Luke 2:33 kjv
And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
Luke 2:33 nkjv
And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.
Luke 2:33 niv
The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
Luke 2:33 esv
And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
Luke 2:33 nlt
Jesus' parents were amazed at what was being said about him.
Luke 2 33 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 2:29-32 | For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples... | Simeon's preceding prophecy, direct context. |
| Isa 9:6 | For to us a child is born, to us a son is given... his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God... | Foreshadows the profound nature of Jesus recognized by Simeon. |
| Mic 5:2 | But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah... from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel... | Prophecy of Jesus' birthplace and kingship. |
| Isa 7:14 | Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son... | Prophecy of the virgin birth, central to Jesus' unique origin. |
| Mt 1:21 | She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. | Revelation of Jesus' mission as Savior. |
| Lk 1:32-33 | He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High... He will reign over Jacob's descendants forever. | Gabriel's earlier prophecy to Mary about Jesus' identity and eternal reign. |
| Lk 1:68-79 | Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people... a light to those who sit in darkness. | Zechariah's prophecy echoing Simeon's words about light and salvation. |
| Jn 1:14 | The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory... | The ultimate truth of Jesus' divine identity, the Logos incarnate. |
| Heb 1:1-3 | Has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. | Confirms Jesus' supreme status and divine origin. |
| Dan 7:13-14 | One like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven... Dominion, glory and kingdom were given to him... | Prophecy of the Son of Man's future glorious reign. |
| Lk 2:18-19 | And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things... | Mary's earlier reaction of pondering, deepening with each revelation. |
| Lk 2:51 | His mother treasured all these things in her heart. | Continuation of Mary's contemplative nature regarding Jesus. |
| Lk 1:29 | She was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. | Mary's prior reaction of perplexity to divine communication. |
| Mt 13:54 | And coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished... | People later amazed at Jesus' wisdom and power during His ministry. |
| Mk 6:2 | And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished... | Another instance of people marveling at Jesus' authority. |
| Lk 2:48 | And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. | Joseph and Mary's astonishment again at 12-year-old Jesus' wisdom in the temple. |
| 1 Cor 2:7-10 | But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God... God has revealed to us through the Spirit. | The Spirit revealing God's hidden truths, explaining Simeon's knowledge. |
| Rom 16:25-27 | Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery... | The theme of divine mystery now revealed through Christ. |
| Eph 3:4-5 | The mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed... | The uniqueness of Christ's revelation in this age. |
| Jer 32:17 | Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. | Reminds of God's limitless power in orchestrating such events. |
| Psa 119:18 | Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from your law. | A prayer for divine understanding to see the greatness of God's plan. |
| Pro 25:2 | It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings to search them out. | God's prerogative to reveal mysteries in His time. |
Luke 2 verses
Luke 2 33 Meaning
Luke 2:33 indicates the astonishment and wonder of Joseph and Mary upon hearing Simeon's profound prophetic declaration about the child Jesus in the temple. Despite earlier angelic revelations, Simeon's Spirit-inspired words unveiled deeper dimensions of Jesus' messianic purpose and universal significance, causing them to marvel at the sheer magnitude of what was spoken concerning their son. Their reaction underscores the extraordinary and divine nature of Jesus, exceeding their initial understanding even though they were His chosen earthly guardians.
Luke 2 33 Context
Luke 2:33 is situated within the narrative of Jesus' presentation at the Temple in Jerusalem. Following Mary's purification period according to Mosaic law (Lev 12), she and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord as the firstborn son (Ex 13:2, 13:12). There, they encounter Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who has been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon recognizes Jesus, takes Him into his arms, and utters a profound prophecy of praise to God, revealing Jesus' identity as salvation prepared "in the presence of all peoples," a "light for revelation to the Gentiles," and "glory for your people Israel" (Lk 2:29-32). Verse 33 then describes the reaction of Joseph and Mary to this prophetic declaration. This immediate context underscores Jesus' messianic identity, confirmed by a Spirit-filled prophet in the very heart of Jewish worship. The broader context is the Luke infancy narrative, which repeatedly emphasizes Jesus' divine origin, the Holy Spirit's activity, and the prophetic anticipation of the Messiah.
