LUKE 2:37 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

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, red:negative.
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 she was a widow for 84 years who never left the temple, serving with fastings and prayers night and day.

UST After that, she had lived as a widow for 84 more years. It seemed as if she was always in the temple, worshiping God by fasting and praying, at all times of the night and day.

BSB and then [was] a widow [to the age of] eighty-four.[fn] [She] never left the temple, [but] worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

BLB and she was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart the temple, serving with fastings and prayers night and day.

AICNT and as a widow {until she was eighty-four}.[fn] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

2:37, until she was eighty-four: Some manuscripts read “of about eighty-four years.” W(032) BYZ TR

OEB and then a widow, until she had reached the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple Courts, but, fasting and praying, worshiped God night and day.

WEBBE and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

LSV and she [is] a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, serving with fasts and supplications, night and day,

FBV and then she had been widowed. She was eighty-four years old. She spent her time at the Temple in worship, fasting and praying.

TCNT and she [fn]was a widow of about eighty-four years of age. She did not depart from the temple, but served night and day with fasting and prayer.

2:37 was a widow of about eighty-four years of age ¦ lived as a widow until the age of eighty-four CT

T4T After that, she lived until she was 84 years old, and she was still a widow. She stayed in the Temple area all the time, night and day, worshipping God. She often ◄abstained from food/fasted► as she prayed.

LEB and herself as a widow up to eighty-four years)[fn] who did not depart from the temple with fastings and prayers, serving night and day.

2:37 Or “eighty-four years as a widow”

BBE She had been a widow for eighty-four years); she was in the Temple at all times, worshipping with prayers and going without food, night and day.

Moff and having been a widow for eighty-four years. She was never away from the temple; night and day she worshipped, fasting and praying.

Wymth and then being a widow of eighty-four years. She was never absent from the Temple, but worshipped, by day and by night, with fasting and prayer.

ASV and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day.

DRA And she was a widow until fourscore and four years; who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day.

YLT and she [is] a widow of about eighty-four years, who did depart not from the temple, with fasts and supplications serving, night and day,

Drby and herself a widow up to eighty-four years; who did not depart from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers;

RV and she had been a widow even for fourscore and four years), which departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day.
(and she had been a widow even for fourscore/twenty and four years), which departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day. )

SLT And she a widow of about eighty-four years, who departed not from the temple, with fastings and supplications serving night and day.

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

KJB-1769 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.
(And she was a widow of about fourscore/twenty and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. )

KJB-1611 And she was a widow of about fourescore and foure yeeres, which departed not from the Temple, but serued God with fastings and prayers night and day.
(And she was a widow of about fourscore/twenty and four years, which departed not from the Temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.)

Bshps And she had ben a wydowe about fourescore and foure yeres, whiche departed not from the temple, but serued God with fastynges and prayers nyght and day.
(And she had been a widow about fourscore/twenty and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.)

Gnva And she was widowe about foure score and foure yeeres, and went not out of the Temple, but serued God with fastings and prayers, night and day.
(And she was widow about fourscore/twenty and four years, and went not out of the Temple, but served God with fastings and prayers, night and day. )

Cvdl & had now bene a wedowe aboute foure score & foure yeares, which came neuer fro the teple, seruynge God wt fastynge and prayenge, daye and night:
(and had now been a wedowe about fourscore/twenty and four years, which came never from the teple, serving God with fasting and prayenge, day and night:)

TNT And she had bene a wedowe aboute .iiii. scoore and .iiii. yere which went never oute of the temple but served God with fastinge and prayer nyght and daye.
(And she had been a wedowe about .iiii. scoore and .iiii. year which went never out of the temple but served God with fasting and prayer night and day. )

Wycl And this was a widewe to foure scoor yeer and foure; and sche departide not fro the temple, but seruyde to God nyyt and dai in fastyngis and preieris.
(And this was a widow to four scoor year and four; and she departed not from the temple, but served to God night and day in fastingis and prayers.)

