowledged.

Practically, Luke 2:22 can serve as an example of faithfulness and obedience in the midst of extraordinary circumstances. Mary and Joseph, despite the miraculous birth and angelic pronouncements, did not feel exempt from ordinary religious duties. This reminds believers that faithfulness to God often manifests in quiet, consistent obedience to His known commands, even when unique circumstances might seem to offer an exemption. It illustrates that truly great calling begins with humble adherence to God's will.