Luke 2:52 kjv
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Luke 2:52 nkjv
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Luke 2:52 niv
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Luke 2:52 esv
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Luke 2:52 nlt
Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.
Luke 2 52 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 2:26 | Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and with people. | Samuel's similar exemplary growth pattern. |
| Lk 1:80 | And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness... | John the Baptist's physical and spiritual growth. |
| Heb 2:17-18 | Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things... For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. | Jesus's full humanity and relatable experience. |
| Phil 2:7 | ...but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. | Christ's condescension and embodiment as fully human. |
| Lk 2:40 | The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. | Preceding verse, general growth; Lk 2:52 adds "with men". |
| Prov 2:6 | For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. | Wisdom ultimately originates from God. |
| Col 2:3 | in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. | Christ as the ultimate embodiment of wisdom. |
| 1 Cor 1:24 | ...but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. | Jesus personifies divine wisdom. |
| Jas 1:5 | But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach... | Emphasizes God as the giver of wisdom for believers. |
| Exod 33:17 | The LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing... because you have found favor in My sight..." | Example of an individual finding favor with God. |
| Gen 6:8 | But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. | Noah found grace/favor before God. |
| Ps 84:11 | For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. | God grants grace/favor to the righteous. |
| Prov 3:4 | So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. | Connection between righteous living and favor from God and men. |
| Dan 1:17 | As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. | Example of intellectual growth and favor given by God (Daniel). |
| 2 Tim 2:15 | Be diligent to present yourself approved to God... handling accurately the word of truth. | Encouragement for believers to grow in knowledge and approval before God. |
| Eph 4:15 | ...but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ. | Believers' call to grow into Christlikeness. |
| Rom 12:2 | And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind... | Growth in understanding/wisdom through spiritual transformation. |
| Lk 2:47 | All who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. | Earlier indication of Jesus's intellectual wisdom. |
| Acts 2:47 | ...praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. | Early church growing in favor with people, reflecting a similar pattern. |
| Titus 2:11-12 | For the grace of God has appeared... instructing us to deny ungodliness... so that we would live sensibly, righteously, and godly... | Grace/favor with God teaches righteous living, promoting wisdom and spiritual growth. |
| Jn 1:14 | And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us... full of grace and truth... | Christ described as "full of grace," linking to "favor with God." |
| Isa 11:2 | The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding... | Prophecy of the Spirit's endowment of wisdom upon the Messiah. |
| Lk 2:19 | But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. | Foreshadows the deep significance of Jesus's early life and development. |
| Matt 3:17 | And behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased." | Divine favor explicitly stated for Jesus. |
| Acts 7:22 | Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action. | Another historical figure notable for his intellectual development, by contrast. |
Luke 2 verses
Luke 2 52 Meaning
Luke 2:52 succinctly describes the continued, well-rounded development of Jesus during His pre-ministry years. It reveals His comprehensive maturation across four essential dimensions: intellectual, physical, spiritual, and social. This verse highlights Jesus's true humanity, demonstrating that He grew progressively, like all humans, yet perfectly and without blemish. It emphasizes divine approval of His development and His increasing acceptance within His community as He matured.
Luke 2 52 Context
Luke 2:52 concludes the brief account of Jesus's early life, specifically following His astounding display of wisdom at the age of 12 in the Temple (Lk 2:41-51). This verse acts as a bridge, transitioning from Jesus's childhood narratives to the beginning of His public ministry years later. From a historical and cultural standpoint, this period was critical for Jewish males, marking a transition into greater religious and social responsibility, symbolized by events like bar mitzvah. Luke, as a careful historian, emphasizes Jesus's genuine human development within this Jewish framework. This detail is significant as it underlines Jesus's full humanity, showcasing His gradual growth and maturation just as any person, rather than portraying Him as having full adult capacities from birth. It counters early false teachings, like Gnosticism, which might have denied Jesus's material body or real human experience. Luke’s intention is to demonstrate that Jesus truly lived and developed as a man, perfectly prepared for His ultimate divine mission.
