Chapter

Luke 2:38

ESV And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
NIV Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
NASB And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak about Him to all those who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
CSB At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
NLT She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
KJV 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.

What does Luke 2:38 mean?

When Jesus is brought to the temple as an infant, for purification rites (Luke 2:22–24), at least two people take special notice. One of these was Simeon, a man deeply influenced by the Holy Spirit, who praised God for sending Jesus as the Promised Messiah (Luke 2:25–32). The other is Anna, a "prophetess" (Luke 2:36; Exodus 15:20; Judges 4:4) who has lived most of her life as a widow (Luke 2:37). Most of Anna's time is spent in prayer and worship.

Old Testament prophecies said that Messiah would come to rescue Israel and establish an unending era of peace and security (Isaiah 9:6–7). Anna recognizes Jesus—either on her own or when she hears Simeon's praise—and begins to tell others about the good news. The phrase translated as "coming up at that very hour" seems to suggest Anna arrived at the temple just as Jesus had His encounter with Simeon. If so, she might have been guided by the Holy Spirit to participate in this event.
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