Luke 2 · Verse 39

Luke 2:39

And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

Luke 2:39, King James Version

Luke 2:39 in other translations

BSB	When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
WEB	When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
ASV	And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
YLT	And when they finished all things, according to the Law of the Lord, they turned back to Galilee, to their city Nazareth;
DARBY	And when they had completed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own city Nazareth.
BBE	And when they had done all the things which were ordered by the law of the Lord, they went back to Galilee, to Nazareth, the town where they were living.
Webster	And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

What does Luke 2:39 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

39. Nothing is more difficult than to fix the precise order in which the visit of the Magi, with the flight into and return from Egypt (Mt 2:13-23), are to be taken, in relation to the circumcision and presentation of Christ in the temple, here recorded. It is perhaps best to leave this in the obscurity in which we find it, as the result of two independent, though if we knew all, easily reconcilable narratives.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 39. They returned into Galilee. Not immediately, but after a time. Luke has omitted the flight into Egypt recorded by Matthew; but he has not denied it, nor are his words to be pressed as if he meant to affirm that they went immediately to Nazareth. A parallel case we have in the life of Paul. When he was converted it is said that he came to Jerusalem, as if he had gone there immediately after his conversion (Acts 9:26); yet we learn in another place that this was after an interval of three years, Gal 1:17,18. In the case before us there is no improbability in supposing that they returned to Bethlehem, then went to Egypt, and then to Galilee.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 39 They returned into Galilee - But not immediately: for the coming of the wise men, and the retreat of Joseph with his family into Egypt, happened between this period of time, and his going to Nazareth in Galilee. - Bp. Pearce. But it is very likely, that as soon as the presentation in the temple, and the ceremonies relative to it, had been accomplished, that the holy family did return to Galilee, as St. Luke here states, and that they continued there till Herod's bloody purpose was discovered to them by the Lord; which probably took some time to bring it to its murderous crisis, after the departure of the magi. After which, they fled into Egypt, where they continued till the death of Herod; and it is probable that it is of a second return to Nazareth that St. Matthew speaks, Luk 2:23.

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…

Read the full comment on Luke 2:36-40 →

Luke 2:39 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

ὡςhōswhenG5613

ἐτέλεσανetelesanthey had performedG5055

πάνταpantaeverythingG3956

τὰta<the>G3588

κατὰkataaccording toG2596

τὸνtontheG3588

νόμονnomonlawG3551

κυρίου,kuriouof [the] Lord,G2962

ἐπέστρεψανepestrepsanthey returnedG1994

εἰςeistoG1519

τὴνtēn<the>G3588

ΓαλιλαίανGalilaianGalileeG1056

εἰςeistoG1519

πόλινpolintownG4172

ἑαυτῶνhe'autōnof themselvesG1438

Ναζαρέθ.¶NazarethNazareth.G3478

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

Cross references for Luke 2:39

Luke 2:4
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
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.
Deuteronomy 12:32
What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Luke 2:21-24
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. 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; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
Matthew 2:22-23
But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
Luke 2:51
And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
Luke 1:6
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

performed.
21-24; 1:6; De 12:32; Mt 3:15; Ga 4:4,5
they returned.
4; Mt 2:22,23
Nazareth.Nazareth, now Nassara, was a small town of Zebulun, in Lower Galilee, according to Eusebius, fifteen miles east of Legio, near mount Tabor, and, according to D'Arvieux, about eight leagues, or according to Maundrell, seven hours, or about twenty miles S. E. of Acre. It is one of the principal towns of the pashalic of Acre, containing a population of about 3,000 souls, of whom 500 are Turks, the remainder being Christians. It is delightfully situated on elevated ground, in a valley, encompassed by mountains.

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

Context

Luke 2:38
And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Luke 2:39
And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
Luke 2:40
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Read all of Luke 2

Luke 2:39 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Mas como cumplieron todas las cosas según la ley del Señor, se volvieron á Galilea, á su ciudad de Nazaret.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et quand ils eurent tout accompli selon la loi du ✶Seigneur, ils s’en retournèrent en Galilée, à Nazareth, leur ville.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und als sie alles vollendet hatten nach dem Gesetz des Herrn, kehrten sie nach Galiläa zurück in ihre Stadt Nazareth.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et ut perfecerunt omnia secundum legem Domini, reversi sunt in Galilæam in civitatem suam Nazareth.