LUKE 2:21 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And when eight days had been fulfilled to circumcise him, then his name was called Jesus, which he had been called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

UST On the eighth day after the baby was born, they circumcised him and gave him the name Jesus. This was the name that the angel had told them to give him even before Mary had become pregnant with him.

BSB When [the] eight days before His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given [Him] before He was conceived.

MSB When [the] eight days before His[fn] circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given [Him] before He was conceived.

BLB And when eight days to circumcise Him were fulfilled, then His name was called Jesus, which He had been called by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

AICNT And when eight days were completed for circumcising {him},[fn] his name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

2:21, him: Some manuscripts read “the child.” D(05) Latin(e) Syriac(sy^s sy^c) TR

OEB ¶ Eight days after the birth of the child, when it was time to circumcise him, he received the name Jesus – the name given him by the angel before his conception.

WEBBE When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

WMBB When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Yeshua, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

NET At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

LSV And when eight days were fulfilled to circumcise the Child, then was His Name called Jesus, having been so called by the messenger before His being conceived in the womb.

FBV After eight days, the time came for the baby to be circumcised, and he was named Jesus. This was the name given to him by the angel before he had even been conceived.

TCNT When the eight days were completed for [fn]his circumcision, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

2:21 his ¦ the child's ANT TR

T4T Seven days later, when the priests circumcised the baby, his parents named him Jesus. That was the name that they were told by the angel {the angel told them} to give him before Mary became pregnant.

LEB And when eight days were completed _⌊so that he could be circumcised_⌋,[fn] he was named Jesus, his name that he was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

2:21 Literally “to circumcise him”

BBE And when, after eight days, the time came for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name which the angel had given to him before his birth.

Moff When the eight days had passed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus — the name given by the angel before he had been conceived in the womb.

Wymth When eight days had passed and the time for circumcising Him had come, He was called JESUS, the name given Him by the angel before His conception in the womb.

ASV And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

DRA And after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel, before he was conceived in the womb.

YLT And when eight days were fulfilled to circumcise the child, then was his name called Jesus, having been so called by the messenger before his being conceived in the womb.

Drby And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called Jesus, which was the name given by the angel before he had been conceived in the womb.

RV And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

SLT And when eight days were completed for circumcising the child and his name was called JESUS, called by the messenger before he was conceived in the womb.

Wbstr And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, who was so named by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

KJB-1769 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

KJB-1611 And when eight dayes were accomplished for the circumcising of the childe, his name was called Iesus, which was so named of the Angel before he was conceiued in the wombe.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps And when the eygth day was come, that the chylde shoulde be circumcised, his name was called Iesus, whiche was so named of the Angel, before he was conceaued in the wombe.
(And when the eygth day was come, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called Yesus/Yeshua, which was so named of the Angel, before he was conceived in the womb.)

Gnva And when the eight daies were accomplished, that they shoulde circumcise the childe, his name was then called Iesus, which was named of the Angell, before he was conceiued in the wombe.
(And when the eight days were accomplished, that they should circumcise the child, his name was then called Yesus/Yeshua, which was named of the Angel, before he was conceived in the womb. )

Cvdl And whan eight dayes were ended, that the childe shulde be circumcysed, his name was called Iesus, which was named of ye angell, before he was conceaued in his mothers wombe.
(And when eight days were ended, that the child should be circumcysed, his name was called Yesus/Yeshua, which was named of ye/you_all angel, before he was conceived in his mothers womb.)

TNT And when the eyght daye was come that the chylde shuld be circucised his name was called Iesus which was named of the angell before he was conceaved in the wombe.
(And when the eight day was come that the child should be circucised his name was called Yesus/Yeshua which was named of the angel before he was conceaved in the womb. )

Wycl And aftir that the eiyte daies weren endid, that the child schulde be circumcided, his name was clepid Jhesus, which was clepid of the aungel, bifor that he was conceyued in the wombe.
(And after that the eight days were ended, that the child should be circumcided, his name was called Yhesus, which was called of the angel, before that he was conceyued in the womb.)

Luth Und da acht Tage um waren, daß das Kind beschnitten würde, da ward sein Name genannt JEsus, welcher genannt war von dem Engel, ehe denn er in Mutterleibe empfangen ward.
(And there eight days around/by/for were, that the child circumcised would, there what/which be Name named Yesus, which named what/which from to_him angel, before because/than he in womb received was.)

