Luke 2:39-52

The Return to Nazareth

39 And when they had performed everything according to ¹the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of ²Nazareth.

40 ³And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

41 Now ⁴his parents went ⁵to Jerusalem every year at ⁶the Feast of the Passover.

42 And when he was twelve years old, ⁷they went up according to custom.

43 And when the feast ⁸was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. ⁹His parents did not know it,

44 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,

45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.

46 After three days they found him in the temple, ¹⁰sitting among ¹¹the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

48 And when his parents^[a] saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, ¹²your father and I have been searching for you in great distress. ”

49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that ¹³I must be in ¹⁴my Father’s house? ” ^[b]

50 And ¹⁵they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.

51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And ¹⁶his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus ¹⁷increased in wisdom and in stature^[c] and in ¹⁸favor with God and man.

Cross References

• 1. 2:39 ver. 23
• 2. 2:39 ver. 4
• 3. 2:40 ch. 1:80
• 4. 2:41 ver. 27
• 5. 2:41 [1 Sam. 1:3]
• 6. 2:41 Ex. 23:15; Deut. 16:1; John 2:13
• 7. 2:42 John 11:55
• 8. 2:43 Ex. 12:15; Lev. 23:8; Deut. 16:3
• 9. 2:43 [See ver. 41 above]
• 10. 2:46 See Matt. 26:55
• 11. 2:46 ch. 5:17
• 12. 2:48 ver. 27; [ver. 49]
• 13. 2:49 See ch. 13:33
• 14. 2:49 John 2:16; 14:2
• 15. 2:50 [ch. 18:34]; See Mark 9:32
• 16. 2:51 See ver. 19
• 17. 2:52 [1 Sam. 2:26]
• 18. 2:52 [1 Sam. 2:26]

Footnotes

• [a] 2:48 Greek 'they'
• [b] 2:49 Or 'about my Father’s business'
• [c] 2:52 Or 'years'