Luke 2 48

Luke 2:48 kjv

And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

Luke 2:48 nkjv

So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously."

Luke 2:48 niv

When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."

Luke 2:48 esv

And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress."

Luke 2:48 nlt

His parents didn't know what to think. "Son," his mother said to him, "why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere."

Luke 2 verses

Luke 2 48 Meaning

Luke 2:48 recounts the discovery of twelve-year-old Jesus by His parents, Mary and Joseph, after a desperate three-day search following the Passover feast in Jerusalem. Their initial reaction upon finding Him sitting among the Temple teachers is profound astonishment. This is immediately followed by Mary's question, expressed out of understandable parental concern and deep anxiety over His absence. She uses tender language, "Son," while also expressing the worry His disappearance caused them, emphasizing that "your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." This moment powerfully portrays the human anguish of Mary and Joseph while simultaneously hinting at Jesus' unique divine awareness and purpose.

Luke 2 48 Context

Luke 2:48 is part of the concise account of Jesus' childhood between His infancy and the beginning of His public ministry. This specific event occurs when Jesus is twelve years old. As was customary for devout Jewish families, Jesus' parents, Mary and Joseph, annually made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast (Lk 2:41-42). After the feast concluded, they departed with a large caravan, assuming Jesus was among their relatives or acquaintances, as children often traveled freely within the large group (Lk 2:44). After a full day's journey, realizing He was missing, they frantically returned to Jerusalem and spent three agonizing days searching for Him. Their search culminates in their discovery of Jesus in the Temple courts, "sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions" (Lk 2:46). The verse then captures their emotional reaction and Mary's poignant inquiry. This narrative uniquely provides a glimpse into Jesus' growing self-awareness of His divine purpose, serving as a crucial transitional passage leading up to His adult ministry.

Luke 2 48 Word analysis

• And when they saw him, they were amazed;
  • they saw him: Refers to Mary and Joseph. This highlights the crucial moment of reunion after profound parental distress.
  • they were amazed: Greek ekplēssō (ἐκπλήσσω). This verb conveys a strong sense of astonishment, wonder, or profound surprise, often bordering on shock. It implies more than mere surprise, suggesting that Mary and Joseph were struck by the scene they beheld: not only finding Him but also finding Him in such a mature and intellectual setting, engaging with esteemed teachers. It hints at a deepening realization of Jesus' unique person and innate wisdom.
• and his mother said to him, 'Son,
  • his mother: Emphasizes Mary's natural maternal concern and the personal nature of her question.
  • said to him: Direct address from a worried parent.
  • Son: Greek teknon (τέκνον). An affectionate term for a child, demonstrating the enduring parental bond. While gentle, it also carries the subtle tone of a parent addressing their child who has caused concern.
• 'why have you treated us this way?
  • why have you treated us this way?: Greek ti epoiēsas hēmin touto (τί ἐποίησας ἡμῖν τοῦτο;). More literally, "What did you do to us, this (thing)?" This is a tender and bewildered question, expressing parental distress and a search for understanding rather than an angry accusation. It reflects the emotional impact of His absence on them, showcasing their human limitations in comprehending Jesus' divine-human nature at this stage.
• Behold, your father
  • Behold,: Greek idou (ἰδού). An interjection drawing immediate attention, conveying earnestness and a heightened emotional state. It underlines the gravity of the situation as perceived by Mary.
  • your father: Refers to Joseph. Mary specifically includes Joseph, affirming his vital role as Jesus' earthly and legal father and their shared burden of anxiety. This detail contrasts pointedly with Jesus' subsequent reference to "My Father's house" in Luke 2:49, subtly hinting at the dual paternity that defines Jesus.
• and I have been anxiously searching for you.':
  • and I: Mary explicitly links herself with Joseph, showing their unified parental concern and shared suffering during the search.
  • have been anxiously searching: Greek oduromenoi ezētoun (ὀδύρομαι ἐζητοῦμεν). This powerful phrase uses two verbs: ezētoun (imperfect active of zēteō "to seek, search") indicating continuous action, and oduromenoi (present middle participle of oduromai "to lament, wail, express deep grief/sorrow"). This is much stronger than just "searching"; it signifies a sorrowful, distressed, or grieving search. It highlights the profound emotional anguish, fear, and lamentation experienced by Mary and Joseph over the three days of Jesus' disappearance.

Words-group analysis:

• "And when they saw him, they were amazed": This opening phrase encapsulates the immediate impact of finding Jesus. The "amazement" implies a recognition that this was no ordinary situation for a twelve-year-old, blending relief with perhaps a dawning, albeit partial, understanding of Jesus' exceptional nature, setting the stage for His profound revelation in the next verse.
• "Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.": This complete statement by Mary beautifully articulates the blend of familial love ("Son"), bewildered concern ("why...this way?"), and profound emotional distress ("anxiously searching"). The inclusion of "your father and I" underscores their shared parental responsibility and the collective anguish they endured. It serves as a human cry preceding the divine response, establishing the tension between Jesus' earthly family ties and His true divine mission and Sonship, preparing the reader for His radical yet divinely correct perspective.

Luke 2 48 Bonus section

• The "Three-Day" Motif: The three days of anxious searching for Jesus prior to finding Him resonates thematically with other significant "three-day" periods in biblical narrative, most notably the resurrection of Jesus Himself on the third day (Mt 12:40, Lk 24:46). While not a direct prophetic type, this temporal echo imbues the event with heightened dramatic and symbolic weight, foreshadowing a pattern of apparent loss followed by divine revelation or restoration.
• Jesus' Age and Jewish Custom: At twelve years old, Jesus was nearing the age (thirteen) when Jewish boys would traditionally undergo their Bar Mitzvah, signifying their readiness to be considered "sons of the commandment" and responsible for observing the Law. Jesus' presence and engagement with the teachers in the Temple at this age showcases an extraordinary precocity and awareness of His spiritual identity, well beyond the normal developmental or ceremonial expectations, emphasizing His inherent divinity and early preparedness for His mission.

Luke 2 48 Commentary

Luke 2:48 captures a profoundly human and simultaneously theologically significant moment in Jesus' early life. Mary and Joseph's "amazement" upon finding Jesus is multifaceted, combining the sheer relief of discovery with perhaps a deeper, inchoate wonder at the mature scene before them in the Temple. Mary's question, though phrased as a gentle reproof, flows from natural parental anxiety. Her words, "why have you treated us this way?," articulate the deep confusion and pain caused by Jesus' unexplained absence, reflecting their perspective as concerned parents grappling with their child's independent actions. The phrase "anxiously searching" (oduromenoi ezētoun) powerfully underscores their emotional ordeal, indicating a distress far beyond simple inconvenience, hinting at a period of acute fear and lament. This entire exchange sets the critical backdrop for Jesus' subsequent declaration of His primary devotion to His heavenly Father's house, showcasing His unique identity and purpose emerging at a tender age, thereby offering a crucial glimpse into His divine self-awareness.