Chapter
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52

Luke 2:44
ESV but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
NIV Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.
NASB Instead, they thought that He was somewhere in the caravan, and they went a day’s journey; and then they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
CSB Assuming he was in the traveling party, they went a day's journey. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.
NLT because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.
KJV But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

What does Luke 2:44 mean?

In full context, Jesus is nearly His era's age of adulthood (Luke 2:42), travelling with a large group of family on a trip they've made every year (Deuteronomy 16:16) according to Jewish law (Luke 2:41). Jesus, of course, is hardly a typical child—being entirely free from sin (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22); there would have been good reasons to trust His decision-making. The fact that Mary and Joseph don't realize He's remained in the temple in Jerusalem until the end of the day's journey is awkward, but not a sign of negligence.

It makes sense that Joseph and Mary would start looking for Jesus when they stopped travelling for the night. With so many family members traveling, they likely assumed He was with others during the trip. When it becomes clear Jesus is not there, they will make the trip back to Jerusalem and eventually find Him in the temple (Luke 2:45-46).
Expand
Expand
Expand
What is the Gospel?
Download the app:
BibleRef.com is part of Got Questions Ministries

For answers to your Bible questions, please visit