(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)
Parallel translations
- WEB (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),
- KJV (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
- BSB (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”),
- NKJV (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),
- NASB (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),
- NLT The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Their action fulfills the law that every firstborn male be consecrated as holy to the Lord. It matters because Jesus is set apart to God from the start.
Overview
Luke cites the law (Exodus 13) requiring the firstborn to be dedicated to the Lord. Jesus, as Mary's firstborn, is presented in keeping with this command. The verse underscores that the Savior was raised in obedience to Scripture and consecrated wholly to God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Exod 13:2“Sanctify to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of animal. It is mine.”
- Num 3:13for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They shall be mine. I am Yahweh.”
- Exod 22:29“You shall not delay to offer from your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. “You shall give the firstborn of your sons to me.
- Exod 34:19“All that opens the womb is mine; and all your livestock that is male, the firstborn of cow and sheep.
- Num 18:15Everything that opens the womb, of all flesh which they offer to Yahweh, both of man and animal shall be yours. Nevertheless, you shall surely redeem the firstborn of man, and you shall redeem the firstborn of unclean animals.
- Num 8:16–17For they are wholly given to me from among the children of Israel; instead of all who open the womb, even the firstborn of all the children of Israel, I have taken them to me.
- Exod 13:12–15that you shall set apart to Yahweh all that opens the womb, and every firstborn which you have that comes from an animal. The males shall be Yahweh’s.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 2:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.