Luke 2:4 kjv
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
Luke 2:4 nkjv
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
Luke 2:4 niv
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
Luke 2:4 esv
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
Luke 2:4 nlt
And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.
Luke 2 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mic 5:2 | "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." | Bethlehem as Messiah's birthplace. |
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | "When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you... and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." | Davidic Covenant of an eternal throne. |
| Ps 89:3-4 | "I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to David My servant: 'I will establish your seed forever And build up your throne to all generations.'" | God's oath to David. |
| Ps 132:11-12 | "The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: 'One of your own descendants I will place on your throne.'" | God's promise regarding David's descendant. |
| Isa 9:6-7 | "For to us a child is born... of the increase of His government... upon the throne of David and over His kingdom." | Messiah on David's throne. |
| Jer 23:5 | "Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely..." | Messiah as Righteous Branch of David. |
| Matt 1:1 | "This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham..." | Jesus' Davidic lineage established. |
| Lk 1:32-33 | (Angel Gabriel to Mary) "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David..." | Prophecy of Jesus' Davidic throne. |
| Lk 3:23, 31 | "...Jesus... being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Heli... the son of David..." | Luke's genealogy links Jesus to David. |
| Acts 2:29-31 | "Brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day... He foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay." | David's prophecy of Messiah. |
| Acts 13:22-23 | "...He raised up David to be their king... From the descendants of this man, God brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised." | Jesus from David's posterity. |
| Rom 1:3 | "...regarding His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh." | Jesus' physical descent from David. |
| Rev 5:5 | "...Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed..." | Jesus as Davidic Messiah. |
| Rev 22:16 | "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David..." | Jesus affirms Davidic identity. |
| Gen 49:10 | "The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come..." | Messiah from tribe of Judah. |
| John 1:46 | "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" | Nazareth's low reputation. |
| Matt 2:4-6 | (Herod) "...he asked them where the Messiah was to be born... 'In Bethlehem in Judea,' they replied, 'for this is what the prophet has written...'." | Scribes confirmed Bethlehem prophecy. |
| Prov 16:9 | "A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." | Divine orchestration of events. |
| Phil 2:7-8 | "...He emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant... He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death..." | Christ's humility and obedience. |
| Heb 11:8-9 | "By faith Abraham obeyed... and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as a foreigner..." | Principle of faithful obedience to call. |
Luke 2 verses
Luke 2 4 Meaning
Luke 2:4 describes Joseph's journey with Mary from their home in Nazareth, Galilee, to Bethlehem, Judea. This movement was necessitated by a Roman decree for a census requiring registration in ancestral cities. Joseph complied, specifically traveling to Bethlehem, also known as the City of David, because he was a direct descendant of King David. This journey, difficult for Mary in her advanced pregnancy, fulfilled Old Testament prophecy regarding the Messiah's birthplace and affirmed Jesus' rightful claim to the Davidic throne through his legal father.
Luke 2 4 Context
Luke chapter 2 begins by setting the grand historical stage with a decree from Caesar Augustus, ruler of the Roman Empire, for a census of the entire world. This imperial command serves as a divine instrument, providentially bringing Joseph and a heavily pregnant Mary from their humble dwelling in Nazareth to Bethlehem. This journey directly facilitates the fulfillment of ancient prophecies regarding the Messiah's birthplace. The specific destination of Bethlehem, emphasized as "the city of David," underscores the profound theological significance of the forthcoming birth within the divinely appointed Davidic lineage, despite the challenging circumstances of the journey and the humble setting.
Luke 2 4 Word analysis
And Joseph also went up: (
Ἀνέβη δὲ καὶ Ἰωσὴφ, Anebē de kai Iōsēph).- And:
δὲ(de) functions as a conjunction, connecting this action to the census decree. - Joseph:
Ἰωσὴφ(Iōsēph). Jesus's earthly, legal father. His actions, rooted in his legal status, are crucial for demonstrating Jesus' Davidic claim publicly and legally. - went up:
ἀνέβη(anebē). Indicates not just geographical movement but often an ascent. Galilee (Nazareth) is generally at a lower elevation than Judea (Bethlehem/Jerusalem), so it signifies an uphill journey. Culturally, "going up" was also used for pilgrimage to Jerusalem or important centers.
