Chapter

Luke 2:21

ESV And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
NIV On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
NASB And when eight days were completed so that it was time for His circumcision, He was also named Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
CSB When the eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus--the name given by the angel before he was conceived.
NLT Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
KJV 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.

What does Luke 2:21 mean?

Jesus' upbringing was faithful to God's instructions as given to Israel in the Old Testament. That included circumcision (Leviticus 12:3). At this ceremony, it was traditional for male children to be "officially" given their name. The prior chapter depicted the controversy when John the Baptist was named (Luke 1:59–63). Jesus' designation is no surprise to anyone. When an angel announced His impending birth, the news included a name (Luke 1:31). That moment is recalled in this verse.

Messiah's given name is represented in English as Jesus. This is transliterated from the Greek Iēsous. That, in turn, is the Greek version of Yeshua or Yehashua, the same Hebrew name from which we derive Joshua. In Hebrew, the word literally means "Yahweh is salvation." When Joseph had his own angelic encounter (Matthew 1:21), it was explained that this was a reference to Jesus' role as Savior.

In the following verses, Jesus' family will continue to follow traditional Hebrew practice. They will go to the temple for purification, and for a form of infant dedication (Luke 2:22).
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