ClVg Et postquam consummati sunt dies octo, ut circumcideretur puer, vocatum est nomen ejus Jesus, quod vocatum est ab angelo priusquam in utero conciperetur.
(And after finishi are days eight, as circumcideretur child, called it_is name his Yesus, that called it_is away messenger/angel before in/into/on the_womb conciperetur. )

UGNT καὶ ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν ἡμέραι ὀκτὼ τοῦ περιτεμεῖν αὐτόν, καὶ ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς, τὸ κληθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀγγέλου πρὸ τοῦ συνλημφθῆναι αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ.
(kai hote eplaʸsthaʸsan haʸmerai oktō tou peritemein auton, kai eklaʸthaʸ to onoma autou Yaʸsous, to klaʸthen hupo tou angelou pro tou sunlaʸmfthaʸnai auton en taʸ koilia.)

SBL-GNT Καὶ ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν ἡμέραι ὀκτὼ τοῦ περιτεμεῖν αὐτόν, καὶ ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς, τὸ κληθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀγγέλου πρὸ τοῦ συλλημφθῆναι αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ.
(Kai hote eplaʸsthaʸsan haʸmerai oktō tou peritemein auton, kai eklaʸthaʸ to onoma autou Yaʸsous, to klaʸthen hupo tou angelou pro tou sullaʸmfthaʸnai auton en taʸ koilia.)

RP-GNT Καὶ ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν ἡμέραι ὀκτὼ τοῦ περιτεμεῖν αὐτόν, καὶ ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς, τὸ κληθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀγγέλου πρὸ τοῦ συλληφθῆναι αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ.
(Kai hote eplaʸsthaʸsan haʸmerai oktō tou peritemein auton, kai eklaʸthaʸ to onoma autou Yaʸsous, to klaʸthen hupo tou angelou pro tou sullaʸfthaʸnai auton en taʸ koilia.)

TC-GNT Καὶ ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν [fn]ἡμέραι ὀκτὼ τοῦ περιτεμεῖν [fn]αὐτόν, καὶ ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς, τὸ κληθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀγγέλου πρὸ τοῦ [fn]συλληφθῆναι αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ.
(Kai hote eplaʸsthaʸsan haʸmerai oktō tou peritemein auton, kai eklaʸthaʸ to onoma autou Yaʸsous, to klaʸthen hupo tou angelou pro tou sullaʸfthaʸnai auton en taʸ koilia. )

2:21 ημεραι ¦ αι ημεραι ANT

2:21 αυτον ¦ το παιδιον ANT TR

2:21 συλληφθηναι ¦ συλλημφθηναι CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:21–40: The baby Jesus at the temple

The events in this section happened some days after Jesus was born.

In 2:21–24, Luke mentioned three ceremonies that were done when Jewish boys were born:

the baby boy was circumcised;
the mother was ritually purified;
the baby boy was presented to God.

In 2:25–38 Luke described two other events that happened while Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were at the temple in Jerusalem. God allowed two righteous people named Simeon and Anna to see Jesus and to thank God for him. Simeon spoke a prophecy about Jesus and Mary.

In 2:39–40 Luke concluded the section. Joseph and Mary took Jesus back to their home in Nazareth, where he grew and became strong and wise. The Gospel of Matthew indicates that before they went to Nazareth, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Egypt and stayed there for some time. Although Luke does not mention this, you should connect the clauses in 2:39 in a way that does not contradict it.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it. Some other possible headings for this section are:

Jesus’ Parents Obey Moses’ Teachings (GW)

Jesus Presented at the Temple (NASB)

Some English versions begin new sections at 2:25 and at 2:36. If you decide to do this in your translation, some possible headings are:

Simeon saw Jesus and prophesied about him (2:25)

Anna thanked God for Jesus and told others about him (2:36)

Simeon’s Prophecy (2:25)

Anna’s Prophecy (2:36)

2:21a

When the eight days until His circumcision had passed,

¶ On the eighth day from the baby’s birth, it was time for his circumcision,
¶ As God’s law requires for baby boys, when seven days had passed, his parents caused someone to cut off some of the skin at the end of his penis.
¶ A week after the baby was born, it was time for them to mark him as one of God’s people. So they cut off his foreskin.