- And:
from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth: (
ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐκ πόλεως Ναζαρέτ, apo tēs Galilaias ek poleōs Nazaret).- Galilee:
Γαλιλαίας(Galilaias). A northern region of Israel, often seen as provincial and less significant culturally or religiously by those in Judea. - Nazareth:
Ναζαρέτ(Nazaret). A small, obscure town in Galilee. Its low status further highlights the unexpected nature of God's redemptive plan (compare John 1:46).
- Galilee:
to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: (
εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν εἰς πόλιν Δαυὶδ ἥτις καλεῖται Βηθλέεμ, eis tēn Ioudaian eis polin Dauid hētis kaleitai Bēthleem).- Judea:
Ἰουδαίαν(Ioudaian). The southern, central region of Israel, historically significant as the kingdom of Judah and site of Jerusalem. - the city of David:
πόλιν Δαυὶδ(polin Dauid). This precise designation explicitly connects Bethlehem to King David, its most famous son. While Jerusalem is sometimes called "City of David," the context here specifically identifies Bethlehem. - Bethlehem:
Βηθλέεμ(Bēthleem). Meaning "House of Bread." The prophet Micah designated it as the birthplace of the Messiah (Mic. 5:2), giving it immense prophetic significance despite its small size.
- Judea:
because he was of the house and lineage of David: (
διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐξ οἴκου καὶ πατριᾶς Δαυίδ, dia to einai auton ex oikou kai patrias Dauid).- because:
διὰ τὸ(dia to). Expresses the reason or purpose for Joseph's travel. - house and lineage:
ἐξ οἴκου καὶ πατριᾶς(ex oikou kai patrias). This double expression strongly emphasizes the direct, undeniable, and established descent from David.οἴκου(oikou) means "household, family, clan."πατριᾶς(patrias) refers to "lineage, ancestry, clan, paternity." Together, they certify Joseph's membership in the Davidic line, providing legal grounds for Jesus' Messianic claims according to Jewish tradition.
- because:
Words-group Analysis:
- "went up from Galilee... to Judea... Bethlehem": This phrase highlights the specific, challenging journey dictated by a secular decree, yet providentially fulfilling God's long-standing promise for the Messiah's birthplace. It contrasts the obscurity of Jesus' home (Nazareth) with the prophetic significance of His birth city (Bethlehem).
- "the city of David, which is called Bethlehem": This emphatic identification links Bethlehem intrinsically to King David, underscoring its historical and prophetic importance as the cradle of Israel's greatest king and the foretold birthplace of his greatest descendant, the Messiah.
- "because he was of the house and lineage of David": This phrase provides the crucial theological justification for Joseph's specific destination. It publicly affirms Jesus's legal right to the Davidic throne through Joseph's established lineage, essential for his Messianic identity and fulfilling the covenant with David.
Luke 2 4 Bonus section
The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem covered approximately 90-100 miles, a significant and arduous trip especially for a woman in her final stages of pregnancy. This detail implicitly underscores the obedience, faith, and hardship endured by Joseph and Mary, reflecting a broader theme of God's Messiah entering the world not in power and comfort, but through humble circumstances and obedient submission to both earthly and divine decrees. Joseph, often a background figure, plays a critical legal role in affirming Jesus's Davidic identity. The name "Bethlehem" meaning "House of Bread" holds profound theological symbolism for the birthplace of Jesus, who would later declare Himself to be the "Bread of Life" (John 6:35), sustaining the world spiritually.
Luke 2 4 Commentary
Luke 2:4 demonstrates how God orchestrates grand purposes through the seemingly mundane actions of humanity and their governing authorities. The Roman census, a secular decree by Emperor Augustus, serves as the divine catalyst for Joseph and Mary's journey. Joseph's obedient travel from obscure Nazareth to prophetical Bethlehem highlights his faithfulness and the accuracy of God's Word, which designated Bethlehem as the Messiah's birthplace. The emphasis on Joseph's Davidic lineage underscores the legal and theological foundation for Jesus's identity as the Christ, the promised King from David's line, ensuring that God's covenant promises are precisely fulfilled in the most humble of circumstances.