Luke 2 52 Word analysis
And Jesus: (Greek: Kai Iēsous, Καὶ Ἰησοῦς). "Jesus" is the Greek form of the Hebrew "Yeshua," meaning "Yahweh saves." The initial "And" smoothly connects this general description of growth to the specific incident of Jesus in the Temple, implying continuity.
kept increasing: (Greek: proekopten, προέκοπτεν). An imperfect indicative verb from prokopto, literally meaning "to cut forward," like blazing a trail through an overgrown path. It conveys the idea of continuous, steady, and progressive advancement or progress, signifying ongoing development, not sudden perfection.
in wisdom: (Greek: sophia, σοφίᾳ). Refers to intellectual understanding, discernment, and practical insight that guides righteous living. This is more than mere factual knowledge; it implies spiritual acumen and the ability to apply divine truth effectively. Luke 2:47 highlights Jesus's understanding even at 12 years old.
and stature: (Greek: hēlikia, ἡλικίᾳ). While it can encompass age or maturity, in context with physical development, it refers primarily to physical height and bodily growth. It speaks to Jesus's physical maturation process, mirroring His overall development.
and in favor: (Greek: chariti, χάριτι). This term signifies grace, goodwill, kindness, or acceptance. It denotes approval and positive regard, stemming from both divine source and human relationships.
with God: Refers to spiritual acceptance, divine approval, and continuous communion with the Father. Jesus's life was always pleasing to God, affirming His unique status and obedience even from His earliest years.
and men: Implies social acceptance, good repute, and positive standing within His community. This speaks to His social integration and healthy relationships within human society during His formative years.
Group analysis:
- "And Jesus kept increasing": This phrase underlines Jesus's genuine humanity and progressive development. He truly underwent a developmental process, which affirms the incarnation and provides a model for human growth.
- "in wisdom and stature": This pairing describes two aspects of His personal growth: wisdom for intellectual and spiritual insight (inner development) and stature for physical and bodily maturation (outer development). This highlights His comprehensive self-development.
- "and in favor with God and men": This phrase captures His relational growth, both vertically ("with God," representing His spiritual communion and divine approval) and horizontally ("with men," indicating His social acceptance and good relationships within His community). This four-fold description forms a balanced model for complete human growth—intellectual, physical, spiritual, and social.
Luke 2 52 Bonus section
This verse, alongside Lk 2:40, frames the account of the twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple. Many biblical scholars observe that Luke's concise description here creates a literary inclusio, effectively marking the completion of Jesus’s silent years before His public appearance. The progressive nature indicated by "kept increasing" (prokopto) suggests not just mere chronological aging, but active and intentional personal growth, signifying diligence in His development. The four areas of growth mentioned in the verse are often seen as forming a chiastic structure with Lk 2:40, demonstrating a more specific and advanced stage of development. This emphasis on Jesus's fully human and progressive development provided a powerful counter-narrative against nascent Gnostic ideas that minimized or denied Christ's true humanity, underscoring that the Savior truly experienced and perfected every dimension of the human condition.
Luke 2 52 Commentary
Luke 2:52 functions as a concluding summary, presenting a comprehensive portrait of Jesus's balanced development before His public ministry. The active verb "kept increasing" emphasizes His ongoing, deliberate, and natural human growth, crucial for understanding His full humanity. This verse paints a picture of perfectly integrated maturity: mental capacity ("wisdom"), physical development ("stature"), spiritual harmony ("favor with God"), and social interaction ("favor with men"). Such four-fold progression signifies Jesus's thorough preparation for His ultimate divine purpose, showcasing a flawless integration of all aspects of being a man, satisfying both divine and human expectations. This holistic growth serves not only to confirm His humanity but also stands as a timeless blueprint for complete human flourishing, encouraging believers to pursue comprehensive and balanced maturity in all spheres of life, continually seeking God's approval and healthy human relationships. For instance, families might use this as a model for child-rearing, focusing on academic achievement, physical well-being, spiritual formation, and social skills development; or individuals might evaluate their own lives against these four areas to ensure holistic progress.