Luth und war nun eine Witwe bei vierundachtzig Jahren; die kam nimmer vom Tempel, dienete GOtt mit Fasten und Beten Tag und Nacht:
(and what/which now a/one widow at/in fourundachtzig years; the came never from_the temple, served God with fasting(n) and Beten day and night:)

ClVg Et hæc vidua usque ad annos octoginta quatuor: quæ non discedebat de templo, jejuniis et obsecrationibus serviens nocte ac die.
(And these_things a_widow until to years eighty four: which not/no discedebat from/about temple, yeyuniis and obsecrationibus servant at_night and day. )

UGNT καὶ αὐτὴ χήρα ἕως ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων, ἣ οὐκ ἀφίστατο τοῦ ἱεροῦ, νηστείαις καὶ δεήσεσιν λατρεύουσα νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν.
(kai autaʸ ⱪaʸra heōs etōn ogdoaʸkonta tessarōn, haʸ ouk afistato tou hierou, naʸsteiais kai deaʸsesin latreuousa nukta kai haʸmeran.)

SBL-GNT καὶ αὐτὴ χήρα ⸀ἕως ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων,) ἣ οὐκ ⸀ἀφίστατο τοῦ ἱεροῦ νηστείαις καὶ δεήσεσιν λατρεύουσα νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν.
(kai autaʸ ⱪaʸra ⸀heōs etōn ogdoaʸkonta tessarōn,) haʸ ouk ⸀afistato tou hierou naʸsteiais kai deaʸsesin latreuousa nukta kai haʸmeran.)

RP-GNT καὶ αὕτη χήρα ὡς ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων - ἣ οὐκ ἀφίστατο ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱεροῦ, νηστείαις καὶ δεήσεσιν λατρεύουσα νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν.
(kai hautaʸ ⱪaʸra hōs etōn ogdoaʸkonta tessarōn - haʸ ouk afistato apo tou hierou, naʸsteiais kai deaʸsesin latreuousa nukta kai haʸmeran.)

TC-GNT καὶ [fn]αὕτη χήρα [fn]ὡς ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων—ἣ οὐκ ἀφίστατο [fn]ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱεροῦ, νηστείαις καὶ δεήσεσι λατρεύουσα νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν.
(kai hautaʸ ⱪaʸra hōs etōn ogdoaʸkonta tessarōn—haʸ ouk afistato apo tou hierou, naʸsteiais kai deaʸsesi latreuousa nukta kai haʸmeran. )

2:37 αὕτη ¦ αὐτὴ ANT CT HF PCK

2:37 ως ¦ εως CT

2:37 απο ¦ — 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)

Paragraph 2:36–38

This paragraph begins with background information. It introduces a woman named Anna and tells about her. The event in 2:38 happened immediately after Simeon’s blessing in 2:34–35. Indicate the background information in a natural way in your language. In some languages, you may want to put part of 2:38a at the beginning of the paragraph. For example:

^38aAt that very moment a prophetess came up to them. ^36aHer name was Anna….

2:37a

and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four.

Then he died and she was a widow until she was eighty-four years old.
Then her husband died and she remained a widow ever since then. She was now eighty-four years old.

and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four: This clause implies that:

her husband died (after they had been married for seven years);
she remained a widow, that is, she never married again.

to the age of eighty-four: The Greek text that the BSB translates to the age of eighty-four is literally “until eighty-four years.” Scholars interpret the phrase “until eighty-four years” in two ways:

It refers to Anna’s age at the time of this story. She was eighty-four years old (and had been a widow after having been married for seven years). For example:
She was now eighty-four years old. (NLT96) (BSB, NIV, GNT, RSV, NJB, NASB, REB, KJV, NLT, CEV, JBP)
It refers to the length of her widowhood. She had been a widow for eighty-four years. This implies that she was over one hundred years old at the time of this story. For example:
She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. (NET) (NET, NCV, GW)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as the majority of English versions do.

