Luke 2 · Verse 21

Luke 2:21

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Luke 2:21, King James Version

Luke 2:21 in other translations

BSBWhen the eight days until His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived.
WEBWhen eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
ASVAnd when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
YLTAnd when eight days were fulfilled to circumcise the child, then was his name called Jesus, having been so called by the messenger before his being conceived in the womb.
DARBYAnd when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called Jesus, which was the name given by the angel before he had been conceived in the womb.
BBEAnd when, after eight days, the time came for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name which the angel had given to him before his birth.
WebsterAnd when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, who was so named by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

What does Luke 2:21 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 21. Eight (e) days, &c. This was the regular time for performing the rite of circumcision, Gen 17:12.

Called Jesus.

Mt 1:21.

(e) Lev 12:3 (f) "so named of the angel" Mt 1:21, Lk 1:31

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 When eight days were accomplished - The law had appointed that every male should be circumcised at eight days old, or on the eighth day after its birth, Gen 17:12; and our blessed Lord received circumcision in token of his subjection to the law, Gal 4:4; Gal 5:3. His name was called Jesus - See on Mat 1:21 (note) and Joh 1:29 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 2:21-24
Our Lord Jesus was not born in sin, and did not need that mortification of a corrupt nature, or that renewal unto holiness, which were signified by circumcision. This ordinance was, in his case, a pledge of his future perfect obedience to the whole law, in the midst of sufferings and temptations, even unto death for us. At the end of forty days, Mary went up to the temple to offer the appointed sacrifices for her purification. Joseph also presented the holy child Jesus, because, as a first-born son, he was to be presented to the Lord, and redeemed according to the law. Let us present our children to the Lord who gave them to us, beseeching him to redeem them from sin and death, and make them holy to himself.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Luke 2:21 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532
ὅτεhotewhenG3753
ἐπλήσθησανeplēsthēsanwere fulfilledG4130
ἡμέραιhēmeraidaysG2250
ὀκτὼoktōeightG3638
τοῦtou<the>G3588
περιτεμεῖνperitemeinto circumciseG4059
τὸtotheG3588
παιδίον,paidionchildG3813
καὶkaithenG2532
ἐκλήθηeklēthēwas calledG2564
τὸtotheG3588
ὄνομαonomanameG3686
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
Ἰησοῦς,IēsousJesus,G2424
τὸtowhichG3588
κληθὲνklēthenHe had been calledG2564
ὑπὸhupobyG5259
τοῦtoutheG3588
ἀγγέλουangelouangelG32
πρὸprobeforeG4253
τοῦtou<the>G3588
συλλημφθῆναιsullēmphthēnaiconceivingG4815
αὐτὸνautonHeG846
ἐνeninG1722
τῇtēatheG3588
κοιλίᾳ.koiliawomb.G2836

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 2:21

  • Leviticus 12:3

    And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

  • Genesis 17:12

    And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

  • Luke 1:31

    And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

  • Luke 1:59

    And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

  • Matthew 1:21

    And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

  • Galatians 4:4-5

    But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

  • Matthew 3:15

    And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

  • Philippians 2:8

    And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

  • Matthew 1:25

    And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
eight.
1:59; Ge 17:12; Le 12:3; Mt 3:15; Ga 4:4,5; Php 2:8
his name was.
1:31; Mt 1:21,25

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 2:20

    And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

  • Luke 2:21

    And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

  • Luke 2:22

    And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

Read all of Luke 2

Luke 2:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y pasados los ocho días para circuncidar al niño, llamaron su nombre JESÚS; el cual le fué puesto por el ángel antes que él fuese concebido en el vientre.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et quand huit jours furent accomplis pour le circoncire, son nom fut appelé Jésus, nom duquel il avait été appelé par l’ange avant qu’il soit conçu dans le ventre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und als acht Tage erfüllt waren, daß man ihn beschneiden sollte, da wurde sein Name Jesus genannt, welcher von dem Engel genannt worden war, ehe er im Leibe empfangen wurde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et postquam consummati sunt dies octo, ut circumcideretur puer, vocatum est nomen ejus Jesus, quod vocatum est ab angelo priusquam in utero conciperetur.