Bible Strands
Luke 2:39
When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus’ parents complete the mandated legal duties and depart Jerusalem, marking the narrative transition from the temple presentation to the family’s return before the account shifts to the child’s development.
The words — ἐτέλεσαν (etelesan) = they had performed, and νόμον (nomon) = law, denote the exact fulfillment of the prescribed requirements before the journey home.
The thread — The completion of every legal requirement parallels the command in Deuteronomy 12:32 to do all that is commanded without addition or subtraction, and reflects the fulfillment of all righteousness described in Matthew 3:15, following Joseph’s initial journey to Bethlehem recorded in Luke 2:4.
Why it lands — The text states a factual return to Nazareth after legal compliance, requiring the reader to note the family’s adherence to established boundaries before the narrative advances to the child’s growth.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
Cross-references
- Luke 2:4 So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.
- Deuteronomy 12:32 See that you do everything I command you; do not add to it or subtract from it.
- Matthew 3:15 “Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.
- Galatians 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
- Matthew 2:22 But when he learned that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,
- Luke 2:21 When the eight days before His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.
- Luke 2:51 Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
- Luke 1:6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.