Luke 2 33 Word analysis
- And: Links the parents' reaction to the preceding significant prophetic words of Simeon, showing a direct consequence.
- Joseph: (Greek: Iōsēph) - Jesus' legal father and earthly guardian. His inclusion first might reflect his position as head of the household, though not Jesus' biological father. His presence here alongside Mary emphasizes their joint role in raising Jesus and their shared experience of revelation concerning Him.
- his mother: Refers to Mary, emphasizing her unique and indispensable role as the virgin who bore the Messiah. Despite being Jesus' biological mother and having received previous angelic visitations, she, like Joseph, is still learning and marveling at the profound identity of her son.
- marveled: (Greek: ethaumazon, from thaumazō) - Implies a sense of profound wonder, astonishment, or awe. It is a reaction often seen in the Gospels when encountering divine power, wisdom, or revelation. This "marveling" signifies that Simeon's words were weighty and impactful, moving them beyond mere surprise to a state of deep, reflective wonder at the immense destiny of their son, confirming the truth of what was spoken. It's an internal response to an astonishing reality.
- at those things: Refers directly to the substance of Simeon's preceding prophecy, particularly Jesus' role as a "light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory for Israel," and the concept of God's salvation prepared before all peoples.
- which were spoken of him: Confirms that the entire focus of Simeon's prophetic declaration was centered specifically on the person and future work of Jesus. It highlights the direct, personal relevance of the prophecy to their child.
Words-group analysis:
- Joseph and his mother marveled: This shared reaction signifies a unity in their understanding and astonishment. Even though both had already received angelic pronouncements and seen wonders (e.g., Lk 1:26-38; Mt 1:18-25), Simeon's prophecy deepened their comprehension, adding a public and Spirit-inspired validation to their private revelations. Their wonder indicates that the full implications of Jesus' identity were gradually unfolded, even to them.
- at those things which were spoken of him: This phrase points to the specific content of Simeon's prophecy in Luke 2:29-32, highlighting the vastness of Jesus' destiny—not just for Israel, but as a universal light. Their marveling suggests the immensity of the task ahead for their son and the divine scale of God's plan for Him, truly going beyond their personal experience as His earthly family.
Luke 2 33 Bonus section
- The marveling of Joseph and Mary here serves as a template for godly astonishment at the truths of Christ, distinguishing it from mere worldly curiosity or unbelieving amazement seen elsewhere in the Gospels. It's a response rooted in a growing apprehension of divine revelation.
- This verse contributes to Luke's portrayal of Mary's continuous process of "treasuring" and "pondering" things about her son (Lk 2:19, 2:51), showing that her understanding was a progressive journey, not a singular event.
- The placement of Joseph first ("Joseph and his mother") may subtly emphasize his legal headship and paternal role in Jewish society, while not negating Mary's unique status. It reaffirms Jesus' place within the human lineage while respecting His divine origin.
- The scene underscores Luke's theme of the Holy Spirit actively revealing God's plan and Jesus' identity through faithful individuals (Simeon, Anna), showing a continuation of prophecy during Jesus' infancy that echoes Old Testament patterns.
Luke 2 33 Commentary
Luke 2:33 captures a pivotal moment of awe and deepening revelation in the lives of Joseph and Mary. Despite receiving heavenly messages concerning Jesus' miraculous conception and His role as Messiah, Simeon's prophecy, spoken by the Holy Spirit in the public setting of the Temple, added profound new dimensions. His words about Jesus being a "light for revelation to the Gentiles" and "glory for Israel" expanded their understanding of the child's universal significance and unique mission. Their "marveling" isn't a sign of disbelief, but rather profound wonder, indicating that the true greatness of their son, even for them, was still unfolding. This highlights that divine truth often exceeds human comprehension, even for those most closely connected to it, requiring continuous spiritual revelation. Their wonder serves to validate Simeon's prophecy as divinely inspired, reinforcing the profound identity of Jesus.