Luke 2:5

5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,^[a] who was with child.

Luke 2:5 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 2:5

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife
Whom also he had married, though he had not known her in a carnal way; she came along with him to be taxed and enrolled also, because she was of the same family of David, and belonged to the same city:

being great with child;
very near her time, and yet, though in such circumstances, was obliged by this edict, to come to Bethlehem; and the providence in it was, that she might give birth there, and so the prophecy in ( Micah 5:2 ) have its accomplishment: this was an instance, and an example, of obedience to civil magistrates.

Luke 2:5 In-Context

3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, one legally pledged to be married