Luke 2:45 kjv
And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
Luke 2:45 nkjv
So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
Luke 2:45 niv
When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.
Luke 2:45 esv
and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
Luke 2:45 nlt
When they couldn't find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there.
Luke 2 45 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 2:44 | "But supposing him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey..." | Previous verse, context of realization. |
| Lk 2:46 | "And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple..." | Consequence: where Jesus was found. |
| Ps 119:10 | "With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander..." | Seeking God with diligence. |
| Prov 2:4-5 | "If thou seekest her as silver... Then shalt thou understand the fear..." | Seeking wisdom/understanding earnestly. |
| Jer 29:13 | "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with..." | Seeking God with whole heart leads to finding. |
| Lam 3:40 | "Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD." | Turning back in self-examination/repentance. |
| Hos 6:1 | "Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us..." | Returning to the Lord. |
| Lk 15:8 | "What woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece... seek..." | Parable of diligently seeking what is lost. |
| Lk 15:20 | "And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off..." | The Prodigal Son's return, turning back. |
| Deut 4:29 | "But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him..." | Diligent seeking for God promises finding. |
| Mt 6:33 | "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness..." | Prioritizing the search for God's kingdom. |
| Lk 11:9-10 | "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find..." | Promise for diligent seeking. |
| Jn 20:15-16 | "She, supposing him to be the gardener... saying unto him, Sir, if thou..." | Mary Magdalene seeking Jesus after resurrection. |
| Heb 11:6 | "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe..." | Diligence required for finding God. |
| Ps 27:4 | "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell..." | Seeking dwelling in God's house/presence. |
| Isa 55:6 | "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near..." | Timeliness in seeking the Lord. |
| Mk 1:37 | "And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee." | People seeking Jesus during His ministry. |
| Lk 24:34 | "Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." | Disciples realizing/finding the Risen Christ. |
| Gen 37:15-16 | "A certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field... seeking my brethren." | Joseph seeking his brothers, a search parallel. |
| Mt 2:20 | "Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land..." | Returning from Egypt, turning back. |
| Lk 2:50 | "And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them." | Foreshadows parental lack of understanding. |
| Lk 2:51 | "And his mother kept all these sayings in her heart." | Mary's continuous pondering and learning. |
| Ps 122:3-4 | "Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together... whither the tribes..." | Jerusalem's significance as a place of assembly. |
Luke 2 verses
Luke 2 45 Meaning
Luke 2:45 describes the urgent and concerned action of Mary and Joseph after discovering Jesus was not with their company on the return journey from Jerusalem. Having searched among their relatives and acquaintances for a day, they realized His absence necessitated a drastic measure: turning back to the spiritual heart of their faith, Jerusalem, to actively seek Him out. This verse emphasizes their diligence, the growing alarm of their predicament, and their parental responsibility in retrieving their missing child, the Son of God.
Luke 2 45 Context
Luke 2:45 is part of the sole narrative account of Jesus' childhood between infancy and His public ministry, focusing on an event when He was twelve years old. Joseph and Mary, having journeyed to Jerusalem for the Passover festival, were returning home with their larger traveling company. Jewish custom for such pilgrimages often involved extended families and friends traveling together, and boys of twelve were approaching the age of responsibility (bar mitzvah in later tradition, marking a transition into adult religious life). It was a common assumption that children were with either parent or within the large, communal group. The immediate preceding verse (Lk 2:44) details their journey of one full day before they discovered Jesus was missing. This verse sets the stage for the anxious three-day search within Jerusalem, culminating in Jesus being found in the temple, listening and questioning the teachers (Lk 2:46). Historically and culturally, losing a child during such a journey would be a source of profound distress, compelling them to retrace their steps immediately to the last known significant location.
Luke 2 45 Word analysis
- And when they found him not: (Greek: οὐχ εὗρον αὐτόν - ouch heuroun auton). The negative particle "ouch" ("not") preceding "found" (aorist tense of heuriskō, to find) emphasizes their inability to locate Jesus despite their initial efforts within their travel group. This phrase conveys a critical moment of realization and the onset of intense parental distress. It highlights that the absence of Jesus was confirmed, necessitating a decisive response.
- they turned back again: (Greek: ὑπέστρεψαν - hypestrepsan). This is the aorist tense of hypostrephō, meaning "to turn back," "return." The use of "again" emphasizes the reversal of their intended journey. It signifies an immediate, decisive, and undoubtedly anxious decision to retrace their steps. This action speaks to their diligence and love as parents, putting aside their travel plans to rectify the grave situation. Spiritually, "turning back" can often be associated with repentance or reorientation.
- to Jerusalem: (Greek: Ἱερουσαλήμ - Hierousalēm). The capital city and the religious center of Israel, the place of the Temple and the Passover festival. It was the logical and only significant place to which they could return to search. Symbolically, Jerusalem is where God's presence was specifically acknowledged in the Temple, hinting that seeking Jesus should often lead one back to the place of spiritual encounter.
- seeking him: (Greek: ζητοῦντες αὐτόν - zētountes auton). This is the present active participle of zēteō, meaning "to seek," "search for," "demand." The present tense emphasizes that the seeking was an ongoing, active, and diligent process upon their return to Jerusalem. This is not a passive waiting but an earnest, persistent, and determined search. The term zēteō is frequently used in scripture for actively seeking God, His will, or righteousness, drawing a parallel to the spiritual diligence required in a believer's life.
Words-group analysis
- "And when they found him not, they turned back again...": This sequence of actions vividly portrays the parents' alarm and immediate response. The lack of discovery (Lk 2:44) leads directly to the pivotal decision to reverse their journey. This is a testament to the depth of their concern and the urgency of the situation, underscoring the preciousness of the lost Son.
- "...to Jerusalem, seeking him.": This phrase specifies the destination and the persistent action taken upon arrival. It indicates that their return was purposeful, aimed specifically at the continuation and intensification of their search for Jesus. It implies they would spare no effort, canvassing the entire city, especially the areas where large crowds would gather during a festival. This paints a picture of unwavering determination born out of love and parental duty.
Luke 2 45 Bonus section
- The detail of "turning back" emphasizes the inconvenience and immediate sacrifice Mary and Joseph were willing to make. It wasn't a leisurely return, but one filled with anxiety, reflecting the high value they placed on Jesus.
- This verse subtly portrays the theme of losing Jesus and finding Him again, a narrative pattern that resonates with broader theological themes in the Bible, such as Israel "losing" God's favor and "returning" through repentance, or believers feeling distant from Christ and needing to actively "seek" Him through prayer and study.
- The three-day period until He was found (implied by comparing Lk 2:44, Lk 2:45, Lk 2:46) would have been days of agonizing worry for Joseph and Mary, emphasizing the emotional toll of His perceived "absence." This highlights the intensity of their parental bond.
Luke 2 45 Commentary
Luke 2:45 encapsulates the critical moment when Mary and Joseph fully grasp the reality of Jesus' absence, prompting an immediate and arduous reversal of their journey. Their turning back to Jerusalem demonstrates profound parental responsibility, deep concern, and a determined effort to find their son. This physical retracing of steps underscores their distress, transforming their pilgrim return into a desperate search. The diligence implied by "seeking him" foreshadows a broader spiritual truth: the earnest search for Jesus, whether in moments of spiritual disconnection or as a lifelong pursuit, often requires returning to fundamental truths or places of spiritual encounter. It sets the stage for Jesus' astonishing statement in the temple, revealing His unique divine consciousness even at a young age, and simultaneously highlighting the human, though devout, incomprehension of His parents.