41And his parents were going to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. [2:42] And when he was twelve years old, as they were going up according to the custom of the feast, [2:43] and when the days were completed, as they were returning, Jesus the boy remained behind in Jerusalem — and his parents and his mother did not know it. [2:44] Having supposed him to be in the traveling caravan, they went a day's journey and were searching for him among the relatives and the acquaintances; [2:45] and not having found him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. [2:46] And it came to pass that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and questioning them. [2:47] And all those hearing him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. [2:48] And having seen him, they were utterly astonished; and his mother said to him: "Child, why have you done this to us? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in anguish." [2:49] And he said to them: "Why is it that you were searching for me? Did you not know that it is necessary for me to be in the things of my Father?" [2:50] And they themselves did not understand the declaration that he spoke to them. [2:51] And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he was subject to them. And his mother was treasuring up all these declarations in her heart. [2:52] And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.
LUK 2:41-52
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
In the world it was spoken into
In first-century Jewish culture, pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover was a deeply ingrained practice, particularly for devout families like Jesus'. The journey was communal, with extended family and neighbors traveling together in (a caravan or traveling group). This context explains why Joseph and Mary initially assumed Jesus was among their relatives. At twelve, Jesus was on the cusp of adulthood in Jewish tradition, nearing the age of bar mitzvah, when boys began to take on religious responsibilities. The temple was the center of Jewish religious life, and teachers there often engaged in public discourse with students. Jesus’ presence in the temple, listening and asking questions, would have been seen as a sign of piety and intellectual curiosity. However, His claim about being in His Father’s house would have been striking, as it implicitly identified God as His Father in a way that transcended ordinary familial piety. Mary’s reaction, described with the term (anguished), reflects the tension between Jesus’ divine mission and His earthly family’s expectations.
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How other translations render this
LUK 2:41
- KJV
- Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
- BSB
- Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.
- Koinōnos
- And his parents were going to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.
LUK 2:42
- KJV
- And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
- BSB
- And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast.
- Koinōnos
- And when he was twelve years old, as they were going up according to the custom of the feast,
LUK 2:43
- KJV
- And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
- BSB
- When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed.
- Koinōnos
- and when the days were completed, as they were returning, Jesus the boy remained behind in Jerusalem — and his parents and his mother did not know it.
LUK 2:44
- KJV
- But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
- BSB
- Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends.
- Koinōnos
- Having supposed him to be in the traveling caravan, they went a day's journey and were searching for him among the relatives and the acquaintances;
LUK 2:45
- KJV
- And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
- BSB
- When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.
- Koinōnos
- and not having found him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
LUK 2:46
- KJV
- And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
- BSB
- Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
- Koinōnos
- And it came to pass that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and questioning them.
LUK 2:47
- KJV
- And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
- BSB
- And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.
- Koinōnos
- And all those hearing him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
LUK 2:48
- KJV
- And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
- BSB
- When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”
- Koinōnos
- And having seen him, they were utterly astonished; and his mother said to him: "Child, why have you done this to us? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in anguish.
LUK 2:49
- KJV
- And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
- BSB
- “Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Fatherʼs house?”
- Koinōnos
- And he said to them: "Why is it that you were searching for me? Did you not know that it is necessary for me to be in the things of my Father?
LUK 2:50
- KJV
- And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
- BSB
- But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.
- Koinōnos
- And they themselves did not understand the declaration that he spoke to them.
LUK 2:51
- KJV
- And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
- BSB
- Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
- Koinōnos
- And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he was subject to them. And his mother was treasuring up all these declarations in her heart.
LUK 2:52
- KJV
- And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
- BSB
- And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
- Koinōnos
- And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 2:44
- company:The word translated 'company' here refers specifically to a group of travelers journeying together, like a caravan, emphasizing the communal aspect of their travel.
LUK 2:48
- were seeking:The term used here for 'were seeking' carries a strong sense of anguish and distress, indicating the deep emotional pain and anxiety Mary and Joseph felt while searching.
LUK 2:49
- the [house]:The word translated 'the [house]' is a simple definite article, but in this context, it implies a well-understood and significant place, likely referring to the Temple as God's house.
LUK 2:51
- was treasuring up:The word translated 'was treasuring up' suggests a careful and deliberate act of preserving and guarding these sayings in her memory, not just passively remembering them.