and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
Parallel translations
- WEB and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
- NASB and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She did not leave the temple grounds, serving night and day with fasts and prayers.
- NLT Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.
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
Anna, a widow of many years, worshiped continually in the temple with fasting and prayer. It matters because it portrays a life of devoted, persevering faith.
Overview
Luke describes Anna's decades of widowhood spent in constant temple worship, fasting, and prayer night and day. Her devotion exemplifies steadfast godliness while awaiting God's salvation. Such persevering faith is honored as she is brought to behold the Messiah she long sought.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- 1 Tim 5:5The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.
- Ps 23:6Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
- Acts 14:23Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.
- Acts 13:3And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
- Ps 27:4One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.
- Acts 26:7the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to realize as they earnestly serve God day and night. It is because of this hope, O king, that I am accused by the Jews.
- Rev 7:15For this reason, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.
- Rev 3:12The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.
- Ps 84:4How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You. Selah
- Ps 22:2I cry out by day, O my God, but You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest.
- Ps 84:10For better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
- Ps 135:1–2Hallelujah! Praise the name of the LORD. Give praise, O servants of the LORD,
- Luke 5:33Then they said to Him, “John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees frequently fast and pray, but Yours keep on eating and drinking.”
- Exod 38:8Next he made the bronze basin and its stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
- Ps 92:13Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
- 1 Sam 2:2There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You! And there is no Rock like our God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 2:37 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.