Luke 2:39
ESV
And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
NIV
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
NASB
And when His parents had completed everything in accordance with the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.
CSB
When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
NLT
When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee.
KJV
And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
NKJV
So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
What does Luke 2:39 mean?
Just prior to Jesus' birth, His mother and adoptive father travelled to Bethlehem to comply with a government-ordered census (Luke 2:1–5). There, Mary gave birth and presumably stayed for some time while recovering. Joseph and Mary were careful to follow all the instructions given in the Law of Moses. This included having Jesus circumcised when He was eight days old (Luke 2:21). It also meant making sacrifices for ritual purification about a month later (Leviticus 12:4, 6). Purification was done at the temple in Jerusalem, not far from Bethlehem (Luke 2:22–24).Based on this context, it seems that Joseph and Mary remained in Bethlehem from the time of Jesus' birth until after these requirements had all been completed. Old Testament prophecy indicated that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, of the line of David (Micah 5:2; Jeremiah 23:5). Jewish Scripture does not record an explicit statement that the Christ would be known as a resident of Nazareth. However, cultural prejudice of the time sneered at Nazareth as backwards and too closely connected to the Roman garrison stationed there (John 1:46). That Jesus will grow up in Nazareth corresponds to Old Testament predictions about Messiah being despised and looked down on by His peers (Psalm 22:6; Isaiah 49:7; 53:3). Further, Isaiah 11:1 uses the Hebrew term for "branch," nē'ser, which implies something lowly or common. That the Messiah was raised in the despised town of Nazareth fulfilled those subtle prophecies in the eyes of other writers, such as Matthew (Matthew 2:23).