General Comment on 2:36c–37a

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder some of the phrases in these verse parts. For example:

^36dShe had been married for seven years and then she became ^37aa widow. ^36cShe was now very old: ^37aeighty-four years old.

2:37b

She never left the temple,

She rarely left the temple.
She was continually in the temple,

She never left the temple: There are two ways to interpret the clause She never left the temple:

It is hyperbole. That is, it is an exaggerated statement to emphasize how frequently Anna was at the temple. She never missed any of the temple services.
It is literal. This means that Anna never went away from the temple area. She even slept there.

It is recommended that you follow meaning (1). If people will not understand that this clause is hyperbole, you will need to use an expression that indicates that Anna was at the temple very often. For example:

Anna almost never left the temple.

Anna was almost always at the temple.

Anna was frequently at the temple.

temple: As in 2:27a, Luke used the word temple here to refer to the temple courtyards. The temple courtyards are the area around the main temple building that was part of the temple compound/land.

2:37c

but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

She worshiped there very often with fasting and praying.
and she served God there day and night by not eating for periods of time and by praying to God.

but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying tells what Anna was doing while she was in the temple. The BSB has supplied the word but because it is natural in English. The Greek text does not have a conjunction here. In many languages, a conjunction may not be needed. Here are examples of other ways to connect this part of the verse to the context:

worshiping with fasting and prayer (NET)

she worshiped God, fasting and praying (GNT)

worshiped: The Greek word that the BSB translates as worshiped also means “served.” Anna worshiped or “served” God in the temple by fasting and praying. Be careful that the word you use here does not imply that Anna worked in the temple. Another way to translate this is:

she served God…by praying and often going without eating (CEV)

fasting and praying: In this context the word fasting means “to go without food for a period of time for religious reasons.” Anna often did not eat so that she could think only about God and his kingdom and have much time to pray.

praying: The Greek word that the BSB translates as praying indicates here that Anna spoke or talked to God.

Some languages may use different words to refer to specific kinds of prayer, such as requests, thanks, or praise. Anna probably did all of these. So here you should use a word or expression that has a general meaning. Avoid a term that may imply magical or meaningless words.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

αὐτὴ χήρα ἕως ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί αὐτή χήρα ἕως ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων ἥ οὐκ ἀφίστατο τοῦ ἱεροῦ νηστείαις καί δεήσεσιν λατρεύουσα νύκτα καί ἡμέραν)

This could mean: (1) Anna had been a widow for 84 years. Alternate translation: [but then her husband had died and she had not remarried, and 84 years had gone by since] (2) Anna was a widow who was now 84 years old. Alternate translation: [but her husband had died and she had not remarried, and now she was 84 years old]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

ἣ οὐκ ἀφίστατο τοῦ ἱεροῦ

Luke is expressing a positive meaning by using a negative word together with a word that is the opposite of the intended meaning. Alternate translation: [who was always in the temple]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

ἣ οὐκ ἀφίστατο τοῦ ἱεροῦ

This is a generalization that means that Anna spent so much time in the temple that it seemed as though she never left it. Alternate translation: [who was always in the temple] or [who was continually in the temple]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

νηστείαις καὶ δεήσεσιν λατρεύουσα

˱with˲_fastings (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί αὐτή χήρα ἕως ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων ἥ οὐκ ἀφίστατο τοῦ ἱεροῦ νηστείαις καί δεήσεσιν λατρεύουσα νύκτα καί ἡμέραν)

The term serving is an idiom that means “worshiping.” Alternate translation: [worshiping God by going without food and praying]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / merism

νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν

night (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί αὐτή χήρα ἕως ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων ἥ οὐκ ἀφίστατο τοῦ ἱεροῦ νηστείαις καί δεήσεσιν λατρεύουσα νύκτα καί ἡμέραν)