Luke 2:44 kjv
But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
Luke 2:44 nkjv
but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
Luke 2:44 niv
Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.
Luke 2:44 esv
but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
Luke 2:44 nlt
because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn't show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.
Luke 2 44 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 23:14 | "Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year." | Requirement for pilgrimage to Jerusalem for feasts. |
| Deut 16:16 | "Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God..." | Legal requirement for men to attend three annual feasts. |
| Ps 122:1-4 | "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord... thither the tribes go up." | Depicts the joy and communal aspect of pilgrimage. |
| Luke 2:40 | "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." | Context of Jesus' general growth before this event. |
| Luke 2:42 | "And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast." | Immediate context: Jesus' age and the purpose of the trip. |
| Luke 2:43 | "And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem..." | Immediate context: Jesus remaining behind unbeknownst to them. |
| Luke 2:45 | "And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him." | Subsequent action: Their expanded, determined search. |
| Luke 2:46 | "And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors..." | The resolution: Where and how they found Jesus. |
| Luke 2:48 | "And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said... thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." | Mary's emotional distress and question upon finding Him. |
| Luke 2:49 | "And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" | Jesus' divine focus, setting His priorities. |
| Luke 2:50 | "And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them." | Highlights Mary and Joseph's lack of full understanding. |
| Luke 2:52 | "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." | Overall picture of Jesus' human and spiritual development. |
| Mt 10:37 | "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me..." | Foreshadows Jesus' later teaching on ultimate allegiance. |
| Luke 14:26 | "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother... he cannot be my disciple." | Similar teaching on absolute priority of Christ. |
| Mk 3:21 | "And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself." | Demonstrates misunderstanding of Jesus even by His closest relations. |
| Jn 7:5 | "For neither did his brethren believe in him." | Shows the lack of faith/understanding among Jesus' own brothers. |
| Jer 29:13 | "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." | Theological parallel: the importance of earnest seeking. |
| Deut 4:29 | "But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart..." | Reinforces the promise of finding when sought sincerely. |
| Ps 105:4 | "Seek the Lord and his strength: seek his face evermore." | Admonition for continuous seeking of God. |
| Heb 4:15 | "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are..." | Jesus' shared humanity and capacity to experience human situations. |
| Phil 2:7 | "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:" | Emphasizes Jesus' full humanity in His earthly life. |
| Luke 15:4 | "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them... go after that which is lost, until he find it?" | Thematic parallel: diligence in seeking what is missing. |
Luke 2 verses
Luke 2 44 Meaning
Luke 2:44 describes Mary and Joseph's assumption about Jesus' whereabouts and their subsequent actions. Upon leaving Jerusalem after the Passover feast, they supposed Jesus was within their large traveling group or caravan. This common societal practice led them to travel for an entire day before realizing He was not among them. Their immediate response was to search for Him diligently among their family relatives and known acquaintances within the company. This verse highlights a very human oversight by Jesus' parents and their customary way of travel.
Luke 2 44 Context
Luke chapter 2 begins with the birth of Jesus, His circumcision, presentation at the temple, and return to Nazareth, emphasizing His development and wisdom (vv. 40, 52). The passage leading to verse 44 describes Jesus, at age twelve, attending the Passover feast in Jerusalem with His parents. This annual pilgrimage was a customary religious obligation for Jewish males (Deut 16:16). Travel was typically undertaken in large caravans (synodia) for safety and companionship, especially from regions like Galilee. This custom explains why parents might not immediately notice a child's absence, assuming he was with other relatives or friends within the larger group. The event serves as the only direct account of Jesus' life between infancy and the beginning of His public ministry, underscoring a pivotal moment of self-awareness and revelation regarding His divine purpose, even as His earthly parents struggled to fully comprehend it.
Luke 2 44 Word analysis
- But they: Connects to the previous verses, shifting focus to the actions of Mary and Joseph after Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem. It introduces a contrasting understanding.
- supposing him: From the Greek word nomisantes (νοµίσαντες), which implies an assumption based on custom, common practice, or established habit. They thought or expected him to be present due to the usual arrangement.
- to have been in the company: From the Greek en tē synodia (ἐν τῇ συνοδίᾳ), referring to the large pilgrim caravan or traveling procession. This is a crucial cultural detail, indicating communal travel where children might move freely among different family units or acquaintances, making immediate parental oversight less strict.
- went a day's journey: Emphasizes the significant distance covered and time elapsed (likely 15-20 miles or more) before their realization. This points to the normalcy of children being somewhat independent within the large travel group.
- and they sought him: From the Greek zētoun auton (ζήτουν αὐτόν). The imperfect tense conveys continuous, earnest searching. It highlights their immediate distress and growing concern once they recognized His absence.
- among their kinsfolk: From the Greek tous syggeneis (τοὺς συγγενεῖς), meaning blood relatives or close family members within the traveling group. This was the most natural and immediate place to check for a child.
- and acquaintance: From the Greek tous gnōstous (τοὺς γνωστούς), meaning friends or people they knew within the larger caravan. This expands their initial search beyond the immediate family unit, reflecting the close-knit community aspect of such journeys.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "supposing him to have been in the company": This phrase illuminates Mary and Joseph's reliance on common social custom. They held a natural, understandable expectation, which tragically proved to be incorrect in this divine context. It highlights human assumptions in contrast to the unique reality of Jesus' divine purpose.
- "went a day's journey; and they sought him": This progression from travel to diligent search underscores the time lag and the gradual dawning of their alarm. The significant distance covered before the realization amplified their distress and the urgency of their subsequent actions.
- "among their kinsfolk and acquaintance": This phrase describes the initial, logical, and culturally appropriate scope of their search within the structure of the traveling pilgrim group, indicating their effort to check the immediate concentric circles of their social network.
Luke 2 44 Bonus section
This event is sometimes viewed as Jesus' "coming of age" moment, distinct from His official ministry start, yet crucial for showing His pre-ministry consciousness of His unique relationship with God. It emphasizes that even Mary and Joseph, who held a unique position as Jesus' earthly caregivers, were continuously learning about His divine nature and the Father's will for Him. Their diligent search for the "lost" Jesus physically echoes the spiritual journey of seeking God (as seen in Jer 29:13), where earnest searching leads to discovery. However, Jesus was not truly lost; He was purposefully engaged in His Father's business, indicating His independent resolve and prioritizing heavenly concerns even at a young age. This initial separation serves as a gentle foreshadowing of His eventual departure from His earthly family to fully commit to His public ministry and divine mission.
Luke 2 44 Commentary
Luke 2:44 offers a profound glimpse into the humanity of both Jesus and His earthly parents. It portrays a relatable scenario of parental oversight in the context of a bustling, communal pilgrimage. Mary and Joseph's assumption ("supposing him") reflects typical parental trust within a safe, large family and community gathering. The "day's journey" underscores the depth of their initial misjudgment and the ensuing time-lapse before realizing Jesus' absence, amplifying their distress and the gravity of their search. Their search among "kinsfolk and acquaintance" illustrates the cultural communal travel and their logical efforts within it. This seemingly mundane incident becomes significant as it sets the stage for Jesus' first recorded words in the Gospels, highlighting His burgeoning self-awareness of His divine sonship and unique mission ("My Father's business," Luke 2:49). The parents' confusion, even after His words, foreshadows the broader human struggle, including that of His disciples, to fully grasp His true identity and divine purpose. It teaches us about the often surprising ways God works and how even those closest to Him may have limited understanding.