Luke 2 · Verse 36

Luke 2:36

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
Luke 2:36, King James Version

Luke 2:36 in other translations

BSBThere was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years,
WEBThere was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,
ASVAnd there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,
YLTAnd there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, she was much advanced in days, having lived with an husband seven years from her virginity,
DARBYAnd there was a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was far advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity,
BBEAnd there was one, Anna, a woman prophet, the daughter of Phanuel, of the family of Asher (she was very old, and after seven years of married life
WebsterAnd there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;

What does Luke 2:36 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
36. Anna--or, Hannah. a prophetess--another evidence that "the last times" in which God was to "pour out His Spirit upon all flesh" were at hand. of the tribe of Aser--one of the ten tribes, of whom many were not carried captive, and not a few reunited themselves to Judah after the return from Babylon. The distinction of tribes, though practically destroyed by the captivity, was well enough known up to their final dispersion (Ro 11:1; He 7:14); nor is it now entirely lost. lived, &c.--she had lived seven years with her husband (Lu 2:36), and been a widow eighty-four years; so that if she married at the earliest marriageable age, twelve years, she could not at this time be less than a hundred three years old.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 36. Of the tribe of Aser. The tribe of Aser, or Asher, dwelt in the northern part of the land of Canaan. Why Anna was called a prophetess is not known. It might be because she had been the wife of a prophet, or because she was employed in celebrating the praises of God (comp. 1Chr 25:1,2,4, 1Sam 10:5), or because she herself foretold future events, being inspired.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 36 Anna, a prophetess - It does not appear that this person was a prophetess in the strict sense of the word, i.e. one who could foretell future events; but rather a holy woman; who, from her extensive knowledge and deep experience in Divine things, was capable of instructing others; according to the use of the word προφητευω, 1Cor 14:3 : He that prophesieth, speaketh unto men to edification, and to exhortation, and to comfort. So we find this holy widow proclaiming Jesus to all who looked for redemption in Jerusalem, Luk 2:38. The tribe of Asher - This was one of the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel, several families of which had returned from their idolatry unto God, in the time that Hezekiah proclaimed the passover in Jerusalem, which is mentioned 2Chr 30:1-11. Though her family might have been a distinguished one in Jerusalem, yet we find that it was her very exemplary piety that entitled her to be thus honourably mentioned in the sacred history. It is an honorable thing indeed to have one's name written in the sacred records; but to be written in the book of life is of infinitely greater moment. Seven years - She was a pure virgin when married, was favored with her husband but seven years, and was now in all, taking in the time of her virginity, marriage, and widowhood, eighty-four years of age. At such an age, it might be supposed she was reasonably exempted from performing the severer duties of religion; but her spirit of piety continued still to burn with a steady and undiminished fame.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 2:36-40
There was much evil then in the church, yet God left not himself without witness. Anna always dwelt in, or at least attended at, the temple. She was always in a praying spirit; gave herself to prayer, and in all things she served God. Those to whom Christ is made known, have great reason to thank the Lord. She taught others concerning him. Let the example of the venerable saints, Simeon and Anna, give courage to those whose hoary heads are, like theirs, a crown of glory, being found in the way of righteousness. The lips soon to be silent in the grave, should be showing forth the praises of the Redeemer. In all things it became Christ to be made like unto his brethren, therefore he passed through infancy and childhood as other children, yet without sin, and with manifest proofs of the Divine nature in him. By the Spirit of God all his faculties performed their offices in a manner not seen in any one else. Other children have foolishness bound in their hearts, which appears in what they say or do, but he was filled with wisdom, by the influence of the Holy Ghost; every thing he said and did, was wisely said and wisely done, above his years. Other children show the corruption of their nature; nothing but the grace of God was upon him.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Luke 2:36 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
ἦνēnthere wasG1510
ἍνναHannaAnnaG451
προφῆτις,prophētisa prophetess,G4398
θυγάτηρthugatērdaughterG2364
Φανουήλ,Phanouēlof Phanuel,G5323
ἐκekofG1537
φυλῆςphulēs[the] tribeG5443
Ἀσήρ·Asērof Asher;G768
αὕτηhautēsheG3778
προβεβηκυῖαprobebēkuiahaving advancedG4260
ἐνeninG1722
ἡμέραιςhēmeraisyearsG2250
πολλαῖς,pollaisgreat,G4183
ζήσασαzēsasahaving livedG2198
μετὰmetawithG3326
ἀνδρὸςandrosa husbandG435
ἔτηetēyearsG2094
ἑπτὰheptasevenG2033
ἀπὸapofromG575
τῆςtēstheG3588
παρθενίαςpartheniasmarriageG3932
αὐτῆς·autēsof herself;G846

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

Cross references for Luke 2:36

  • Psalms 92:14

    They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

  • Exodus 15:20

    And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

  • Genesis 30:13

    And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

  • Judges 4:4

    And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

  • Acts 2:18

    And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

  • Acts 21:9

    And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:1

    Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

  • Job 5:26

    Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.

  • 2 Kings 22:14

    So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.

  • Revelation 7:6

    Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
a prophetess.
Ex 15:20; Jud 4:4; 2Ki 22:14; Ac 2:18; 21:9; 1Co 12:1
Aser.
Ge 30:13
Asher.
Re 7:6
she.
Job 5:26; Ps 92:14

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

Context

  • Luke 2:35

    (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

  • Luke 2:36

    And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

  • Luke 2:37

    And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

Read all of Luke 2

Luke 2:36 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Estaba también allí Ana, profetisa, hija de Phanuel, de la tribu de Aser; la cual había venido en grande edad, y había vivido con su marido siete años desde su virginidad;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il y avait Anne, une prophétesse, fille de Phanuel, de la tribu d’Aser (elle était fort avancée en âge, ayant vécu avec un mari sept ans depuis sa virginité,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es war eine Prophetin Anna, eine Tochter Phanuels, aus dem Stamme Aser. Diese war in ihren Tagen weit vorgerückt und hatte sieben Jahre mit ihrem Manne gelebt von ihrer Jungfrauschaft an;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et erat Anna prophetissa, filia Phanuel, de tribu Aser: hæc processerat in diebus multis, et vixerat cum viro suo annis septem a virginitate sua.