When the eight days until His circumcision had passed: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as When the eight days until His circumcision had passed indirectly refers to what the Law of Moses required. The Law stated that every baby boy must be circumcised on the eighth day from his birth. In some languages it may be helpful to mention the Law more directly. For example:

On the eighth day from his birth, they circumcised him as God’s law required

When the eight days: When the Jews counted the days between two events, they started counting with the day that the first event happened. For example, in this context, if Jesus was born on a Friday, they would count that Friday as the first day. Then the Friday of the following week would be the last of the eight days that the law specified. A similar expression occurs in 1:59a. In English, people start counting with the day after the first event happened. For example:

A week later (GNT)

When Jesus was seven days old

Use the natural way in your language to count the days between events.

circumcision: The act of circumcision means to cut off the skin at the end of a boy’s penis. According to custom, someone would circumcise the boy.

In some cultures, it may be acceptable to explicitly say “cut off the loose skin at the end of a boy’s penis.” In other cultures, it may be necessary to use a euphemism, that is, to describe circumcision in a less direct way. Some examples are:

cut off some of the skin

mark him as one of God’s people

receive the mark

2:21b

He was named Jesus,

and his parents named him Jesus.
At that time, they named him Jesus.

He was named Jesus: In Jewish culture at the time of Jesus’ birth, it was the custom for the parents to name their baby boys when they were circumcised. The clause He was named Jesus is passive. In some languages it may be more natural to use an active verb and say who named Jesus. For example:

they named him Jesus

his parents named him Jesus

2:21c

the name the angel had given Him

This was the name that the angel Gabriel had given him
The angel Gabriel had told Mary to give him this name

2:21d

before He had been conceived.

before Mary conceived him.
before she became pregnant.

2:21c–d

the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived: This part of the verse refers to 1:31. When the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would conceive and bear a son, he told her that she should name him Jesus.

angel: See angel, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

before He had been conceived: The word conceived refers to the time when Mary became pregnant. At that time the baby started to grow inside her womb. That happened sometime after the angel had told her what the baby’s name should be. Another way to translate this is:

before his mother became pregnant (GW)

General Comment on 2:21b–d

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of some of the parts of 2:21b–d. For example:

^21dBefore Mary became pregnant, ^21cthe angel had told Mary to name the baby Jesus. ^21bSo that is what his parents did.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν ἡμέραι ὀκτὼ τοῦ περιτεμεῖν αὐτόν

when ˓were˒_fulfilled days (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν ἡμέραι ὀκτώ τοῦ περιτεμεῖν αὐτόν καί ἐκλήθη τό ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς τό κληθέν ὑπό τοῦ ἀγγέλου πρό τοῦ συλλημφθῆναι αὐτόν ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ)

The law that God gave to Jewish believers told them to circumcise a baby boy on the eighth day of his life. As in [1:59](../01/59.md), the day on which the baby was born was considered to be the first day. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could translate this expression according to the way your own culture reckons time. Alternate translation: [when the baby was one week old, and according to the Jewish law it was time to circumcise him]

Note 2 topic: writing-newevent

ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν ἡμέραι ὀκτὼ

This time reference also introduces a new event. Alternate translation: [after eight days had gone by] or [when the baby was one week old]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐπλήσθησαν ἡμέραι ὀκτὼ

˓were˒_fulfilled days (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν ἡμέραι ὀκτώ τοῦ περιτεμεῖν αὐτόν καί ἐκλήθη τό ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς τό κληθέν ὑπό τοῦ ἀγγέλου πρό τοῦ συλλημφθῆναι αὐτόν ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ)

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: [after eight days had gone by] or [when the baby was one week old]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς

˓was˒_called (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν ἡμέραι ὀκτώ τοῦ περιτεμεῖν αὐτόν καί ἐκλήθη τό ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς τό κληθέν ὑπό τοῦ ἀγγέλου πρό τοῦ συλλημφθῆναι αὐτόν ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ)

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: [his parents Joseph and Mary named him Jesus]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς

As in 1:13, to “call a name” is an idiom that means to give a child a name. Alternate translation: [his parents Joseph and Mary named him Jesus]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τὸ κληθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀγγέλου

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν ἡμέραι ὀκτώ τοῦ περιτεμεῖν αὐτόν καί ἐκλήθη τό ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς τό κληθέν ὑπό τοῦ ἀγγέλου πρό τοῦ συλλημφθῆναι αὐτόν ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ)

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: [which was the name that the angel had told Mary to give him]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicitinfo

πρὸ τοῦ συνλημφθῆναι αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ

In your language, it might seem that the phrase conceived in the womb expresses unnecessary extra information. If so, you could abbreviate it. Alternate translation: [before he was conceived]