Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Luke narrates Joseph’s departure from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea during a census registration. The account follows a decree requiring all residents to travel to their ancestral towns.
The words — ἀνέβη (anebē) = went up and ἀπὸ (apo) = from. The text records Joseph’s physical ascent from the lowland region of Galilee into the highland territory of Judea.
The thread — John 7:42 notes Scripture says the Christ will come from David’s line and Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 identifies Bethlehem as the origin of a future ruler, while 1 Samuel 16:1 records the LORD directing Samuel to anoint a new king from Jesse’s family.
Why it lands — The text states Joseph traveled to Bethlehem specifically because he belonged to David’s house and line. A reader must recognize that ancestral lineage dictated movement, not personal preference or convenience.
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 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
Cross-references
- Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.
- John 7:42 Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
- 1 Samuel 16:1 Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”
- Matthew 2:23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
- Luke 1:26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
- Ruth 4:17 The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, the father of David.
- Luke 4:16 Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read,
- Ruth 2:4 Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you.” “The LORD bless you,” they replied.
- 1 Samuel 20:6 If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David urgently requested my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because there is an annual sacrifice for his whole clan.’
- Matthew 1:1 This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham: