Luke 2:37

37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.^[a] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

Luke 2:37 in Other Translations

37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.

37 and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fastings and prayers.

37 and was a widow for 84 years. She did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fastings and prayers.

Luke 2:37 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 2:37

And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years
Which is not the date of her whole age, as some have thought, but of her widowhood state, as distinct from her marriage state, and the time of her virginity. And this sense all the versions favour.

Which departed not from the temple
that is, she was constant in her devotion there, at the time of divine service, whether by night or day; not that she was in it, for she had been out of it now; otherwise it could not with propriety be said of her, that

she coming in that instant,
as in the next verse; but that she always was there when there was any worship performed, in which women might be concerned, and which is pointed out in the next clause:

but served God with fastings and prayers, night and day:
she attended to the usual fasts of twice a week, and to such as were enjoined the whole congregation, and to the several set times of prayer, and to every act of devotion, private or public, by night or day. In ( Exodus 38:8 ) we read of women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: both the Targums of Onkelos and Ben Uzziel render it, "who came to pray"; and the Septuagint version, "that fasted": Anna did both.

Luke 2:37 In-Context

35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,

37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

38 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.

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Timothy 5:9
• 2. Acts 13:3; Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 5:5

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "then had been a widow for eighty-four years."